(Ep 12) The Power of Place: Rockhaven Sanitarium and Wonder Women

Today's podcast is with "Wonder Woman" Joanna Westerholm Linkchorst. Joanna is the spirit behind the effort toward saving Rockhaven Sanitarium. Rockhaven is a place that was built in 1923 by a woman RN named Agnes Richards who found a better way to care for women with mild mental & nervous issues. Joanna, as founding member and president of the Friends of Rockhaven, has embodied the legends from this historical site and has become its living history. She shares with us a few stories of mental health treatement so ahead of its time: Rockhaven being one of the first facilities to give women, who often were put away for no reason, a homelike setting and dignified safe care. Rockhaven became known as a place for rest and rehabilitation for women suffering from overwork and exhaustion. Rockhaven is a place whose spirit still provide that quiet and respite. And thanks to Joanna and her teams' efforts, its place in history will still be known for generations to come. The Power of Place - this particular place - is what Joanna has been dedicating her life to for the past several years. She tells stories of the famous women who found peace here. Joanna also shares her own descent into madnesss with anxiety and depression, and explains how she has been able to triumph with tools and learned best practices. This history buff and storyteller personifies the very essence of a caregiver. I know you'll love her and what she has to say in this great homage to caring for the caregivers. Let us know what you think by posting in the comments. #friendsofrockhaven #saverockhaven www.friendsofrockhaven.org --------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.