Provider Spotlight: Greta Hansen
Say hello to the newest addition to the At The Roots team, Greta Hansen! Greta is a Chippewa Valley native who just moved back to the area. Between her musical inclinations and love for sparkle, she’s a natural fit at At The Roots. Here’s some more about Greta in her own words:
Where are you from/where did you grow up?
I grew up in Chippewa Falls actually. I’ve been going to school at UW-Madison for the last four, so the move back to the area has been sentimental:)
When/why did you get into peer support?
When I moved here, I was really just looking for jobs where my majors in Human Development and Family Studies, and Psychology would be applicable. I also knew I wanted to work with communities as a whole. Holistic healing is so important to me. When I found At The Roots, I felt like it checked almost all of my boxes!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The thing I enjoy most about my job is connecting with the peers we serve. Every single one of us has a mask we wear when we’re around new people and it’s really great to see it fall off and to start seeing real change in behavior occur. I think that’s the most rewarding part. Seeing people come back home to themselves :)
What are some of the challenges in your job?
Well, in the same breath as the previous question, I sometimes find it difficult to connect with some peers because those walls can be very thick - in trying to prevent any more harm to themselves, we limit connections. I also think it can be tricky to remember the process. Being patient in the beginning stages of relationship building can be hard. Some people really don’t like you for various reasons, like my age, how I look, what I mean to them etc. It’s understandable, but it still can be a little emotionally taxing, yet even more rewarding when those walls come down.
Any hobbies or interests outside of work?
OF COURSE. I love to sing and song write. I’m about to release a new song that I am pumped about! I’ve been in a marching band for the past 8 years, but no longer now that I’ve graduated. I fully believe that marching band versions of songs are usually better than the originals. I like to cook and bake and play games with my friends. I’m all for some fantasy or scifi events and I love hosting! I like fashion, heels and creative makeup - with a lot of glitter. I love music, movies, and all things mastery of sound. I like to advocate for the things I care about and I LOVE expressive, authentic people. When you can see grounded, unique, authenticity from a mile away, I find it so empowering and beautiful.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten is probably that I am special - from someone who really knew me and really believed that. It’s one thing to hear that from someone who doesn’t know you or refuses to know you (family, friends, teachers etc.), and it’s a whole other thing to be in a dark moment and have someone who gets you, sees you magic, and sees your light, tell you that you are special with their whole heart. It might not sound like advice, but to me, it taught me the importance of being seen, seeing the good in others, and telling people what good you see from a grounded place. We are all special and all have something unique and awesome to bring to the table. When we have people in our life that amplify those parts of ourselves, that’s when we’re truly seen, truly loved and truly rich. S/o to my best friend who changed my life, Sadie <3
