PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT: Katherine Fuguet
Katherine has been a valued provider with At The Roots for more than a year, but her connection to us goes back even further. Before officially joining, she helped our growing team on our journey by offering an energy healing session that left a lasting impact. Since becoming a provider, Katherine has continued to bring her expertise and compassionate energy to the work she does. Read on to find out more about this awesome human:
Where are you from/where did you grow up?
I was born in Hialeah, Florida, an almost entirely Cuban area near Miami. My dad was a refugee from the Castro regime, so I'm half-Cuban. When I was in fourth grade, we moved to Minnetonka, Minnesota, for a better life, so that's where I really grew up.
When/why did you get into peer support?
I got into peer support in late 2023 after working in more traditional social services settings for a little while. I have bachelor's degrees in social work and psychology, which I got into because of my lived experience. I wanted to have the skills to support other people going through difficult times. Instead, as a professional, I often felt like an underpaid cog in a system that didn't value the clients or the workers, and I was getting burnt out by constantly having to mask myself (not to mention the sensory torture of gray walls, fluorescent lights, and no windows.) Here, instead of pretending to be some sort of expert, I get to relate to my peers as an authentic, messy human, which feels more honest and overall, more helpful.
Where would you like to see peer support go in the future?
I would like peer support to be accessible, and by that I mean affordable, to more people, without them having to be part of larger programs like CCS or DVR. I hope that more insurance agencies start to cover it. At the same time, I hope that other peer support agencies start recognizing its value and pay their provider's accordingly.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I most enjoy getting to relate to my peers authentically. I love relating to people as equals and supporting them out of a place of compassion. I love that there's no pressure to pretend to be "above" who we work with in any way. We all just are who we are, doing our best to make meaning in this messy life together.
What are some of the challenges in your job?
I think the biggest challenge for me is when my peers are stumped by barriers that I have no idea how to tackle, and that we realistically won't be able to change any time soon. These are often systemic issues, like racism, housing insecurity, lack of childcare, etc.
Any hobbies or interests outside of work?
I'm currently enrolled in a Master's of Divinity program. Most people don't know what that is: it's the degree that chaplains have. My program is inter-spiritual with an emphasis in Buddhism. I'm also an ordained Spiritualist minister, trained medium, and energy healer. The human experience is my FAVORITE THING, and I'm obsessed with psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc. After this degree, I'm thinking about a Master's of Social Work and maybe Yoga Therapy training. Don't ask me what I plan to do with any of these things; I gave up planning my life a long time ago. Now, I just do my best to follow my interests and values and trust that they'll lead me somewhere meaningful.
What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Book series: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
TV Show: Undone (Amazon Prime)
Movie: Arrival
What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
Imagine that you're walking down a street, minding your own business. A passing stranger comments on your duck tail. You think: "What did they say?" But then you assume you misheard and move on with your day. Later, a second person says something about your duck tail. That's really weird. But you move on. Finally, a third person asks you about your duck tail. What do you do now? You turn around and check.
Basically, be confident in yourself and don't get too caught up in other people's opinions, but if you keep getting the same feedback over and over again then you need to consider that it might be true, no matter how hard it is for you to believe.
Can you share any fun facts about yourself or something your colleagues may not know about you?
I'm currently in the process of co-founding an income-sharing, sustainable, ecovillage (read: commune 😜)
