We are pleased to announce
LAUREN GROCOCK
as the Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM)
Volunteer Highlight for April 2026!
MHAM’s volunteer highlight for April – Lauren Grocock – is being honored for her contributions to MHAM’s Maternal Mental Health Fellowship and the Pro Bono Counseling Project (PBCP). The Fellowship is a 6 month long intensive training program where early career clinicians receive weekly clinical supervision, counseling work with perinatal individuals through the PBCP, and high level supplemental training.
Lauren graduated with a Masters in Social Work from IUSB in 2023. She joined the Maternal Mental Health Fellowship in October of 2025.
“After my own experiences with pregnancy, postpartum, and becoming a new mom, I felt a strong desire to grow and learn how to better support others on this journey,” says Lauren. “It can often feel incredibly lonely and isolating, and I want new parents to know they are not alone – and that it’s okay to ask for help. I am inspired to work with MHAM where I can contribute to a meaningful mission while continuing to grow both personally and professionally. Being a small part of this organization that values collaboration, integrity, and positive impact motivates me to bring my best each day and continue to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Clinical Coordinator Maria Guarraci on Lauren’s contributions to the Fellowship and the PBCP:
“Lauren has been a wonderful asset to MHAM. She has served our perinatal clients well during her Fellowship with us and we are so pleased that she plans to continue working with the perinatal population in her work at Seasons Counseling Center.”
MHAM’s professional and maternal mental health workforce development reflects our commitment to improving community access to effective and culturally responsive care. MHAM has provided perinatal focused continuing education classes and an annual perinatal symposium since 2020. MHAM’s Maternal Mental Health Fellowship began in August, 2024. A total of four early career clinicians have completed the fellowship and continue to serve Michiana.
“Training clinicians to work effectively with pregnant and postpartum families has generational impact,” says Lisa Kelly, MHAM Executive Director. “We are training the next generation of perinatal clinicians and helping new families get the best start. We know the impact that this service has on individual families through the feedback we have received from them. Likewise, we can see the learning and increased confidence that clinicians have at the completion of their fellowship.”
Lauren enjoys working with adolescents, maternal mental health, and LGBTA+ folks, and enjoys creating a safe space to collaborate with others towards their personal goals. She shares what she enjoys about her work with MHAM:
“The most beneficial part of my experience was the supervision and training, which helped me build confidence both overall and as a clinician working in maternal mental health. Working directly with clients further deepened my passion for supporting this population. Having a supportive professional community and seeking out ongoing training are incredibly important. Don’t be afraid to ask questions — clients don’t expect perfection; they want to feel seen, heard, and supported. Most importantly, follow your passion. Seeing my clients’ personal growth and watching them begin to embrace and enjoy this new phase of their lives is incredibly rewarding!”
Thank you Lauren for your hard work and dedication to improving mental health in Michiana!
To learn more about doing a masters level counseling or social work internship at MHAM, contact us at info@mhamichiana.org.
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To learn more about the Pro Bono Counseling Project, click HERE!
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info@mhamichiana.org
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