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

Seeing Men’s Mental Health Differently | S2E2

In this episode of The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps, Dr. Gina Pasquale sits down with Austin Mabry, a therapist at Maps Counseling Services, to explore the needs of boys and men in mental health care. Together, they discuss why men’s mental health has often gone unacknowledged, how boys can learn to suffer silently, and what happens when vulnerability, sadness, sensitivity, and emotional pain are treated as something to hide rather than something human. Austin shares from both his professional work and his own lived experience, reflecting on adolescent depression, isolation, Buddhist practice, men’s groups, and the healing power of being seen by others.   This conversation looks closely at how our understanding of strength, masculinity, vulnerability, and healing can shift over time. What once may have looked like weakness, sensitivity, or failure can begin to look different when we understand it through the lens of connection, emotional honesty, and shared humanity. This conversation dives into: • Why boys and men often suffer in silence • The pressure to be strong, stoic, and self-reliant • Depression, shame, and emotional isolation in adolescence • Why vulnerability can feel risky for men • The importance of male role models and men’s groups • How healing often happens in relationship with others • The difference between shutting down and being emotionally honest • Why supporting men’s mental health also supports families and communities • How purpose and meaning can strengthen mental health Whether you are a parent, therapist, educator, partner, friend, or someone reflecting on your own path, this episode offers an honest invitation to see men’s mental health differently — with more compassion, more complexity, and more room for boys and men to be fully human.

When Childhood Memories Take On New Meaning | S2E1

In this episode of The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps, Dr. Gina Pasquale sits down with Liz LaRose, President of Monadnock United Way, for a personal conversation about meaning making, resilience, childhood experiences, and the power of community. Liz shares a story from early childhood about a frightening encounter she did not fully understand at the time. Years later, as her awareness grew, she began to make sense of what happened, not by forcing a silver lining, but by reflecting on how the experience shaped her understanding of purpose, service, connection, and care for others.   Together, Gina and Liz explore how we continue to understand our experiences over time, how community support can help us move through difficult moments, and why relationships, belonging, and shared connection are essential to mental health. The conversation also highlights the work of Monadnock United Way, the importance of early childhood support, financial stability, social-emotional resilience, and the growing Monadnock Chamber of Connection initiative.   This conversation dives into: • Meaning making after difficult experiences • Childhood confusion, adult reflection, and self-compassion • The role of family, friends, and community in resilience • Why belonging and connection support mental health • The impact of early childhood support and financial security • How one person’s life of service can grow from personal experience • The importance of creating “points of connection” in a community Whether you are reflecting on your own story, looking for a deeper sense of purpose, or thinking about how communities help people heal, this episode offers a powerful reminder: we are not meant to move through life alone.

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