The Path Forward Mental Health with Maps

The Path Forward Mental Health with Maps
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Mental Health

Welcome to The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps! This podcast is designed to help you navigate life’s challenges with confidence and care. Each episode features Compass Check (mindfulness & grounding), True North (real stories & conversations), and Trail Mix (tips & inspiration). Slow down, listen in, and let us be a small source of support on your journey. Presented by Maps Counseling Services.

  1. 5d ago

    More Than Dance: Building Confidence, Resilience and Belonging | S2E4

    What if making mistakes wasn’t something children learned to fear but something they learned to celebrate?In this episode of The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps, Dr. Gina Pasquale sits down with Kristin Leach, Executive Artistic Director of New Hampshire Dance Institute (NHDI), to explore how dance can become much more than learning steps and preparing for a performance.Kristin shares how her experiences as a young performer shaped the way she approaches teaching today, and why NHDI intentionally creates environments where children can feel supported, take risks, make mistakes and discover what they are capable of.Together, Gina and Kristin explore the difference between controlling children and empowering them, what it means to create a “brave space,” and how trauma-informed practices can help children feel seen without defining them by what they have experienced.They also talk about movement as a tool for emotional regulation, the role of performance in developing resilience, and the surprising ways lessons learned in dance class can carry into school, relationships and everyday life.Kristin also shares her own story. When she was nine years old, her father experienced a cerebral aneurysm that dramatically changed life for her family. Musical theatre became a place of joy, movement, community and belonging during an extraordinarily difficult time—an experience that continues to influence the opportunities she wants to create for children today.At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: growth does not require perfection. Sometimes becoming more confident, resilient and connected begins with having a place where it is okay to get something wrong. The Path Forward: Mental Health with MAPS explores honest conversations about mental health, lived experience and the many ways we navigate life’s challenges.Resources & CreditsLearn more about Maps Counseling Services: https://mapsnh.orgLearn more about New Hampshire Dance Institute: https://www.nhdi.orgContact Maps Counseling Services: office@mapsnh.orgHosted by: Dr. Gina Pasquale Guest: Kristin Leach, Executive Artistic Director of New Hampshire Dance Institute Produced by: Maps Counseling Services Filmed | Directed | Edited by: Christopher David

  2. Jul 30

    Play Is the Work of Childhood: Trauma, Connection & Growth – Jocelyn Goldblatt | S2E3

    What if play is not simply something children do for fun, but one of the most important ways they learn, connect, heal, and make sense of their experiences?In this episode of *The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps*, Dr. Gina Pasquale is joined by Jocelyn Goldblatt, Executive Director of the Cheshire Children’s Museum, for a thoughtful conversation about adverse childhood experiences, commonly known as ACEs, and the patterns that can follow us from childhood into adulthood and parenting.Drawing from both lived and professional experience, Jocelyn shares what it has meant to carry a high ACE score, recognize inherited patterns, and create greater space between an emotional reaction and an intentional response. Together, Gina and Jocelyn explore the resilience and post-traumatic growth that can emerge when people are met with safety, connection, compassion, and support.Their conversation also examines the powerful role of play throughout our lives. For children, play can strengthen attachment, develop emotional regulation, encourage creativity, and provide a language for processing experiences that may be difficult to explain with words. For adults, playfulness can create opportunities for connection, flexibility, joy, and healing.Topics in this episode include:• What adverse childhood experiences are and how they can affect long-term mental and physical health • Recognizing patterns carried forward from childhood • Breaking intergenerational cycles without expecting perfection • “Ghosts and angels in the nursery” and the experiences we bring into parenting • Why play is considered the work and language of childhood • How repetitive play can help children process frightening or overwhelming experiences • Using mindfulness and meditation to create space before responding • Supporting overwhelmed parents without judgment • The role of children’s museums and other shared spaces in strengthening families and communities • How one compassionate interaction can change a parent’s entire experience Resources & CreditsLearn more about Maps Counseling Services: https://mapsnh.orgLearn more about the Cheshire Children’s Museum: https://cheshirechildrensmuseum.orgContact Maps Counseling Services: office@mapsnh.orgHosted by: Dr. Gina Pasquale Guest: Jocelyn Goldblatt, Executive Director of the Cheshire Children’s Museum Produced by: Maps Counseling Services Filmed | Directed | Edited by: Christopher David

  3. Jun 28

    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.

  4. May 25

    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.

    When Childhood Memories Take On New Meaning | S2E1

  5. Mar 31

    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.

  6. Jan 26

    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

  7. 10/30/2025

    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

  8. 09/29/2025

    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

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3 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Path Forward: Mental Health with Maps! This podcast is designed to help you navigate life’s challenges with confidence and care. Each episode features Compass Check (mindfulness & grounding), True North (real stories & conversations), and Trail Mix (tips & inspiration). Slow down, listen in, and let us be a small source of support on your journey. Presented by Maps Counseling Services.

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