For All Seasons

For All Seasons Sponsors Free Community Talk on Parenting by Author Lynn Sanchez

July 26, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

For All Seasons’ Center for Learning presented a free community talk, “You Have What It Takes: Surviving and Thriving as a Parent Today”, presented by local author and expert trainer Lynn Sanchez, M.Ed. Targeting parents and caregivers with a message of empowerment, this presentation took place at The Avalon Theatre in Easton and streamed virtually on Facebook Live. The talk was part of For All Seasons Speakers Series designed to share messages that are reaching people in different ways on a variety of topics. Lynn, the author of the new book, Behind the Brussels Sprouts, used her own, often comical, parenting stories, and her decades of experience to share with parents how to relax, build their self-awareness and confidence, and most importantly, enjoy the amazing parenting journey.

“Especially during the pandemic, our parents have experienced a different way to raise children, and there have been increased stressors in our community as a result. As a behavioral health agency and rape crisis center, we wanted to shine a light on parenting,” commented Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons.

Pictured are Beth Anne Langrell, CEO, For All Seasons and local author and expert trainer Lynn Sanchez, M.Ed., who presented a free community talk, “You Have What It Takes: Surviving and Thriving as a Parent Today,” at The Avalon Theatre in Easton and streamed virtually on YouTube and Facebook Live.

Participants of the talk gained a refreshing perspective, learning new tools and strategies to lighten the parenting load today. Each attendee also received a free copy of Lynn Sanchez’s book.

“I want parents to trust themselves, I want them to relax, and I want them to enjoy parenting,” Lynn stated. “There is lots of competition for children’s minds and spirits today. There are no perfect parents. Every family has its challenges. If you have a family value and you are maintaining it, you are doing a good job.”

Lynn shared some tips on parenting including handling the needs of different-aged children. “Every child is unique. We have to be as flexible as a Slinky and look at what we are doing right. We are the expert on our children,” she added.

About the subject of competition, Lynn shared that children should get three things out of participating in any activities and being able to say to their parents: 1) I came. 2) I participated. 3) I enjoyed it. She commented, “It’s not always about winning. The biggest gift you can give your child is the ability to fail and to get back up and try it again. We have to be cautious about competition and comparison. As I point out in the book, they are rough seas.”

She also shared about providing guidance to our children, stating, “Part of guidance is accountability. We have to make children accountable for their behavior. Discipline is guidance. We want children to learn how to guide their own behavior.”

Other tips she provided were to use anticipation to reduce frustration for children, use active listening with our children when they get home from school to gain insight, limit electronics to engage in family time, and have fun with your children.

The book, Behind the Brussels Sprouts, has appeal for all ages as it awakens reflections in older adults about how they were parented and how that impacted their parenting.

If you missed the talk, please tune into YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZgSkGlwwu8.

For All Seasons is your community behavioral health and rape crisis center offering therapy, psychiatry, advocacy, and education to individuals and families, regardless of one’s ability to pay. For further information, visit www.forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons Offers Water Bottles with a Mental Health Message

July 14, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about 1 in 7 children, ages 5 to 15, will experience at least one “severe mental disorder.” That number climbs to 1 in 5 children during the teen years, ages 13 to 18. We hear a lot about physical health and keeping our bodies healthy and strong, but mental health is just as important. We can do things to “be kind to our minds.”

At the end of the school year, For All Seasons reached out to area elementary schools on the Mid-Shore providing “Be Kind to Your Mind” water bottles, along with a conversation starter for parents and teachers to help them discuss mental health. This year, bottles were delivered to Chapel Elementary School, Preston Elementary School, Federalsburg Elementary School, Sandy Hill Elementary School, Centreville Elementary School, and Kennard Elementary School.

Pictured is a student at Kennard Elementary School, one of several elementary schools on the Mid-Shore where For All Seasons staff delivered “Be Kind to Your Mind” water bottles and conversation starters for students and their teachers.

“It was perfect timing at the end of the school year to share this mental health message with students and their families as they prepare for summer. Summer break is a great time to discuss mental health and wellness and we are providing the tools for families to do that,” states Jonathan Qvarnstrom, Marketing, and Outreach Associate at For All Seasons.

Some of the tips in the conversation starter included:

Positive thinking is one big way we can “be kind to our minds.”
Being “kind to your mind” also means naming your feelings & sharing them with people you trust.
Being mentally healthy does not mean being happy all of the time.
Treat yourself as kindly as you would a friend.

Susan D. Klepper, M Ed., School Counselor at Kennard Elementary School, adds, “The Kennard Elementary School students were thrilled to receive their brand-new water bottles! The timing was perfect because it was field day, so they had plenty of refreshment during their time outdoors. Students enjoyed the “Be Kind to Your Mind” activities shared by For All Seasons and appreciated this amazing donation.”

Talking with Children About Tragedy in the News

May 29, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

As our community continues to process and grieve the tragedy that unfolded in Uvalde, TX earlier this week, For All Seasons offers two helpful resources to guide adults, parents, and caregivers as they navigate difficult conversations with children and adolescents. Knowing that children benefit from consistent connection with the adults in their lives, the first resource is a general guide for engaging youth in hard conversations around topics like stress and anxiety. The second resource is specific to talking with children in the wake of a tragedy.

These printable discussion guides can be downloaded from For All Seasons at forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/youth-discussions

For All Seasons offers the following tips:

Start with curiosity — what does your child know about the event? Even if you haven’t yet discussed it together, the child may have heard the news from media sources or classmates. Remember that your child’s perception of what has happened may differ from reality. Gently correct misunderstandings.

Assure your child that it is normal to be sad or scared when events like these occur. It is also OK to admit that you, too, are feeling sad, scared, or angry. Try to acknowledge that you are having these feelings and that they are normal. Reassure your child that there is nothing wrong with having big or scary emotions. Tell your child that no topic is too big or scary to talk about.

Encourage your child to ask questions, both now and in the future. David Schonfeld, MD, Director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/director/) writes, “Like adults, children are better able to cope with a crisis if they feel they understand it. Question-and-answer exchanges provide you with the opportunity to offer support as your child begins to understand the crisis and the response to it.”

Point out that many people are working to keep your child safe. Talk about the many people in our community who work each day to ensure safety. Consider pointing out people whose job it is to keep us safe – teachers and other school staff, law enforcement, parents, EMS workers, and more.

Be honest during your conversation, but keep it appropriate for your child’s age. The National Association of School Psychiatrists offers the following guidelines to make your conversation age-appropriate:

Early elementary school children need brief, simple information balanced with reassurances that their school and homes are safe. Emphasize that adults are there to protect them.
Upper elementary and early middle school children will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what is being done at their school. Some students may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of families, schools, and community leaders to provide safety.
Upper middle school and high school students will have strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence in schools and society. They will share concrete suggestions about making their homes, schools, and communities safer and how to prevent tragedies in society. Emphasize your child’s role in maintaining safety by following laws, rules, and guidelines (e.g., not providing building access to those they don’t know, reporting strangers in school settings or elsewhere, reporting threats to the school safety made by students or community members, etc.). Ensure that your child feels empowered to communicate any personal safety issues to trusted adults and that they know how to access support for emotional needs.

Remember that it is OK that you don’t have all of the answers. The beloved Mr. Rogers once shared, “If the answer is ‘I don’t know,’ then the simplest reply might be something like, ‘I’m sad about the news, and I’m worried. But I love you, and I’m here to care for you.’”

Be patient and open to having multiple conversations over time. Your child may not have much to say in the moment. Give them some time and let them know they can come back with more questions or to talk about the events when they are ready.

Help is available. If you or your children are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, reach out. There are many resources in your community and For All Seasons is here to help.

For All Seasons professionals are available 24/7. Call 410-822-1018 or at our confidential 24-hour crisis hotlines in English: 410-820-5600, Español: 410-829-6143, and via text (English or Español) at 410-829-6143.

This guidance has been adapted, with gratitude, from Colorín Colorado.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For further information, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons Offers Free Community Talk on Parenting

May 27, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

For All Seasons will present a free community talk, “You Have What It Takes,” presented by local author and expert trainer Lynn Sanchez, M.Ed. for parents and caregivers on June 9 at 7 p.m. in-person at The Avalon Theatre in Easton, Maryland, and streaming virtually on Facebook Live @forallseasonsinc.

Pictured above is Lynn Sanchez, mother of three, author, and former Assistant Director of an Early Childhood Development Center.

Being a parent today can feel like a story of survival. Between a global pandemic that changed the way we live, the rise of children’s mental health issues, and the often oppressive presence of technology, it’s no wonder many parents feel like they are barely keeping it all together. Lynn, the mother of three, is helping parents and caregivers across the region shift their mindset to understand that they already have what it takes to guide their children to a place of joy and resilience.

She will use her own, often comical, parenting stories, and her decades of experience to help parents relax, build their self-awareness and confidence, and most importantly to enjoy the amazing parenting journey. Participants will gain a refreshing perspective that includes understanding their parenting styles and gaining new tools and strategies to lighten the parenting load today.

“I kept looking at parents working so hard and enjoying it so little,” she shares when talking about her motivation for writing the book.

“I was not brilliant as a mother, I was a survivor. I learned to rely on my gut while raising my three boys, whom I had over four and a half years while my husband was in medical school. Funny things happened in our family along the way,” she quips.

Lynn earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in childhood development from Florida State University. Her professional career has been multifaceted with experience in the Montessori school system, educational therapy in a children’s psychiatric institute, and positions of assistant professor of early childhood at Chesapeake College. She also worked with the T. Berry Brazelton Touchpoints program as a site coordinator.

The book, Behind the Brussels Sprouts, has appeal for all ages as it awakens reflections in older adults about how they were parented and how that impacted their parenting. Lynn explains that the book is named after brussels sprouts because her boys didn’t like them. So, every time the family moved, she hid her favorite foods in the freezer behind the brussels sprouts – a place the boys would never look.

Every attendee will receive a free copy of Behind the Brussels Sprouts, which is being published and released by the For All Seasons’ Center for Learning. Virtual attendees can order a free book to be mailed while supplies last. Register: at http://youhavewhatittakes.eventbrite.com.

For All Seasons Recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month with Spread Joy Confetti Challenge!

May 6, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

According to Mental Health America, about one-half of all Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, with symptoms starting by age 24 for the majority of people. The organization also reports that the average delay between symptom onset and treatment is 11 years, meaning a lot of people spend months or years facing mental health challenges before getting a diagnosis.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and For All Seasons wants the public to know that it is never too early or too late to seek treatment for your mental health. Mental health is an essential part of overall health. The agency continues to partner with area businesses, schools, government agencies, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, and citizens to promote mental wellness and support prevention efforts. Intervening effectively during the early stages can save lives and is critically important for people living with mental health conditions.

For All Seasons staff celebrates its “Spread Joy Confetti Challenge!” for Mental Health Awareness Month.

One of the questions a lot of people ask when it comes to their mental health is: can you have times of poor mental health without having a diagnosable condition? The answer is yes. Just like our physical health where you can be generally physically unhealthy without having a particular illness, we can have tough days and weeks when we struggle with our mental health. To be diagnosed with a mental health condition, the changes in your thinking and emotions must be seriously hurting your ability to do the things you want to do; and staying longer than they should – weeks or months, depending on the condition.

Mental Health America says that some risk factors for mental health conditions include: trauma, which can be a one-time event or ongoing; your environment and how it impacts your health and quality of life (also known as social determinants of health like financial stability and health care access); genetics; brain chemistry; and your habits and lifestyle such as a lack of sleep. Taking time to examine feelings and behaviors to see if they are part of a pattern caused by a mental health condition, can be the first step in deciding if you need an assessment by a mental health professional.

Some possible questions to ask yourself are:

Have things that used to feel easy started feeling difficult?
Does the idea of doing daily tasks like making your bed now feel really, really hard?
Have you lost interest in activities and hobbies you used to enjoy?
Do you feel irritated, possibly to the point of lashing out at people you care about?

If you feel the answer to a number of these questions is yes, you may want to talk with your physician or call a mental health professional to receive the help that you need. You are not alone.

Another way to have a positive impact on your mental health, as well as someone else’s, is to do something that makes you smile. For All Seasons is inviting the community to join the agency this May to spread joy through its Spread Joy Confetti Challenge! To pick up your confetti packet or to share your video of participating in the Spread Joy Confetti Challenge! contact: For All Seasons Marketing and Outreach Associate, Jon Qvarnstrom at jqvarnstrom@forallseasonsinc.org. Videos will be shared throughout the month on the For All Seasons Facebook, and Instagram pages – @forallseasonsinc.

For All Seasons professionals are available 24/7. Call 410- 822-1018 or on our 24-hour confidential crisis hotlines English: 410-820-5600, Español: 410-829-6143, English or Español text: 410-829-6143.

For All Seasons Provides Therapy and Support for Students at Chesapeake College

May 4, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

Everyone needs support at different times of their lives. Sometimes it’s a traumatic event, mounting bills, job loss, college classes, or the overall stress from life that may make it difficult to cope. For All Seasons, Inc. has partnered with Chesapeake College to offer support and therapy for its students to navigate these life challenges and unexpected transitions via telehealth or in-person on the Wye Mills campus.

The program, which began in October 2021, grew out of For All Seasons’ work at the college during the pandemic. It was after For All Seasons Board of Directors member Len Wolf and his nonprofit, “Access Hope,” stepped up that the deal was sealed. The Chesapeake College program is fully funded for the first year through the funds donated by Wolf which will support uninsured and underinsured students, as well as non-billable staff time for the For All Seasons’ therapist. Wolf, Founder and Director of Access Hope, Inc., comments, “While the nation faces a crisis in meeting the needs of so many with mental health concerns, the diverse challenges faced by many Community College students make them even more vulnerable than the population in general. So many suffer in silent desperation without access to critical care. Access Hope is so grateful for the opportunity to partner with For All Seasons in bringing essential life-changing mental health care to those among us on the Eastern Shore.”

Pictured left to right are Chesapeake College Vice President Kamari Collins and Hayley Hornfeck, LMSW, Licensed Clinician with For All Seasons new therapy and support program offered to Chesapeake College students by For All Seasons, Inc.

Hayley Hornfeck, LMSW, Licensed Clinician with For All Seasons and the therapist for the program, states, “I’m really grateful to be part of this program because it’s taking two organizations that have the mutual goal of helping students and collaborating their efforts to provide a service that helps further that goal. I remember when I was a college student there were so many things to worry about and coordinate on my schedule, from jobs and internships to family and schoolwork. There was no time to leave campus and go to an appointment in the middle of the day. And if there was time, I didn’t have money to pay for it. What we hope to do with this program is to start to chip away at some of the barriers to mental health services.”

“Being able to tell students that they don’t need to worry about a copayment is the beginning of that. For All Seasons has special programs available for students who have financial needs.”

Students at Chesapeake College can go to an appointment right on campus in between classes or sign on to a session on zoom when they get home. To date, seven to eight students are receiving services each week. A licensed therapist can assist them with managing stress and developing coping skills; along with a variety of issues, including but not limited to: depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, grief, peer relationships, ADHD, bipolar disorder, divorce, and self-esteem.

Chesapeake College Vice President Kamari Collins adds, ” For All Seasons staff offer their services at Chesapeake with both professionalism and compassion. Our partnership with For All Seasons is a benefit to our students. Like members of the community at large, our students are dealing with stress exacerbated by the pandemic. We know that mental wellness is a key part of student success. By offering our students a convenient option for therapy, we are providing them with a powerful life tool that will serve them for years to come.”

The new availability to do telehealth virtually will also help students who may not be on campus during college and holiday breaks and in the summer months.

Chesapeake College students can call For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 to schedule an appointment by requesting “services on the Chesapeake College Campus.” The For All Seasons’ 24-hour confidential crisis hotlines are also available to all students as well as the general public. English: 410-820-5600, Español: 410-829-6143, English or Español text: 410-829-6143.

Local Family Makes Fleece Blankets for For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center Survivors

May 1, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

One local family is giving warmth from their hearts by making tied fleece blankets for local charities in our community. Christine and Charles Streaker and their children Gabriella and Braden of Easton recently donated 20 of their blankets to For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Christine Streaker comments, “We had done this last year for Talbot Interfaith Shelter and I knew about For All Seasons and suggested we consider helping them this spring. The kids agreed and we shopped for fabric, selecting fleece patterns that could comfort boys and girls as well as adults. Our family enjoys helping where we can and we really enjoy making the blankets together.”

Braden Streaker adds, “It’s important to help people because many people have needs. It’s special knowing that I am giving my time to help someone. The blankets give them comfort and give them something that is their own.”

For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center offers certified sexual assault victim advocates, counseling and support groups, free and confidential services in English and Spanish, support in the hospital, police department, and court, and referrals to social and legal services.

Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons, comments, “We are so grateful to this family for donating these blankets. We are very aware of providing comfort to our survivors throughout their time with us. Although they have endured trauma, the blankets will remind them of the care and compassion our agency can provide them on their journey to recovery.”

The For All Seasons English Hotline is 1-800-310-RAPE (7273) and Spanish Hotline is 410-829-6143.

Photo: Back row, left to right, Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons, and For All Seasons’ Victim Advocate Evany Arguello receiving comfort blankets for the Rape Crisis Center from Gabriella and Braden Streaker (front row). Not pictured are parents Christine and Charles Streaker.

For All Seasons’ Give With Your Heart Campaign Speaks from the Heart

April 15, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

For All Seasons’ Give with Your Heart campaign recently wrapped up with its 2022 Give With Your Heart video featuring the song, “Lean on Me.” In addition to the inspiring song, this year’s campaign featured the reflections of community members and friends who have had experiences with the agency and wanted to share their stories.

“We were thrilled this year to have community members who know our services step forward to share their stories ‘from the heart.’ These are people who understand the importance of the work our staff does day in and day out. Their courage in sharing their personal stories has touched the community in significant ways – we couldn’t be more grateful for their support,” comments Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons.

For All Seasons’ employees Omar Bolden, Client Services Specialist; Beth Anne Langrell, CEO; and JaQuaya Beasley, Client Services Specialist, perform “Lean on Me” for the 2022 For All Seasons Give With Your Heart campaign.

The following are highlights from the messages from community members which were posted throughout the Give With Your Heart campaign:

Ivy Garcia, Director of Latino Services, For All Seasons:

“I work with many clients who suffer many traumas – from crossing the borders and suffering rape, sexual assault, and being human trafficked – as well as clients with little to no knowledge of mental health. Throughout our education and support groups, our clients learn a new style of life after suffering many victimizations. I love what I do . . .We provide them with new skills and they become better members of society.”

Amy Steward, Local Writer and Community Member:

“About 25 years ago, I faced a really difficult divorce and decided that I needed support services for myself and my family. . . There are lots of bumps along the way in life, and we never can predict when these things are going to happen in our lives. When they happen, you really need to know that you have someone there to catch you. . . I look at For All Seasons as that safety net in our community.”

Nick, For All Seasons Client:

“I lost one of my really good friends to suicide as a result of depression and narcolepsy. As I was struggling myself, I got to a point where what I like to call my, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ moment where I started feeling like maybe the world would be better if I just wasn’t a part of it. . . Because of the experiences that I had with For All Seasons, not only was I able to address the immediate issues that I was dealing with, but I liked myself more. . . For the first time, I feel like not only can I be myself, but I feel proud of who I am.”

Dave, For All Seasons Client:

“I actually got sober six and a half years ago. I was drinking myself to death. I’d had several events happen in my life that I had not addressed. . . I reached out for help and I got it. . . and I continue to come to therapy at For All Seasons. It’s been one of the most wonderful things in my life. If it wasn’t for this program, I would not be alive.”

Susan Truitt, Director of Clinical Operations, For All Seasons:

“I believe that we all want to do well in our lives. That people are born with the intention of being happy, healthy, productive people. And sometimes, there are things that get in the way . . . When those things happen, we want there to be a place that we can land and know that we will be supported and get help to get back on our feet. And, for me, For All Seasons is that place and has been that place for so many people.”

For All Seasons wishes to thank everyone who donated to the 2022 Give With Your Heart Campaign. Presenting Sponsors included Paul B. and Joanne Prager, and the Warren L. Allen Family Fund. This year’s Wellness Sponsor was Peter and Hanna Woicke. Healing Sponsors included E.E. Street Memorial VFW Post 5118, and What’s Up Media. Hope Sponsors included Ewing, Dietz, Fountain & Kaludis, PA, Intown Management, LLC, Marasun Roofing, Patriot Cruises, Provident State Bank, and Wye Financial Partners. Help Sponsors included BSC Group, LLC, Charles T. Capute LLC, Julyan Management Group, LLC, McAllister, DeTar, Showalter & Walker LLC, Orion Safety Products, Piazza of Easton, Richard C. Graves, CPA, LLC, Rise Up Coffee Roasters, Zuleika M. Ghodsi, MD, PC / Delmarva Eye Center. Comfort Sponsors included Bay Star Trading Company, Inc., Channel Marker, Diane Flagler / La De Da, Karen Davis, State Farm Agent, Kevertin Pet Resort, Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Palmer’s Plumbing, Rheumatology Associates of Delmarva, Schauber Van Schaik Insurance and ERIE Insurance, Schuman Cleaning Services, Spy Newspapers, and Sump & Associates, PC.

Nataly Kogan Inspires Audiences to Tackle Emotional Burnout

April 1, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

Motivational speaker Nataly Kogan (natalykogan.com) provided For All Seasons audiences, at the Avalon Theatre and virtually, tips on maintaining emotional fitness at a time when stress and exhaustion are at an all-time high. She shared essential mindset shifts, scientific research, and tangible skills to help participants realize their potential — with less stress and greater energy, joy, and a sense of meaning. Kogan has appeared in hundreds of media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.

In the newly released book, The Awesome Human Project, Kogan says that there is an awesome human inside every single one of us, with a great capacity to create a positive impact in the world. But, to embrace your “Awesome Human,” she says you need to strengthen your emotional fitness skills and break through the mental blocks that hold you back in every area of work and life.

Pictured left to right are For All Seasons staff: Lauren Weber, Katie Theeke, Patti Cannon, Nataly Kogan, Beth Anne Langrell, Bonnie Thomas, Maureen Curtin, and Sally Shaw.

After growing up in the former Soviet Union, Kogan came to the U.S. with her parents as a refugee when she was 13 and a half, after spending several months in refugee settlements in Europe. Kogan stated, “As you can imagine, that was a really tough experience. So, I tell you about this because that experience was so difficult, and there’s so much struggle that kind of cemented in me this idea that life is struggle.”

She reflected, “I kind of lived my life from the neck up. And I thought that eventually, I’ll get to this point where I’ve done enough. I don’t know what ‘enough’ meant, but I thought eventually, I’ll do enough, I’ll achieve enough, I’ll create enough, and then I’ll feel good.”

Kogan, founder and CEO of a company called Happier, eventually suffered debilitating burnout that left her feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and experiencing self-doubt and anxiety. She explained, “The best way I can describe it, it was a breakdown of being. I just could not ‘be’ anymore. . . I was really scared and I was in a dark place. Sometimes the person doesn’t look like they’re struggling. I looked very shiny. I had people close to me who could recognize it. And if I had been honest with myself, I actually had been burning out daily for years.”

Nataly Kogan sharing tips about how to improve our mental health and emotional fitness.

Signs of Kogan’s burnout included resenting the work that she really loved, feeling a sense of dread every day, feeling empty like she had nothing to give at the end of every day, and withdrawing from any social interaction, including with her family and friends. She ignored these feelings.

“I learned that it is not the way you’re supposed to be doing it. You are not here to struggle. You are here to live with a capital ’L’ and you’re here to thrive,” she added.

She used the story of sculptor Michelangelo and how he saw a piece of marble – with the sculpture already in it and his job as a sculptor was just to chisel away at it. She added, “And that is what I believe we’re all here to do. When you undertake your Awesome Human Project, and I think it’s a lifelong project, I think it’s the most important project of your life. That’s what we’re here to do. We’re here to chisel away at the stuff that is holding back, our inner sculpture, our truly inner awesome human.”

“I believe that there’s an awesome human inside every single one of you. Every single one of you has the capacity to be the force of good to create something meaningful in this life to truly bring your uniqueness into the world. But we’re also human, which means we need to take care of our energy. We need to take care of our mental health. And the only way that we get to share our awesomeness with the world is honoring the human in ourselves.”

Kogan shared the following lessons which helped in her own recovery from burnout:

Lesson #1: Life is hard, but we can learn how to have a better inner experience. When we struggle less, we have more energy, more of our intellectual, creative, analytical, more of our awesome human capacity to do the things we want to do.

Lesson #2: Taking charge of our emotional fitness is a skill we can improve through practice. When we improve our emotional fitness, we are improving our inner resilience for whatever challenges come our way. She challenged the audience to ask themselves, ‘How would you describe your relationship with yourself?’ as a starting point.

Lesson #3: Small shifts, small steps, small improvements in how we treat ourselves in our relationship with our thoughts and our emotions have a huge impact, not just on our mental health or emotional fitness, but on our ability to be productive and creative and have better relationships.

Kogan also explained that our brain only cares about one thing – it wants to keep us safe. And because it wants to keep us safe, it is always looking out for possible danger, physical or psychological, and ignoring anything familiar and good. She advocated practicing gratitude and self-compassion to stay focused on what is good in our lives. Her tip is to always practice saying to ourselves, “What would I say to a friend?” to remain positive with ourselves.

“Taking care of your well-being can never be selfish. Because when you struggle less you help everyone around you to struggle less. When you take care of yourself, you have so much more to give to everyone around you. You cannot do greatness on empty. When you invest in your emotional fitness and when you honor your humanity, it allows you to bring out your awesome human and do all the meaningful, amazing things you want to do,” she concluded.

For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or to donate, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons Named Rural Justice Collaborative Innovation Site

March 23, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.

For All Seasons in Easton, Maryland, was one of ten programs in eight states and Puerto Rico that recently received recognition for its work in rural communities by the Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC). The programs have been nominated for their innovative practices in justice, child welfare, behavioral health and public health.

The RJC showcases the strengths of rural communities and highlights cross-sector collaboration success to overcome unique challenges that impact their ability to deliver fair and equitable justice. The work under the RJC is supported by an advisory council composed of rural judges along with additional stakeholders in the justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public health systems.

Photo: Members of the For All Seasons leadership team: Lesa Lee, Chief Clinical Officer (upper left); Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services (upper right); Ivy Garcia, Director of Latino Services (lower left); Beth Anne Langrell, Chief Executive Officer. (Photo by Steve Buchanan Photography)

In addition to For All Seasons, innovation sites selected in February 2022 included Eastern Shore Mobile Care Collaborative at Caroline County (Maryland) Health Department, Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement (ORACLE) in Ulster County (NY) Sheriff’s Office, Gender Violence Initiative in Puerto Rico, Texoma Alliance to Stop Abuse, Inc. in Texas, Benevolence Farm in North Carolina, Journey Court in Michigan, Rankin County Youth Court in Mississippi, Tennessee Recovery Oriented Compliance Strategy in Tennessee, and Lyon County Human Services Forensic Assessment Triage Team in Nevada.

According to Pam Ortiz, board member at For All Seasons and Director of Access to Justice with the Maryland Judiciary, who nominated the organization, “Our entire nation and the state of Maryland suffers from a lack of access to mental health services and workforce, especially in the mental health deserts typical of many rural communities. The justice system and the behavioral health community are natural partners and can learn from one another about ways to best serve rural communities. For All Seasons recognizes the need for innovative practices typically reserved for more population-dense areas and its leadership works collaboratively with community organizations to identify the root causes of problems and provide a comprehensive continuum of care. For All Seasons has excelled at developing a model for rural communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that could also be used nationally. This award captures this recognition.”

With a team of health care providers, For All Seasons offers therapy, psychiatry, rape crisis and mental health services to clients regardless of one’s ability to pay. For All Seasons’ partners include the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, & Victim Services, the State Attorney’s Office, social services, emergency medical services, law enforcement, school systems, and county councils for referrals and community outreach. For All Seasons also works with local businesses and organizations to offer mental health resources and trainings that reduce stigma, increase knowledge, and provide tools and skills that benefit the individuals and families across our community.

Beth Anne Langrell, For All Seasons CEO, reflects, “Slow and steady wins the race. The story of For All Seasons is one of sustainable expansion of services that builds upon a solid foundation of strong financial health. It’s tempting to pursue every program or initiative that seems related to your mission. If you expand too quickly or engage in mission creep, your organization can become spread too thin to make a real impact on people’s lives. The key is to focus on programs that fill gaps for your community in a way that is also aligned with what your organization already does best.”

The recently created Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC), an initiative run by The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and Rulo Strategies, is calling attention to the challenges that people in rural areas face getting access to legal help, behavioral health treatment and job training, among other services. The NCSC, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts. The Rural Justice Collaborative is funded by the State Justice Institute.

“We want to provide justice systems in rural communities an opportunity to spotlight what’s working and create a network to support their growth in positive outcomes,” said Kristina Bryant, a principal court management consultant who is leading this effort for NCSC. “We believe this includes recognition of their strengths and the unique characteristics of small towns.”

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