Author: Ann Thompson

“I see us as keepers of hope, and I never give up on improving a situation. The ideal outcome is to find the right regimen of medicine, and the person starts to grow again in their recovery.” – Dr. Andrew Hunt

Dr. Andrew Hunt trained and continued his career as faculty at University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University. Now he trains resident psychiatrists the Associate Program Director of General Psychiatry Program. He also directs a transitional-aged youth (TAY) clinic for clients between 17 and 29 years old, and he sees adult clients at the Center for Families and Children, a community mental health center in Cleveland.

Dr. Hunt joined the staff at Hopewell when our previous consulting psychiatrist retired in 2024. His role comprises medication management, diagnosis, following our residents, monitoring physical health and side effects, and other medical concerns. He attends weekly meetings with clinicians where they discuss observations during the past week. Between visits, Hopewell nurses communicate with him about new concerns, and medication adjustments are made under his supervision.

One of Dr. Hunt’s fundamental concerns is the problem of human suffering, wrestling with freedom and responsibility, and a sense of meaning. “Psychiatry is the one field of medicine where you work directly with suffering and try to alleviate it,” he said. “I always thought that I would gravitate toward mental health because I am more interested in the mind and the brain. I’m also intrigued by the humanities and philosophy, and the experience of being human.”

He added, “In primary care, your goal is more typically prescribing and referral. Talking to patients becomes a more secondary goal. For me, talking to patients was the first thing. I am more concerned about the long-term outcome. I want to hear the story and get to know the person, then decide what to do with the medicine.”

Working at Hopewell is extremely rewarding for Dr. Hunt. “My favorite part is seeing people recover. I have heard parents say, ‘We have our daughter back.’” He continued, “In other cases where there is not an ideal medical outcome, we can adapt the environment to give residents a more stable lifestyle.”

Dr. Hunt commented, “It has been a fantastic opportunity to work at Hopewell, to do my best work in an environment with committed clinicians who are very smart and very savvy. They genuinely care about all the clients. They are the keepers of hope for everyone here.”

In addition to working at Hopewell, Dr. Hunt appreciates opportunities to explore the grounds, participate in karaoke with staff and residents (a favorite activity), and he even played in a pickleball tournament this summer. He also dreams of innovating the oboe as a solo instrument in the alternative rock genre.

Fun fact: Dr. Hunt has been writing several works of science fiction, one set 100 years in the future, and another that features Sasquatch. He enjoys visiting natural places such as Joshua Tree, Mt. Rainier, the Oregon coast, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Thank you, Dr. Hunt, for everything you do for Hopewell!

Anne Boyle has been with Hopewell since 2022. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kent State University. At an organization with several Anns and Annes, she is known as Annie B.

Prior to Hopewell, Annie B. worked for a community based mental health organization providing in-home therapy and case management for adults in Cleveland. She was intrigued when a position opened at Hopewell. “I wanted to work where a higher level of care was needed for severe and chronic mental health issues and I fell in love with Hopewell’s approach to residential treatment,” she said.

”Hopewell is so different from what I learned about residential care in graduate school. We see a resident as a whole person, not a problem to solve in a few days or weeks before discharge. A minimum 4-6 months stay at Hopewell allows for a timeline to address issues that affect a resident’s health and wellbeing. We help them identify what they find meaningful, discover multiple facets for managing their illness, and build a wellness kit with skills that allow them to manage life’s stressors and maintain overall wellbeing and health,” she stated.

Different Approaches to Treatment

“Primarily I use three approaches with residents. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is primarily for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and most forms of avoidance. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is for cognitive restructuring and reframing maladaptive thinking patterns, specifically for someone whose baseline anxiety is high. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is for someone who struggles with accepting the discomfort of life. We also do a lot of work exploring values,” Annie explained.

“What we understand to be profound and meaningful change is not the social standard. Little steps mean a lot. Perhaps it is a resident moving to a slightly less supportive living environment. Someone who moves from Hopewell to the Cleveland Transition Program, where I spend a great deal of time, receives Hopewell support while living more independently. Maybe this person takes everything they have learned and apply it in a lower level of care. Maybe they will get a part-time job. Maybe they will go home and manage their ups and downs. I am deeply moved when I see them advocate for themselves.”

Working With Families

Another part of Annie’s job is working with families to the extent that the resident allows. “I advocate for the resident as I help a family understand what they feel is going on, especially when they struggle to communicate. Even if the residents do not want us to share personal health information (which is their right), I can connect families to resources to deepen their comprehension of the situation and provide support. My approach is more psychoeducation as opposed to family therapy.”

As part of their treatment, staff look at a resident’s support system to determine what they need when they leave Hopewell. For some, wellbeing will include living independently and working, while others will be discharged to a group home or a family environment. Annie stated, “When working with a family, I explain the anticipated prognosis and create a plan for warning signs of decompensation instead of waiting for a crisis.”

What motivates you to work with people with mental illness?

“Having been in my career for four years, what drives me is knowing that I can play a role in someone feeling safe and finding motivation to move forward despite real challenges. I am also very interested in human psychology. There can be hard days and weeks when you work with this population. I learned in graduate school that with traditional therapy, you should see progress at X number of weeks, a model that does not look the same in a residential setting. Instead, you want your client to get to the place that they want to be.”

Life at Home and Future Plans

Annie has two dogs, ages 4 and 8. She said, “If I have a difficult day at work, we emotionally regulate together. I do a lot of home improvement projects on an Amish home with 3 acres that I bought with no electricity, heating, or cooling. I value having a support system so a house with a huge kitchen and deck allows us to hang out together. I enjoy using my hands and I do a lot of yard work. Breaking down a wall or making an art piece are great stress relievers.”

Annie’s longer-term plans include gaining her independent social work licensure. She is also pursuing continuing education about OCD, which she is very passionate about. This summer, she plans to go to Gatlinburg with her friends and family – a welcome period of rest and relaxation.

Thank you, Annie B., for everything you do for Hopewell!

Allison Dunkerton, Hopewell’s new finance manager holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Akron.

Before she came to Hopewell in March of this year, Allison helped run her family’s small businesses for seven years. Previously she was an auditor at a large CPA firm. “I hate math,” Allison joked, “but I like the problem solving of accounting and finance.”

“At Hopewell, I have a lot of interaction with prospective and current families. I make sure that they understand all of the financial aspects of having a loved one here,” she said. “I walk them through their financial obligations and our billing system. If they request, I set up a Bank of Hopewell account for the resident so they can independently get cash for trips and personal expenses,” she explained.

Allison also works closely with the Board of Directors, prepares monthly financial statements, and keeps abreast of current capital projects and expenses, investments, the budget, and the endowment. She staffs the finance, investment, and development committees.

Meeting with residents is part of Allison’s portfolio. She elaborated, “When a resident is ready to transition to a more independent living situation, I meet with them to help prepare a budget and discuss money management skills. I’m also accessible to residents for questions about money or paying bills.”

Finding Fulfillment

“I was very much drawn to Hopewell because I was looking for a place to settle down long-term in terms of a career and I wanted to land at an impactful, meaningful place to work – a place with a mission. Finding that type of organization is not an everyday occurrence in the financial world. Hopewell stuck out to me when I was doing a job search,” she said.

“The other day, my husband said to me, ‘Do you realize how much happier you are since you started this job?’ He’s right. A lot of it is the people who make the difference. I was ‘the boss’ at my last job and it was very isolating. I love the sense of community at Hopewell. I enjoy having lunch with residents and staff and I like to walk the grounds,” Allison shared.

Allison and her family have chickens and acreage where she enjoys riding electric dirt bikes with her sons. “I try not to annoy my neighbors too much (even though one of them is my mom)” she smiled. “A farm was never my aspiration, but it turns out I like it. The fact I can see cows from my office was whole-heartedly a part of my decision to work here! In fact, I am trying to convince my mother to share a cow.” Another strong interest is traveling. A recent visit to Yosemite National Park with the family was a highlight of their year and they are planning a hiking trip in the Badlands of South Dakota.”

She continued, “I feel fulfilled by life right now. I feel like I have it all in a weird way,” she continued. Except for that cow. Gotta get that cow!

I started as the Clinical Manager at Hopewell in 2011. I have a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in community counseling from Youngstown State University. I have worked in the fields of social work and counseling since 1985, and have held a wide variety of positions, from working at a pre-release center for the state prison in Montana, to residential programs for behavioral teenagers in Maine, to residential programs for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Ohio, as well as working for a large county board of developmental disabilities.

Deciding to go to the University of Montana ended up pointing me in a career direction that I did not predict. I was a forestry major for two and a half years and realized it just really wasn’t right for me, even though I enjoyed it. I looked at other majors, held a conversation with the dean of the School of Social Work and it immediately felt right for me. That was significant in changing my career path and life path, where I lived, and who I worked with over the years.

I particularly enjoy working with the population at Hopewell: adults struggling with severe and persistent mental illness, for lots of reasons. In this field, and at Hopewell in particular, I’m motivated by seeing healing happen. People improve. People improve their functioning levels and their satisfaction with life levels. To help guide that process is very rewarding.

I’m on the Leadership Team and I have a small caseload of two to five residents. I am mostly involved in supervising eight clinicians individually on a weekly basis and twice a week as a group. I run the weekly clinical team with the psychiatrist, our psychiatric nurse practitioner, the clinicians, nurses and the admission/outreach team. It’s a collaborative process to give them what they need, as each person has a different approach to working with residents.

My work at the farm is pretty diverse. I first and foremost oversee the clinical program, so I think of myself as having my own caseload of clinicians. We talk through cases, struggles, and successes, so I feel like I indirectly have a hand in the care that all of the residents receive. I am often called upon to intervene in crisis situations, which is a necessary part of the work we do here at Hopewell. I think I bring a calmness and level of tranquility to those situations that helps to bring them to resolutions that are good for both Hopewell and the individual who’s in crisis.

The work I (and all of us) do at Hopewell is meaningful work in that it changes lives, and those changed lives then improve life out in the world in immeasurable ways. One of our former residents that I worked with significantly while he was here recently graduated from law school and passed the bar, which was not an easy accomplishment for him. The work that he put in at Hopewell – and our ability to create a place that allowed that work to be done – has produced a lawyer that’s going to go out in the world and do good things. This means a lot to me, and that’s just one story of many, many stories that Hopewell makes possible.

On another note, it feels good to be important in the lives of residents, parents, and staff. Supervising is important to me – creating the opportunity for staff to become excellent clinicians who are important to the people they serve. When I am important to a small group of people here, that impacts so many other people, it’s like the ripples spreading out over a pond from a single pebble tossed in.

There are so many good days at the farm. I just interviewed several clinicians for a new position at Hopewell, and one of the things I made a point of telling them is that there are hard days here. We work with a complicated population. In between the tough times, though, there are so many glorious, elegant moments. When you see two people that were struggling a day ago, and they’re out walking together around the track in the sunshine, or you go out in the woods with them and slosh through the snow and collect maple sap for our maple sugaring, it all just feels so good. We’re working side by side with them to accomplish the day-in, day-out tasks of a working farm. In doing that, there are just so many magical moments that it’s hard to describe.

In addition to my work at Hopewell, I am an artist. My primary medium is creating kinetic steel sculptures that rely on balance and human interaction with each piece. I received a welding torch for my 40th birthday, mostly to fix things, but quickly gravitated towards developing sculptures. I have traveled over much of the United States to participate in juried fine art shows; however, I have scaled back quite a bit. At one time I was doing 15 shows a year, and now I do three or four shows a year.

When I came to the farm fourteen years ago to interview with the executive director, I told him that I had done a lot of different jobs, but that I hoped that I might find a place that I could stay and finish out my career. Here I am 14+ years later, and I still feel that way. I have no plans to go anywhere. If I’m allowed to, I will continue to work at Hopewell until I retire. I might end up working until I’m 70, so that would give me another eight years. My future goals are to stay at Hopewell, do good work with residents, be as supportive of the clinical team and the entire Hopewell community as I can be, and keep creating art and enjoying life.

On a personal note, I would love to travel to places like Turkey, Ireland and points beyond with Jenn, my partner. Artistically, I’ll strive to create works that exceed my past efforts at developing elegance and wonder in my sculptures.