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Almost all of us have felt it or seen it in others: a moment when we lower our gaze and cannot look someone in the eye; it is as if a spotlight is shining on just us and we wish we could disappear. The feeling I am describing is shame – a heavy and challenging emotion to understand and navigate. Shame can also be a powerful, often overlooked, barrier to recovery.

We spotlight a group in Ontario, Canada, is preparing to open Eli’s Place, a farm-based residential treatment program for young adults struggling with mental illness. It will be the first program of its kind in Canada. Co-founders David and Deborah Cooper were inspired to create Eli’s Place in memory of their son, Eli, whom they lost to suicide.

Prospective guests and family members often wonder if life at Gould Farm slows down in winter. Is there anything to do when it's so cold outside? Most people know that New England winters can be harsh and tend to picture spring, summer, or fall as our more active seasons – so it’s a fair question. We’re here to show you some of what we get up to in the colder months, staying just as active with our work program and activities as we do during the other three seasons!