As winter fades and spring begins, many of us start to think about change. At LCH, our Behavioral Health team is welcoming the new season and talking with us about what it means to grow, to heal, and to “spring forward” into a healthier life.

For our team, spring reflects the therapeutic process, growth that happens over time, with care and support. You might find Marykate MacShane, LCSW, admiring the first tulips or Dr. Elyse S. Rubenstein, MD, gardening, while Alejandra Machado, LCSW, bird watches.

There is a shared understanding: environment matters. Just as nature needs the right conditions to bloom, our mental health thrives when we provide it with the right resources.

Many people wonder what brings someone into this work. For our team, it often began with a deeply personal reason. For some, like Marykate, it is a lifelong commitment to social justice shaped by her family. Dr. Rubenstein embraces her “caregiver’s heart,” formed through volunteer work in High School. Alejandra saw firsthand how much physical and mental health impact well-being. David wanted to be in the field “doing the work,” while Meredith was driven by a simple but powerful desire to give people the tools to change their own lives.

For Beth, the turning point came while working with the most vulnerable populations in the justice system and realizing that healing is very difficult without access to mental health support.

What does progress look like in behavioral health therapy? Sometimes, it is a quiet moment of change. For Meredith, it’s knowing she has made a difference. David loves seeing when things “click” for a patient, as they realize the tools they have learned in therapy give them the power to change their perspective and take control of their next steps.

One of the most powerful parts of counseling is simply being heard. Dr. Rubenstein and Alejandra both reflect on the privilege of creating a safe space where patients can share things they may have carried for a long time. Dr. Rubenstein once had a patient tell her, “You just spent more time with me than all the people I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Beth shares, mental health isn’t a destination to be reached, but “ground that is constantly gained and lost”; it is something we work on over time, with compassion for ourselves on the journey.

To give their best to the community, our team knows they must also care for themselves. You might find David immersed in the rhythm of traditional Mexican dance, or Alejandra releasing the day’s energy through powerlifting. Others find balance in the companionship of pets, or the restorative power of meditation and family time.

A Message to Our Community

If there is one thing this team wants you to know, it is this: You belong here. Whether you are navigating trauma, feeling overwhelmed, or just need to talk, you are welcome at LCH. There is no judgment, only support. As Beth reminds us, “we have heard it all,” and as Alejandra notes, “you don’t have to wait” to seek support.

This Counseling Awareness Month, LCH invites you to take the first step. Give yourself the chance to see how good things can be. At LCH, we are more than providers; we are your partners in care; we walk with you as you grow, heal, and spring into a healthier life.