Staff Spotlight: LC Christine

Office Manager, Operations

LC Christine, Office Manager at United Counseling Service (UCS), came to Bennington, VT, by way of Oahu, HI, and a few other places in between. People often ask her why she chose to move from Hawaii to Vermont. She still doesn’t know why, but she says that something in her soul told her to stay. “When I was driving into Bennington, it felt like I was driving into my hometown. I decided this was where I wanted to put some roots down.”

Before coming to Bennington, LC worked for several years as a massage therapist at a spa in Hawaii. She took on a supervisor position and then moved up to spa manager, realizing her love for management. Once in Bennington, LC continued on the management track as a Customer Experience Manager at Home Depot. When she saw a job posting for Office Manager at UCS in 2024, she thought it sounded like a good fit and went for it. Now, she feels at home managing the front office team across UCS’ locations in Bennington County. Her schedule changes day to day and includes covering front desks as needed, supporting staff, reviewing schedules, and revising internal processes for efficiency. She also answers the phone as needed, providing support to callers and directing them to appropriate services. “I help out wherever needed,” says LC. “In the background, I’m here to help keep programs flowing smoothly with communication and to make sure we’re all on the same page between administrative and program staff.”

Another important part of LC’s job is to support her team in their work as the first point of contact for individuals calling or coming through the door seeking services. She says that sometimes, providing support to staff means knowing the right questions to ask. LC starts every supervision meeting by asking, “What went well?”

Despite how difficult things can seem, something positive can always be found.

LC is continually impressed by the teamwork and communication shown by the front office team at UCS and is grateful that her role allows her the opportunity to witness their professional development. “I love to watch staff grow and develop confidence in their ability make autonomous decisions with confidence and know when to reach out for help,” she says.

Working on the front lines of mental health care does not come without challenges, and LC believes that taking care of oneself is the key to doing this work without burning out. For anyone working in the human services realm, it is crucial to identify one’s needs and take care of them to be able to think quickly in every situation for the benefit of clients. There is urgency to this, because decisions in the human services field directly impact people’s lives. For LC, taking care of herself looks like doing yoga, meditating, creating art, and getting out into nature. “I love hiking,” she says. “I do that as much as I can. I love to garden and watch things grow, nurture those things and eat them. Food is one of my top priorities.”

All of these things help LC to show up at work to support staff and clients in the best ways possible. She is proud to be part of a team that shares her commitment to providing the highest quality services to others.

“Every single day, all of the people who walk into the buildings of UCS are here to help,” says LC. “We do our best. That’s the thing that I love the most. We’re here to make a positive difference in the world, and we work hard at it.”