It had been Gretchen Hoyum’s goal to work as a family counselor in a New England Hospital. Gretchen has now accomplished that objective, joining the Gifford Health Care Behavioral Health Team in Randolph. “I just always wanted to live here,” Hoyum said. “I’m now at the time of life where I could.”
Gretchen comes to us from Seattle, Washington, where she received her specially masters in marriage and family therapy at Seattle Pacific University. While at Seattle Pacific, Gretchen provided counseling to undergraduate individuals and couples and assisted with mental health programming on campus.
“I really love doing relational work, helping people communicate better with each other and be more authentic in their relationships,” Hoyum said. “Sometimes people just need a translator.”
Because her certificate is in medical family therapy, Gretchen is specifically trained to work in a medical center setting. What Gretchen finds most rewarding about the job is when a deep connection is made between her and the client. They feel safe enough to really open up and is vulnerable with their story. Gretchen’s specialty is helping people with the relationship between food and their bodies. Having been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teen, Gretchen became passionate about the phycological process when people are sick.
“It’s the intersection of mental and physical health issues,” Hoyum said.
This is Gretchen’s first time living in New England, so she’s looking forward to the fall and Vermont’s first snow of the season.
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Reminder during COVID-19: All Gifford clinics are open. It is vital that we continue to provide care and treat members of our community so that medical conditions do not escalate. If a patient does not have a mask upon arrival for an appointment, Gifford will provide one. For more information about COVID-19 and answers to frequently asked questions, visit giffordhealthcare.org/coronavirus-covid-19, cdc.gov or healthvermont.gov.
Gifford is a community hospital in Randolph, Vt., with family health centers in Berlin, Bethel, Chelsea, Randolph and Rochester, and specialty services throughout central Vermont. A Federally Qualified Health Center and a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country, Gifford is a full-service hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and inpatient unit; many surgical services; an adult day program; 49-unit independent living facility, and nursing home. The hospital’s mission is to improve individuals’ and community health by providing and assuring access to affordable, high-quality health care in Gifford’s service area.