January 2025 – Mental Health Volunteer Highlight

MHAM January Volunteer Highlight - John Petersen

We are pleased to announce

JOHN PETERSEN

as the Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM)

Volunteer Highlight for January!

 

MHAM’s volunteer highlight for January – John Petersenis a volunteer clinician with the Asesoramiento Gratuito, which as an affiliate of Mental Health America, is an important part of our community engagement and service throughout Michiana. The goal of the PBCP is to increase access to mental health counseling for individuals, couples or families who do not have insurance or are otherwise unable to afford mental health counseling. This is a short-term arrangement (up to 12 sessions with a 3-6 month period) at no cost to the client.

MHAM Executive Director Lisa Kelly on the importance of the PBCP within Michiana:

“I am humbled by the commitment that our volunteer clinicians and interns have made to the PBCP since it piloted in 2021. The PBCP is one of MHAM’s anchor projects dedicated to meeting a vital community need by removing barriers to care. It is a delight to honor John with this month’s volunteer highlight.”

PBCP Coordinator Linda Raven on her experience working with John:

“John is a seasoned psychologist who has been with the PBCP since the beginning. It’s wonderful having a PBCP volunteer who specializes in working with couples. I know when I send a couple to him that they are in good hands. He gets consistently good feedback from couples.

John tells us why he decided to get involved in the work of MHAM:

“Why work with the Pro Bono Counseling Project? 

In my first years out of school, I worked exclusively with “at risk” populations in community mental health and later in the juvenile state prison system. These were primarily families and individuals without many financial resources. I loved the work but ultimately lost my trust in the institutions that employed me. For this and other reasons, I slowly launched a private practice and immediately encountered the dilemma of sliding scale fees and the loss of diversity in my clientele. The Pro Bono Counseling Project helps on both fronts. I no longer slide my fees but refer people to PBCP instead. In taking PBCP clients, I enjoy more cultural diversity that comes with varied SES backgrounds in our community. 

While I’m personally enriched by every client in my office, I find a special joy in being generous within PBCP. I’m reminded of the research finding that giving enhances a sense of abundance, whether giving time or money. Compassion works similarly. Engaged compassion expands the heart and human experience. Compassion gives and receives compassion. I am humbled and enriched by creative, compassionate work with people from all neighborhoods in South Bend and surrounding areas via PBCP.”

He further explains why he feels that the Pro Bono Counseling Project is particularly important to his practice in South Bend, IN:  

“Sharon Bain and I lead a small group of clinicians at Family Psychology of South Bend LLC. We personally trained half the staff, and most of us work in relationship health, perinatal mental health, or child/family health. When teaching and training other clinicians, we have more capacity to accept PBCP clients, but some of us have made a longer-term commitment to the project. We support community relationships and our Michiana neighbors because we are only as healthy as our relationships and only as safe and happy as our community. We are all kin. Community relationship is not only a strong personal value. It is central to my training and work as an Adlerian-trained psychologist.”

While it’s clear that the PBCP is the right choice for John, he also encourages other Michiana counselors to consider it for their work, as well. 

“If you want to give back, why not join PBCP and give your greatest talent and skill? You can do it in the natural flow of your day. Deepen your relationship with the community, and trust that it will deepen you. The two are not separate.”

 


 

To learn more about the Pro Bono Counseling Project, click HERE!


Are you interested in volunteer opportunities?  Send us an email:

info@mhamichiana.org


→ To make a financial gift to support MHAM, visit:

Donar

 

Spanish