11/29/2025
this is COMMUNITY CARE
one of the BIG DREAMs of my work is to provide rest and respite spaces for those who need it. i have recognized for the longest that even those in mental health crisis that result in hospitalization their truest need is simply needing rest and the PERMISSION to REST away from the pressures of work and other obligations. In America sadly only hospitalization signifies to the world and even colleagues, family, and friends that someone needs or even deserves rest, gentleness, and care. It is a professional goal of mine to change that narrative.
i am grateful i can look at other countries and find hope.
Patrece M. Lucas, MS, LPC Community Counselor
💙Indigo Transitions, PLLC
☕️ Coffee with a Counselor
In Portugal’s public libraries, a new chapter is being written — not in books, but in the way people find rest. Called “Rest Chapters,” these after-hours spaces open when the libraries officially close, offering soft, quiet refuge for those who need it most. Inside, overhead lights are dimmed and replaced with warm floor lamps, the scent of herbs like lavender or rosemary drifts gently through the air, and folded quilts are stacked nearby for anyone who wants to settle in for a while.
The initiative is designed for early risers, night workers, students without safe housing, and those who simply need a calm, respectful place to pause. Entry is discreet and unmonitored, with no formal check-in. Guests step in from the night and find simple comforts: wooden benches softened with cushions, bookshelves untouched but present, and windows that reflect only stillness.
The air is kept warm, but not hot. Volunteers or library staff set the tone early — slow music, a kettle for tea, and soft signs reminding visitors to whisper or rest. Some “Rest Chapters” include low tables with pencils and paper for those who wish to write, while others focus solely on sleep and silence.
This gentle transformation of a public space into a nighttime sanctuary shows Portugal’s belief that care doesn’t require grand buildings or high walls. It can live between pages, under quilts, beside a lamp, offering safety where knowledge once waited — and now, where peace quietly begins.
