Welcome to Our Home
Alyssum is a voluntary, holistic alternative mental health respite program. Guests come for stays of up to 6 days, 5 nights at a time (Monday through Saturday). People may choose Alyssum if they’re looking for:
- alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization
- a transition home from the hospital
- support in a crisis
- a wellness retreat stay.
Alyssum also offers phone support to former and potential guests, Monday through Saturday, including overnights.
Alyssum is free for any eligible Vermonter. Learn more about Alyssum’s Eligibility requirements.
We recognize that many have had negative or traumatic experiences while navigating the mental health care system. Alyssum offers a peaceful, home-like and non-clinical setting for rest and healing.
Here are some ways we strive to support people who’ve experienced healthcare trauma:
- Open book records. Guests may see their binder and all log notes and paperwork at any time. We do not keep any individual records about a person’s stay other than statistics required by our grant funding
- Transparency. We do our best to make sure guests know what to expect, how to get what they need, about the rules, expectations and limitations of our program so they can make informed decisions with the best information possible.
- Avoid diagnosis language and judgment. We don’t ask what is wrong with you, we ask what happened to you
- No mandatory safety checks of rooms or belongings
- We believe in “Nothing About Us Without Us,” we avoid discussing people who are not present
Alyssum is staffed and run by peers with our own lived experience of mental health challenges. We each bring unique and compassionate perspectives to our work. Our goal is to create a warm communal environment where people can feel safe, connected, understood and supported. Learn more about Alyssum’s staff here
Days at Alyssum are unstructured so guests can direct how they would like to spend their time here. Staff members are available around the clock to contribute support and resources as needed. Learn more about a Typical Day at Alyssum Here
The waiting period for Alyssum can be approximately 2 weeks. If you are having an emergency and need help immediately, please contact 911 and/or the designated agency in your county.
House and Grounds
Alyssum offers two private bedrooms in a comfortable home-like setting, where guests may choose to spend quiet alone time, as well as to connect, share meals, activities, and thoughtful conversations with others.
The Alyssum house is stocked with whole food options, art supplies, puzzles, musical instruments, and a library of books on healing, spirituality and other topics.
Houseplants thrive here and art made by former guests decorates the walls. Our living area is complete with comfortable couches, a TV, space for yoga, meditation, and movement exercises.
Downstairs there’s more art and hang out space, exercise equipment, as well as our Sensory Room with a variety of tools to help guests unwind when they are stressed or overstimulated.
The house is located in a rural area with farm lands on either side and mountain views. The property has a beautiful deck, bird feeders, gardens, fruit trees, and a fire pit for our guests to enjoy time outside. Guests may also enjoy access to the river and hiking trails near the property.
A Typical Day at Alyssum
Each day at Alyssum is different from the next because we focus on guests’ individual needs and encourage a self-directed experience. Some people are looking for a lot of connection and interaction, others are looking for a quiet retreat. We do our best to make space for both and for whatever else our guests need for healing and self-discovery. We don’t have scheduled groups, but we often have group and one-on-one discussions. Staff are available to talk and support guests in a variety of ways, including:
- Sharing stories and experiences, processing emotions, offering perspectives and validation
- Offering information, resources and techniques for self-healing and wellness
- Gardening, harvesting veggies and berries in season
- Cooking and sharing meals together
- Yoga, stretching and other movement
- Qi Gong, meditation and mindfulness activities
- Connecting with nature: outdoor spaces to relax, walks, river swims, bonfires
- Smashing ceramics for stress, anger, grief release
- Art, collage and other creative projects
- Free-writing,
- Playing instruments or listening to/appreciating music together
- Somatic release exercises, EFT tapping
Guests sleep in private bedrooms and share a bathroom with one other person. They may sleep, wake and eat according to their own schedule. They may choose to make their own meals or see if a staff person can help. They may choose to plan their own activities for the day, get some input from a staff person, or they may do whatever the spirit moves them to. Alyssum is a truly special place where rest and inner work are encouraged.
It’s a miracle. It’s a gift for the people like me who are isolated and don’t have options. I was able to pick up bits of wisdom from different people, to my delight. I picked up wisdom from my fellow guest.
I was able to process a lot (trauma related and other) with actually trauma informed staff. I felt as safe as I have in a long time. I am grateful for the assistance I received around preparing meals.
Meet Alyssum’s Staff
All Alyssum staff members have lived experience navigating mental health crises. As Peers, our goal is to be present with others who are having similar struggles in a kind, mutual and non-judgmental manner. Collectively, we draw upon many diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skill-sets to compassionately support our guests. Staff members are trained in the following:
- Intentional Peer Support
- Taking Action for Whole Health & Wellbeing
- Non Violent Communication
- Hearing Voices
- Harm Reduction
- Trauma Awareness
- Domestic Violence Awareness
- Gender/Sexuality Awareness
- Cultural Diversity & Worldview
- Mind-Body Connection
- Somatics
- Meditation and Mindfulness
Toby
Since growing up with my brother who had cerebral palsy, I’ve always been interested in disability rights and working for the underdog. And I’ve often felt like one myself–as a fat woman, I’ve experienced being othered, moralized and discriminated against. It’s made me passionate about standing up for the rights of others. I’ve experienced systems trauma, depression and spiritual emergence/development. Just like everyone, I’m very much a work in progress. I believe everyone has something unique and necessary to offer the world, no matter what they’re currently grappling with. I’m grateful to Alyssum and the opportunity I’ve had to work and learn and grow here.
I’m interested in neuroplasticity, trauma and psychological development, interpersonal dynamics and somatic healing. I love hanging out near water when the weather allows and watching old UK tv shows when it doesn’t. I live in the woods with two maine coon cat sisters
Linda
Wow, it’s already been 15 years since we began in our former director Gloria’s kitchen, before we got our building. I have enjoyed helping put together Alyssum. I feel honored to be a part of our history as well as our growth and future. I have always been interested in holistic ways of healing for mental/ physical health. I am proud to be in a peer based program where people are treated with the dignity, kindness and understanding we all deserve and that my own mother did not get in her lifetime.
In my time off, I enjoy my big family of grown children, biological, foster, a stepson, some of whom have blessed me with my 18 grandchildren. I love time with all of them as well as my little farm of cats, bunnies, goats and chickens. When I’m not working two jobs, and either eating or sleeping, I like writing, quilting, crocheting, hiking, gardening, writing, home projects, seeing new places, and trying new desserts!
“Where laughter is, there has been pain.
Where sunshine is, there has been rain.
All yesterdays, were once tomorrows,
And surely joys will follow sorrows.”
–Roy Z. Kemp
Jenniflower
Jenniflower is a creatrix by nature. Whether it’s making nourishing food, creating beautiful art or holding a sacred space for grief, she will show up with all the color and energy needed to aid the great alchemy of growth. She takes a keen interest in learning ways to support a person to carry on, transform and remember that they are made of love. Her wild and creative spirit is magical.
When out in the world Jenniflower can be found at the ocean hula hooping at sunrise, floating in lakes and rivers, picking midnight bouquets & moon gazing in her own backyard.
Sarah
Sarah, a native Vermonter, grew up not far from Alyssum. With an aptitude for providing support to people in their life, Sarah took the opportunity to join the Alyssum team in 2021.
Sarah’s lived experiences have shaped their perspective and fueled their passion for making a difference in the lives of those around them.
A crafts person and an avid outdoors person, when not at work, Sarah can frequently be found enjoying live music, hiking high peaks across the northeast mountain ranges, or engaging in a myriad of creative projects.
Erica
My name is Erica! I’ve been working at Alyssum since 2024 and I am very passionate about helping my community and my fellow peers! I’m a mellow and loving person that loves to connect with others! I love meeting new people and enjoy being supportive and helpful in times of need. My hobbies and interests are drawing, painting, anything art related really. I love being creative! I love to travel and adventure to new places! I enjoy listening to hip-hop and r&b music. I also love to spend time with my dog, going on hikes or going to the river for a swim! I like to binge watch a fun tv show or movie series.
Serenity
Hi! My name is Serenity. I have been working at Alyssum for over 6 years. Alyssum is such a wonderful place to work. I am especially grateful for my fellow coworkers because we are able to support each other and see each other through the good and the bad. I also enjoy meeting people from all walks of life; the space that we hold for each other and guests is so beautiful. In my spare time, you can catch me chasing around my kids, spending time with my partner, cuddling my cat, making art, reading, writing, or spending time out in nature.
Will
Will is honored to build on the incredible legacy of Alyssum’s Founding Director Gloria Van den Berg, and its staff, board, funders, and partners to serve as Alyssum’s next Executive Director! Will’s lived-experience with poverty, homelessness, abuse, unemployment, and substance use and mental health challenges form the basis of his deep love for peer support and helping to nurture and grow programs that give people choice, dignity, and powerful tools to help reach their goals and make their dreams come true.
Will is also the Executive Director of the Vermont Association For Mental Health and Addiction Recovery. Will served as a Field Director at the Vermont Agency of Human Services and the Executive Director of Another Way, a peer run drop-in and community center in Montpelier, for six years respectively. Will is the founder of Mission Driver Consulting, where he provides keynotes, training, and legislative and Congressional testimony on Peer Support, homelessness, supported housing, supported employment, and substance use and mental health challenges, and helps mission-driven organizations enhance equity and organizational development.
Will is a Curtis Scholar, and ambassador for the VSAC and TRIO programs that help low-income and first generation college students access post-secondary educational opportunities. He completed the Public Narrative program at the Harvard Kennedy School, the Snelling School For Government’s Vermont Leadership Institute and Vermont Agency of Human Services Leadership Academy programs, obtained a Master of Public Administration degree at Norwich University, and Bachelor of Psychology degree at Johnson State University.
When he isn’t working, Will loves spending time with his kids, knitting, fly fishing, trail running, mountain biking, canoe camping, reading, writing, playing piano, and exploring the nooks and crannies of this beautiful planet.
Sherry
Bio to come
Karim
Bio to come
Nicas
Bio to come
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