Shelby Roemer and Mara Mulinari are two employees that come to work dedicated to helping employees make their lives more fulfilling and balanced.
“We’re here on campus as a supportive resource to all the employees, students and their immediate families,” explains Shelby Roemer, “We’re here for people when they’re in crisis, or for people that just really want to make their lives healthier and more fulfilling.” Shelby is the Director of the Employee and Student Assistance Program (E&SAP), a department that provides free, short-term, counseling services.
“Our mission statement is about making man whole,” continues Mara Mulinari, a therapist for the E&SAP. “Making man whole has different facets, and we’re the emotional part of making man whole. We may not be able to take care of someone physically, but we are part of a big tapestry that represents what this organization is here for.”
Mara has been at Loma Linda University Health organization for almost twenty-five years, and feels honored to be able to contribute to the journey of others. “People entrust us with their pain, with their brokenness,” Mara says, “We are lucky to be part of this journey of healing.”
“I think our clients have a very positive experience,” says Shelby, “They come here, they’re treated with respect and they get the support and direction to make their lives healthier and more fulfilling.” Mara agrees that each employee or student must feel welcome and comfortable sharing for their department to be effective.
“It’s important for us to be open and help our clients feel safe. It’s difficult to walk in and tell a complete stranger your deepest pain,” she says. “One of the core values of our organization that stands out to me is compassion. We couldn’t be here and do this job if we didn’t have compassion.”
It takes more than compassion, but also a coordination of efforts of the whole team to continue to provide this service. “If we weren’t a team,” explains Mara, “If we didn’t work together and use our strengths it would be impossible to meet the needs of each person we serve.”
“We are a very small department,” continues Shelby. “We are all involved in every aspect of our program. We triage phone calls and I think that’s something that keeps us all very connected. We make sure that every person that comes in here has a very similar experience.”
Both Shelby and Mara admit that they must make a concerted effort to make sure wholeness is also a part of their own lives, which allows them to better serve others.
“We encourage each other to do the things that we tell others to do,” says Mara. “Just like a lot of the caregivers in this institution – a nurse is giving, a doctor is giving, administration is giving – every portion is about giving in some way. You have to be filled to be able to give in the best way possible.”
Shelby discusses how she considers this as part of what E&SAP is. “I think in our profession we are encouraged to always balance,” she says. “We are often presented with some really overwhelming situations, and you have to learn how to take care of yourself in your own life.”
Being part of the E&SAP team isn’t a job for Shelby and Mara, it’s their passion. “I feel very blessed to be here and to have the opportunity to make a difference,” Shelby states.
“I think blessed is a really great word for it,” agrees Mara. “We are blessed.”