The Path Forward Mental Health with Maps

Music, Belonging, and Mental Health: How Music Builds Community | Ep 8

Episode 8: Music, Belonging, and Mental HealthIn this episode of The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps, Dr. Gina Pasquale sits down with Sam Bergman, Executive Director of Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, to explore the connection between music, belonging, and mental health.From early childhood experiences with the Suzuki method to a lifelong career in music and leadership, Sam shares how music became more than an art form—it became a lifeline. Together, they examine how community, mentorship, and shared creative experiences can serve as powerful antidotes to loneliness.This conversation dives into:• How music creates deep, lasting community• Why belonging is essential for mental health• The impact of summer camp culture and shared experiences• The dangers of the “suffering artist” myth• How programs like “Playing for Peace” use music to build global connection• Why young people today need community more than everWhether you are a musician or simply someone who has ever been moved by music, this episode offers a powerful reminder: we are not meant to do life alone.

When Mental Health Shapes Leadership: A Community Leader Reflects | Ep 7

The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps In this episode, Dr. Gina Pasquale sits down with Mark Bodin, President of Savings Bank of Walpole, to talk about how mental health shapes families, leadership, and the places we work. Mark shares his personal experience of losing his father to suicide, the long shadow that loss cast over his family, and how openness, compassion, and community can help reduce stigma and support healing. Mark reflects on grief, survivor guilt, and why focusing on how someone died can distract from what families truly need: understanding, care, and presence. He also explores how these experiences have informed his leadership philosophy and helped shape a workplace culture that supports employees as whole human beings — especially during life’s most difficult seasons. This conversation is a reminder that mental health is not a private issue — it lives in our families, our communities, and our workplaces — and that talking about it is one of the most powerful forms of prevention and care. Topics in this episode include: • Living with the loss of a parent to suicide • Grief, stigma, and survivor guilt • Why “how they died” isn’t the right question • Making mental health mentionable — and manageable • Supporting employees through trauma and life transitions • Creating trauma-informed, human-centered workplaces • Mental health across different seasons of life Content Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and grief. If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Whether you’re navigating loss, supporting someone who is grieving, or thinking about how to create healthier workplaces and communities, Mark’s story offers perspective, compassion, and hard-earned wisdom. ⸻ — 🌱 Learn more about Maps Counseling Services: https://mapsnh.org 📧 Contact: office@mapsnh.org 🎙️ Hosted by: Dr. Gina Pasquale 🏢 Produced by: Maps Counseling Services 🎥 Filmed | Directed | Edited by: Christopher David #MentalHealthMatters #ThePathForward #SuicideAwareness #GriefSupport #WorkplaceMentalHealth #CommunityCare #TraumaInformed #KeeneNH #MapsCounselingServices #SavingsBankOfWalpole

From Uprooted to Unshakable: How Becky Beaton Found Her Way Forward | Ep. 6

🎙️ Ep. 6 | Becky Beaton on Healing, Housing, and Holding It All Together The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps In this episode, Dr. Gina Pasquale sits down with Becky Beaton, Executive Director of Hundred Nights, to talk about navigating life after early childhood upheaval, family separation, addiction, imposter syndrome, and devastating personal loss — including a house fire that destroyed her home with a 3-month-old infant. Becky opens up about her lifelong journey of resilience and connection — how she broke generational cycles of alcoholism, learned to build enduring relationships, and now leads one of New Hampshire’s most vital homeless shelters. Her story is a profound reminder that strength doesn’t mean going it alone. It means knowing where — and with whom — you can land when the unexpected comes. Topics in this episode include: • Coping with childhood trauma and divorce • Understanding addiction and intergenerational impact • Rebuilding after losing a home • Parenting with compassion and boundaries • The invisible effects of imposter syndrome • Loving through imperfection • Why community support is non-negotiable Whether you’re struggling with your past, trying to support someone in crisis, or building something new from the ashes, Becky’s story offers clarity, compassion, and hard-won wisdom. ⸻ 🌐 Learn more about Maps Counseling Services: https://mapsnh.org 📬 Contact: office@mapsnh.org 🎧 Hosted by: Dr. Gina Pasquale 🎥 Produced by: Maps Counseling Services 📸 Filmed | Directed | Edited by: Christopher David #MentalHealthMatters #ThePathForward #GriefRecovery #GenerationalHealing #ImposterSyndrome #SubstanceUseAwareness #CommunitySupport #KeeneNH #HundredNights #MapsCounselingServices

On the Other Side of the Door: A Mother’s Journey Through Grief and Growth | Ep. 5

he Path Forward: Mental Health with MapsIn this episode, Dr. Gina Pasquale sits down with Barbara Weisman to talk about life after the unimaginable — the death of her son, Stratton. Known for her leadership in food insecurity and community support, Barbara shares a deeply personal side of her experience through grief, identity, nervous system healing, and what it means to continue showing up in the world.Together, they explore how loss reshapes us, the difference between trauma and grief, the importance of rituals, and the beautiful coexistence of joy and sorrow. Barbara opens up about facilitating a grief retreat in Costa Rica, navigating “the other side of the door,” and how she’s found meaning in community and service.Topics in this episode include: • The myth of “getting over” grief • Rebuilding a nervous system after trauma • Ego rupture and post-traumatic growth • Holding space for other grieving parents • The healing power of writing and breathwork • Grief and joy coexisting — literally dancing togetherWhether you’re grieving, supporting someone who is, or simply looking to better understand the human experience, Barb’s insights offer profound empathy, wisdom, and light.🌐 Learn more about Maps Counseling Services: https://mapsnh.org📧 Contact: office@mapsnh.org🎙️ Hosted by: Dr. Gina Pasquale🎥 Produced by: Maps Counseling Services & Ava Drenkhahn📽️ Filmed | Directed | Edited by: Christopher David#ParentalGrief #MentalHealthMatters #CommunityHealing #ThePathForward #MapsCounselingServices #GriefAndJoy #PostTraumaticGrowth #KeeneNH

Carrying History Into Service: Mayor Kahn on Generational Trauma, Mental Health, and the Power of Community Ep. 4

Mayor Jay Kahn’s journey—from the son of German Jewish refugees to a lifelong advocate for higher education, mental health, and community belonging—is a masterclass in civic empathy and transformational leadership.In this deeply personal conversation, Dr. Gina Pasquale sits down with Mayor Kahn to explore identity, prejudice, and the power of listening. Together, they trace his family’s escape from Nazi Germany, his formative years in Chicago, his rise through higher education, and his tireless efforts to build a more inclusive Keene, New Hampshire—including for the LGBTQIA2+ community and local youth. Through it all, Kahn shares the mindset that guides him: seek discomfort, listen deeply, and “find the leverage point.”Whether you’re interested in community leadership, mental health policy, or creating spaces of true belonging, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a profound sense of hope.