Windhorse Oews

Fo r t h e C o m m u n i t y a n d Fr i e n d s o f W i n d h o r s e I n t e g r a t i v e M e n t a l H e a l t h
Summer 2011 | Vol. 11, No. 1

From the Director

My garden at home has perennials I look forward to greeting each spring. Perhaps I am a perennial at Windhorse as I begin another Interim Executive Director term. This time, though, I am entering the position to create stability and build projects that reach into the future, rather than bringing along someone from within to take up the leadership reins. I have learned in my jobs between Windhorse stints that my leadership skills are strong and my vision coherent. So, let us begin again.
I am also excited. During Jacks term (the previous director) there was encouragement for the professional growth of clinicians and finding ways to propel them into new projects and healing approaches. One of the new initiatives here was a training in the Open Dialogue approach and interest in working with other area professionals to integrate that
Victoria Yoshen, interim executive director

approach for individuals experiencing their first break. On the other coast, there is a start-up WIMH in San Luis Obispo, California (spread the word, please) that is based in Windhorse principles and brings in inter-modal and ecotherapy approaches.
{continued on page3}

Windhorse IMH-West
Due to a convergence of a generous gift from a grateful family of a past client and an increased volume of calls from the west coast, we have developed another location for the Windhorse approach to flourish in. San Luis Obispo, California is the town that Windhorse Integrative Mental Health - West is located in. Sarah Carr, MA and John Roorda, LCSW are co-Clinical Directors, Stacy Schutten, PsyD., MFT and Coraline Robinson, LMFT are Team Leaders, Melodee Quiroz, CMT and Rob Hutchings are Team Counselors, Dana Franz is the Office Manager, Lisa Teague is the Director of Admissions & Marketing, and Adam Woodward, once a housemate in Northampton is now working as a housemate in San Luis Obispo. Visit WindhorseIMH.org to learn more about this wonderful staff and their beautiful location. Any gifts to support this new venture are gratefully accepted.
{more photographs on page 6}

art by: Nick Luchetti

In memory of Dr. Harold Raush

Harold Raush joined the Windhorse staff in Northampton in 1995. He had been working at Berkshire Medical Center supervising interns when he was invited to an event by Alexander Dreier (one of the founding members of the Windhorse staff). Alexander introduced him to Jeff Fortuna, the founder of Windhorse in Northampton. As Jeff described the Windhorse approach, Harold became intrigued to learn that such a compassionate and individualized approach to support and treatment was underway. It reminded him of his mentors work (Fritz Redl) which studied the effect of the environment on ones distress. Harold began at the beginning by exchanging basic attendance shifts with Jeff Fortuna and using that information to inform his own therapeutic practice with clients. Harold went on to serve as a team counselor and later as a board member. After he retired from the board, Dr. Raush consulted with clinicians as a Windhorse elder. Below are excerpts of an interview process we began with Harold shortly before he passed away at the age of 90 years.

Jeff Bliss

Jeff: When you first started working at Windhorse what did you notice about the clinicians who were there? Harold: They had such a strong commitment to why they were working there and that was so clearly different to me than what I experienced while working in several prominent hospitals and residential facilities. Jeff: Different? How so? Harold: The way the staff related to each other and to the people seeking help, there was a real investment in their attention to relationships. Jeff: Can you say a bit more about this? Harold: The staff took the time, made the effort, and had the commitment of self to open up a level of communication that makes ones struggles available. And they did this by holding their neutrality, not by setting goals of achieving an end result for the clients. That really had an impact on me.

Jeff: Did this change your own approach to working with individuals? Harold: Oh yes, I softened in a way, and I think I became more available while keeping clear about boundaries. The staff at Windhorse were (and still are) always checking in with what they call the therapist/friend dilemma and by recognizing it and talking about it, we all became better clinicians I think. Jeff: What about the work in the households, the apartments where people were living? What was different or essential in the work you were doing there as a clinician? Harold: It felt like the people we were working with had a chance to get relief from the intensity of a residential treatment program where everyone usually lives together. It normalized their experience and it allowed clinicians to pay attention to helping to uplift the environment without coercion, helping the clients reach a semi-comfortable relationship with that. I think it also equalized the status of my relationship

to them in a way. And when that happened I think it helped to shift some clients basic assumptions about their madness. Jeff: Can you relate a specific event that occurred during your work with Windhorse that captures some of the qualities of what this approach holds for you? Harold: Well lets see (chuckles), it has been awhile. What comes to mind just now was a client I was working with who liked to take long walks in the woods and did not want to speak much. I enjoyed them thoroughly, but I was not sure I was getting very far in connecting with this person. So one day I brought over to her apartment some Native American Womens poetry and started reading it aloud. It became the place where we could connect and opened up a whole facet of our exchange with one another. Jeff: Thanks for taking the time to reflect on your work at Windhorse. It has been a pleasure speaking with you.

windhorse newsletter summer 2011

Reflections: Windhorse Community members write about Dr. Harold Raush

I first was introduced to Harold at Alexander Dreiers home at a New Years Day party as I recall. Alexander may have invited Harold for this purpose of meeting some Windhorse people. He knew Harold and had the idea that we could work well together. I recall his bright inquisitive eyes, almost mischievous. He talked some about his background in psychology and therapy which was very impressive. What most struck me was that he was still the student, still wanting to learn, still open to the newness of the discovery right around the next corner. I told him something about Windhorse and Ed Podvoll. I may have told him that he would not be able to practice as a psychotherapist in Windhorse until he went through the same training in that discipline that everyone else had to go through...and that I was the teacher of that discipline. He was clearly my elder in all ways and yet he thought that sounded fine...he had that kind of humble spirit and love of learning. Then, many years later, about 2 months before his death, he called me, which was the first time since I had left Windhorse Northampton in 2002. We talked some about his experience with Windhorse and we just compared personal notes on health and family and current interests. We acknowledged that we missed each other and then said goodbye. Goodbye Harold, dear friend, dear learning companion. You remain an inspiration for us, the younger ones, walking in your footprints. Because of you we find our way. Love, Jeff. Jeff Fortuna, the clinical founder of Windhorse in Northampton and current Director of Windhorse Community Services in Boulder, Colorado Harold always greeted me (and all of us) warmly, taking a moment to chat. The conversations were brief check-ins, but inevitably helpful and often humorous. I felt honored that he valued our social connection, and that it was unfettered by any of our other roles. This clarity of engagement made him the consummate professional, beyond any of his accomplishments or accolades. David Stark, Peer Coordinator at Windhorse IMH Summer is almost gone. Will I see another spring? My granddaughter smiles. Mary Tibbetts, co-Clinical Director. She attended a memorial service for Harold and heard a haiku poem that Harold had written about his granddaughter when she was one year old (twelve years ago)

What comes to me when I think of Harold are his qualities: Patience, gentleness, loyalty, and the reassuring presence I always felt around him. Connie Packard, Founder and Donor

{From the Director, page 1}

The community groups here are a great example of our expanded ideas. We added a contemplative community art group that is enlivening our walls with their expressive artwork. In collaboration with the RLC (Resource Learning Community) we are offering a Hearing Voices group after several staff attended a training by Ron Coleman based on Jacqui Dillons work in England. What needs rebuilding at WIMH is a wider underlying support. The Board is revitalizing the Fundraising and Development committees. The Clinical Directors and I are discussing internal trainings (including a community wide Recovering Sanity introduction led by a group of clinicians). The Education Initiative is planning daylong retreats for at-home caregivers and other professionals. Nick Luchetti is articulating for conferences and other groups of professionals the compassionate inter-person meditative approach that is now cutting edge and Windhorse has been practicing for decades.

The low-income financial aid Endowment has provided our first use of funds for a young man who is delighted to be able to work on his healing with us. Many of us are investigating what is required to run an intern/volunteer program in order to boost affordable support for large teams. Still Point is alive and evolving as we figure out the best mix of home-holding and clinical support for new arrivals to WIMH. Our current iteration has a compassionate couple that has been involved with Windhorse for years managing their home as a Still Point. There are many ways to join and enliven the Windhorse community. We are seeking introductions to people interested in the approach: as referrals, board members, donors, grantors or volunteers. We are ready to start teaching in professional circles, if you have any connections to people that arrange seminars or presentations. We are open to ideas of other ways our approach can collaborate with an existing program. Give me a call!
windhorse newsletter summer 2011 3

An Appreciation By Arthur Teague Photiadis

Victoria Yoshen
windhorse is a time to explore, to discover, to connect and to make ends meet to develop self-efficacy, social skills, and, diplomacy. It can be a time to unwind and make new friends, and, a time to put ones life back together. Friendship is the most important key. Friendship is what keeps it all together. Developing interpersonal skills, relationship skills, and, health in building rewarding relationships is what my team members enable me so that I can give adequate attention to revelatory precision. Each uniquely inspires me to eloquently relate to myself and to others with open arms, open perspectives, and, compelling esteem. We are building the architecture for a fantastic structure.

A Reflection As we set sail upon an ocean of discovery

we release the tethers holding us to port and raise the sails to be filled by the billowing windwith our compass set and the heavens as our map we allow one burning star after another to be our guide by night as we conquer awe by the sheer majestic immersion of it and emerge with brazen confidence into the dawning of a new day. The suns golden chariot makes us ruddy, we keep ourselves composed as we do our daily work awaiting the exquisite delight of night where the intellect can be put to rest or tamed by seasoned maturity to conquer the mind. Arthur Teague Photiadis

Windhorse gives me the opportunities to contemplate, and, to take action. Windhorse allows me to give attention to what needs it most whether it is on shifts with counselors, time with my housemate, or, time by myself. I am unable to get carried away by my personal affairs and I am unable to keep up without attending to my personal life. It allows me to put my life back together again, piece by piece. It is extraordinarily aesthetic. Windhorse is everything one would need, every opportunity available at your fingertips, every support in place for nurturing development, right here, in one complete program.

grounded in trials and tribulations buffering the effectiveness of each soul and the collective consciousness of reality in this world as we know it to be! Each member of my team cultivates me to grow and to aspire to the next level of accomplishment. We encourage attention to detail for the appreciation felt together as a team in the presence of challenges to any individual member to take life to new heights and depths. Oftentimes my team members will enlighten the advocate to new levels of awareness composing the missing piece in preparation for the next phase. Unequivocally team members help in realizing that we, in ourselves, do not know it all, and, together we can do more if we perform at our best as members of a team.

My experience has been a time to explore the unknown; a time to challenge the perceptual paradigm of consensual reality; all in coming to my senses to begin to define what is beyond all definition: thereby adding depth, and, grounding it in everyday life. Each member of a Windhorse team cultivates the strength and weaknesses of each others character. Reinforcing positive attributes while overcoming negative characteristics. Each offers unique perspectives to nurture and address the deep mosaic of personality and individual descriptions of health. No doubt that taken together as a team the effects are powerfully long-lasting and out of this world while well

windhorse newsletter summer 2011

illustration by R. Meckler

The team approach is the best approach! Team members complement. Team members enhance each other. Team members choose selectively what needs to cultivate efficiency and what enhances quality of life and performance. Having various people to interact with frequently on various fronts, not only keeps life interesting, but, enables members to learn more about each other, about ourselves and to piece together more of the elements of the entire picture of life. It allows me to make more endeavors in developing harmony and counterpoint in more complete perspectives. Opportunity for any individual awaits in anticipated expectation for what might, might, come next with the momentous excitement of an entire person, an entire program, an entire life delicately held aloft in the balance just waiting for the opportunities, the right circumstances, to blossom with full effects! My team provides counsel, and, provides me with the opportunity to be a director of that council. The team provides me with the opportunities to be in charge of my

own recovery with all of the responsibilities that entails. Each team member can accept and encourage responsibilities taken by other team members as part in the conglomeration of the whole. Competency is the first requirement and is ultimately triumphant. Windhorse is beyond me or my team, it is everybody and everyone whom we will ever meet, whom we will ever touch with our graciousness. If we ask each other to make a masterpiece would you do it with me to the best of our abilities? Words are not enough, thoughts are not enough, contemplation can be equalized by complacency. One has to give more, more than one has ever given in ones whole life: we each have the opportunities to harness all of our intellectual capabilities, all of our spiritual capabilities, all of our physical capabilities to conquer the world and everything in it, and, return it to its rightful owner!

windhorse newsletter summer 2011

Windhorse IMH-West in photos by Stu Wetherbe. San Luis Obispo,

You are already whole; you just have to realize that. There is nothing superhuman about you, but you are wondrously and perfectly well-formed, and so beautiful. To the extent you see beauty You Are. By L.G., a community member

Windhorse IMH
Education & Outreach Developments
Nick Luchetti presented at the certificate program offered by the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy based in Boston. This was the 3rd straight year for Nick to present. His topic was Windhorse and the Tradition of Interpersonal Mindfulness. Mary recently attended the Scientific Conference on Healthcare & Society, hosted by John Kabat Zinns Center for Mindfulness. She found many attendants interested in the application of mindful attention to the relational therapeutic work that occurs at Windhorse. She also recently attended the annual conference of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy.

Comings

We are delighted with the addition of a new board member recently. Michele Herbst has taken her seat on the board and is working with us on our fundraising goals. We pay tribute to Reuven Goldstein for his service to the Windhorse board, most recently in his role as Board President. Reuven has been gracious in continuing as a valued member of our Finance Committee. Board elections occurred this past fall and leadership roles are now filled by: John Copen as President, Peter Dulchinos as Vice-President, Mike Stein as Treasurer, and Sera Davidow as Clerk. We welcome Cynthia Johnson, LICSW and Pauline Ovens, LICSW as Team Leaders to our staff. Welcome also to Ali Pinschmidt, our film-maker Administrative Coordinator extraordinaire. We welcome Brittany Cripps and Matthew Cohen as housemates on Windhorse household teams here. We also thank and appreciate both Sean Speers and Loren Halman who brought their compassionate spirit to their work as housemates and fed this community in many other ways. Beginning last fall, Carlos Encalada, a Masters candidate in Social Work at Smith College, joined us for a year as a clinical intern. He has brought a vibrant empathy and strong clinical skills to his position here. We have said goodbye to clinicians Marilyn Marks and Sara Watters They each brought insightful clinical care to each client they worked with. We wish them well in all their future pursuits.

&

Goings

outreach: Mary and Nick are planning a caregivers retreat. This will be a one-day retreat for family members and will include guided meditation, movement, and council and/or dialogue sessions.
Nick has traveled to San Luis Obispo to explore with the staff there a greater understanding of the practices of basic attendance and the team approach to supporting recovery.

dialogical practices: We are finding dialogic work (based on the dialogic-network practice that derives from Finnish Open Dialogue work used in Finland) to be highly compatible with the Windhorse approach and a useful tool for our work. Several senior clinicians attended an introductory training last summer with Mary Olson Ph.D, a family therapist who trained with Dr. Jakku Seikkula in Finland.
We are cultivating dialogic practices in two ways: 1) Admissions has been using more dialogic language in interviews and looking for a local client with whom we might have an open dialoguelike approach as an intervention. This might lead to a subsequent Windhorse team or the series of dialogic meetings might be all we do. And 2) several clinicians who trained in dialogic work have been using the approach on teams particularly in family meetings and three-month reviews.

By Mary Tibbetts, coClinical Director

In search of maple syrup by Frank-Peter Liebmann

windhorse newsletter summer 2011

Windhorse Integrative Mental Health 211 North Street, Suite 1 Northampton, MA 01060
return service requested

NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE

PA I D
NORTHAMPTON, MA PERMIT NO. 140

Please consider a contribution to Windhorse Integrative Mental Health today in support of our scholarship fund.
WINDHORSE IMH-EAST Northampton Staff
Denise Amato, respite Jeff Bliss, MSW, director, Admissions & Marketing Nick Boutros, LMHC, substance Abuse specialist Nellie Brahms, respite Matthew Cohen, Housemate Annie Collins, Fiscal Manager Brittany Cripps, Housmate Susan Dorfman, respite Carlos Encalada, smith college MsW intern Eric Friedland-Kays, MA, co-clinical director / Admissions Manager Bruce Goderez, MD, Psychiatrist Gordon Grant, PsyD, respite Cynthia Johnson, LCSW, team Leader Jerilyn Kolbin, respite Nick Luchetti, MS, senior clinician / education & training Renee Mendez, RN, MA, co-clinical director, nurse Timothy Ness, BA, Housemate Pauline Ovens, LICSW, team Leader Ali Pinschmidt, MA, Office Manager Suzanne Rataj, BA, respite Edward Schreiber, respite Sparky Shooting Star, spiritual counselor David Stark, BA, CPS, Peer coordinator Cheryl Stevens, MD, respite Jennifer Stuart, respite Mary Tibbetts, LICSW, co-clinicial director, Family coordinator Phoebe Walker Murray, MA, senior clinician, Admissions Lindsay Weremay, BA,team counselor Stephanie Westphal, BS, RN, Wellness nurse Stuart Wetherbe, Foster Family caregiver Elise White, BA, Peer counselor, Admin. Asst. Victoria Yoshen, interim executive director Rob Hutchings, team counselor Melodee Quiroz, CMT, team counselor John Roorda, LCSW, co-clinical director Coraline Robinson, LMFT, team Leader Stacy Schutten, PsyD., MFT, team Leader James Stice, PhD, RN, Wellness nurse Lisa Teague, director, Admissions & Marketing Adam Woodward, Housemate

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Copen, President Sera Davidow, clerk David Stark, BA Peter Dulchinos, JD, vice-President Michael Stein, treasurer Michele Hoffman Herbst CREDITS Editor: Jeff Bliss; Designer: LAC Design

WINDHORSE IMH-WEST San Luis Obispo Staff

Sarah Carr, MA, co-clinical director Dana Franz, Office Manager Anahata Lovely Day, Housemate

WINDHORSE INTEgRATIvE MENTAL HEALTH, a non-profit therapeutic and educational organization, is pioneering a whole-person approach to recovery from psychiatric disorders. We offer comprehensive, individually designed therapeutic programs in the community. Care is based in the clients home or in a therapeutic household shared with a staff housemate. Mindfulness, attention to the whole person, restoration of personal and social connections, and belief in recovery are basic principles underlying our approach. Windhorse also offers education and training in recovery skills and consultation to individuals and families. For more information, to request a brochure describing our programs, or to make a referral or inquire about admission, contact Admissions by phone (ext. 303), mail, or e-mail. Windhorse IMHEast 211 North Street, Suite #1, Northampton, MA 01060 413-586-0207, ext. 333 Windhorse IMHWest 1411 Marsh Street Suite 103 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-548-8931, ext. 102

413-586-0207 Toll Free: 877-844-8181

www.WindhorseIMH.org