On the road with clinical outreach

Stacey Henson meeting up with colleagues at a conference in California. From L-R: April Stein, founder of PATH at Stone Summit, Ben Mason, educational consultant, Meg Horne with McLean Hospital, Stacey Ashworth with YellowBrick, Jerry Rudd with Menninger, and Tom Parker with Lindner Center of Hope.

A role reimagined

When Stacey Henson stepped into the role of director of clinical outreach a year ago, the position was evolving to work more closely with the admissions team and spend more time on the road, talking about the Farm with diverse audiences. Stacey reflects, “When I stepped into the role, I felt I could help get the word out about what we do, and as a clinician, also bring my clinical experience into multiple areas of the job. I am an integrated member of the team, a member of the advisory group (our leadership committee), and since I live only an hour away, I can be present for events, tours, and interviews while also easily hopping on a plane to California, if needed.”

Getting to know the players

Much of Stacey’s first year was spent traveling to conferences and networking events, connecting with colleagues across the country. She realized that while conferences opened doors, deeper relationships formed when she spent time getting to know individuals. “I’ve been amazed at the strong relationships that already exist with the Farm – this leads to a friendly, organic-feeling admissions process, which really benefits the guests. Deepening relationships with programs and providers that already respect us and truly need our level of care is where I have set my focus.”

“Direct visits allow me to be fully present, consult on challenging cases, and have uninterrupted conversations,” Stacey continues, “Referring partners often want to understand how the community operates with staff living onsite, the impact of the work program on different diagnoses and symptoms, for example. Being a licensed clinician allows me to explore these topics deeply, bringing understanding and respect to the conversation, without having to relay information through multiple people.”

Strengthening collaborative networks

Stacey’s work extends beyond individual referral relationships as well. She supports the Farm’s involvement in larger projects such as the launch of the Community Integration Program Association (CIPA), helping co-host the third year of the Psychosis Care & Connection Retreat with Ellenhorn and the Austen Riggs Center, and participating in an upcoming gathering in Rhode Island with a group of similar therapeutic farm programs.

“These partnerships bring ‘oxygen’ to Gould Farm,” Stacey says. “We are part of a thoughtful network, staying current, collaborative, and relevant.”

The relevance of our model today

“What excites me most about my role is that we offer something really different in the mental health landscape: a true long-term residential model where guests can stay for extended periods, which is vital for addressing complex issues.”

Our average length of stay is 10 months, something incredibly rare in the mental health treatment landscape, which is largely shaped by the pressures of insurance companies and managed care, leading to very short lengths of stay. Guests at the Farm join a community where they can take the time needed to really shift their experiences of their symptoms, gain valuable insights, and strengthen skills.

Through these national collaborations and direct admissions consultations, Stacey ensures that the "threads" of the Farm are woven into a much larger tapestry of recovery. By building bridges between our corner of the Berkshires, the region, and the broader mental health field, she helps sustain the vital, visible connections that allow future guests to find their way to us more easily, hopefully stepping out of isolation and into community and deeper relationship, with self and others, in the process.