What first brought Marla S. to Walk-In as a volunteer is different from what has kept her here for nearly 11 years. “When I first came to Walk-In, I was really looking for a broader experience to hone my counseling skills,” she says. “What keeps me here is that it fills a gap. Walk-In serves the community so well – it’s here for people who don’t have anywhere else to turn.”
When she first arrived, Marla already knew a lot about Walk-In. She had been referring clients here in her role answering phone calls for the United Way’s 211 service and Crisis Connection, the 24-hour phone counseling line that closed last year. “I was pleasantly surprised that Walk-In was so home-like and welcoming. It didn’t feel like a clinic at all.”
Coming from a background in occupational therapy before switching into counseling psychology, Marla had already worked with people from a wide age range. “Motherhood gave me a lot of hands-on experience, too. … But at Walk-In, the variety of people who come through the door is really special. Every session is different, and every challenge is different. I love working with the teams and the team consultants, who place value on what each person brings to the team. They are a great example of servant-leadership.”
“For my part, I don’t do anything exceptional. I provide emotional support, connect people with resources, and plant the seed for change. You don’t always make the change when you are with the person, but you create the thought that change is possible. I like to think that almost everyone receives something by coming here.”
Inspired by her heroine, journalist and social activist Dorothy Day, Marla passionately believes that mental health care should be available to everyone. “Dorothy Day was about empowering people, ensuring that they have shelter, food, and dignity. I see health care as part of that.”
Whether it’s because of no insurance, skimpy insurance, or long waits, mental health care is not available to everyone. And that’s what keeps Marla coming back to serve clients. “Don’t we all need to do what we can to help each other?”