Meet Lisa Waldron, one of our mental health counselors at Fellside, our transition program in Medford, Massachusetts.
Lisa is one of those people who learned about Gould Farm in a wonderfully serendipitous way. Despite having lived in Boston for a long time, she had never heard of Fellside or Gould Farm. It wasn't until a bike ride in Monterey in 2015 that she discovered our mission and work. Over breakfast at the Roadside Store and Cafe, she learned about our 3-pronged approach to recovery for adults with mental health challenges: clinical care, meaningful work, and community. "I was immediately drawn to it." she says, "I believe in the healing power of community and the model of the Farm really made sense."
Lisa worked for many years as a teacher and school counselor, and in 2022 she finished her CAGS in mental health counseling. When she saw an opening at Fellside, she knew it was the perfect opportunity for her. She has a history of working at summer camps and in therapeutic programs, where she got to work in deep connection to nature. "When we engage our minds as well as our bodies, we can live more in balance," she says.
What Lisa loves about her role at Fellside is the opportunity to bring her whole self to the work. From doing individual therapy, to attending doctor's appointments, to peeling 3 dozen eggs for a seder, Lisa wears many hats in a day at Fellside. Her role is a combination of clinician, coach, and transition counselor. She helps program participants set goals, engages in therapeutic work, provides vocational support, and collaborates with family partners and outside providers. But perhaps most importantly, she is a community member who is there to pitch in with preparing meals or sit with someone having a tough day.
"For me, being able to see people in the context of a community is so important," Lisa says.
"When you can get to know the whole person, needs become apparent and strengths emerge - instead of challenges taking center stage. If you only see limitations, you miss so much about a person."
By being seen by others in a community, Lisa believes that we can reflect back to each other things we may not see in ourselves, which can be incredibly healing and transformative.