05/20/2025
A note from CEO Catherine Thurston:
During these weeks between Mother's Day and Father's Day, I often reflect on my parents' stories and all that they experienced and survived -- the Holocaust in Eastern Europe, post-war life in a communist country, their arrival in the U.S. as refugees (with me in tow), and the challenges of rebuilding their lives in a new country. They chose not to dwell on the past, and I can only imagine the many layers of trauma that they must have lived with.
The field of mental healthcare has come a long way in recent decades, and we now have a better understanding of how trauma lives in the body and manifests itself in ways that are difficult to understand and treat. At SPOP, where the client population is particularly vulnerable, a recent grant from The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation has enabled us to expand capacity to provide trauma-centered treatment. Our clinical staff is now trained in specialized treatment modalities that empower clients with the skills they need to self-regulate, manage a crisis, and solve problems.
Virtually every client who walks through our door has experienced some form of trauma -- be it physical or sexual abuse, discrimination, natural or human-caused disasters, or social isolation. Many lived with puzzling symptoms for years before they came to SPOP, I am very proud that our staff is at the forefront of providing evidence-based trauma-centered treatment for older adults.
I hope that you will join with me in supporting this important work. Your gift of any size will support age-affirming mental healthcare that will change the lives of older adults who are struggling. I can't think of a more worthwhile investment.
Thank you.
https://spop.org/join-our-supporters/
