As we celebrate the one year anniversary of moving into our new office on Gold Flat Road, it seems like a perfect time to reflect on what this building has meant to the ministry and mission of Anew Day. How has the building itself been a part of spreading hope in our community?
It was with thoughtful intention that this space was created to be a warm and welcoming environment for each client that comes seeking healing, growth and wellness. The counseling rooms were identically furnished so that if a client's session needs to be in a different room than usual, it still feels familiar to them. For some of our clients, the space is so dramatically different from their home that they have remarked that this is the “only place” or the “first place” they have ever felt truly safe.
Sound mitigation was a high priority and has made the rooms peaceful and calm, but what difference does this make? One client who came from an abusive home would startle in alarm with loud sounds that could be heard through the walls of our old office (despite our use of noise muffling sound machines). Her counselor remarked with joy about the difference our quieter rooms had made in allowing the client to feel safe and secure during their session. The client had been able to talk through the entire session without startling.
We also chose to make some specialty rooms. A youth room with multiple sensory objects, fidget objects, and decor that take away the clinic feel and give the room a cool, hang out vibe. One teen touring the building commented, “If I ever come here this is the room I'd want.” That is exactly what we were hoping for!
Additionally, we now have a room for emotional support animals for our two counselors who bring therapy dogs as well as for our clients who bring their emotional support dogs with them. As clients look at painful and traumatic parts of their lives, having this critical part of their support system present can be incredibly calming and helpful in making them feel safe.
Small groups use our art room. From Let Your HeART Speak art group to our weekly Women’s or Men’s Support Groups, to our Counseling Skills Workshop Training, this has been their safe place. More than once these groups have been offered the opportunity to move to our larger meeting room if they need more space and the response has been, “But this room feels so cozy and safe.”
You may have noticed the repeating theme of feeling safe. The design choices were intentional so we could meet the need clients have to feel safe because feeling safe is a prerequisite to being able to heal and grow.
This space is larger than our previous office and that has enabled us to place more clients. When we had limited space, we had some days where, due to staff availability, we had more counselors than rooms and couldn’t schedule clients for those potential sessions. With 14 counseling rooms, we now are able to schedule every hour our counselors generously donate to meet with our clients.
Lastly, as our staff of Lay Counselors has grown this year, we have been able to continue meeting as one group in our very large conference room. This has meant so much to our Lay Counseling team because it is the one time all week we can be together. We have even been able to invite the professional team to our meetings and monthly potluck lunches benefiting both teams with the opportunity for mutual encouragement and the sharing of learning and resources.
Whether we view the building through the eyes of our clients or our staff, we are grateful for the provision of such a beautiful, functional, safe space that enables us to better serve our community because that is our passion and our purpose.
Julie Bousfield
Lay Counseling Supervisor
