By Sr. Monique Tarabeh, Circle of Blessings Editor, Regional Chapter Communications Committee, Provinces of New York/Toronto, Central South, and Mid-North America
«To console the suffering, to be a presence of healing and hope, this is my joy and my calling. »
Bienheureuse Maria Droste
It began in 1982, in the beating heart of New York City, a place full of ambition and affliction, where high-rise wealth cast long shadows over deep poverty. In that mosaic of stories, Sister Laura Aversano, a sister of the Good Shepherd, saw something others didn’t: the quiet, often invisible suffering of those struggling with mental illness, trauma, isolation, and poverty, especially those with no access to care.
Determined to act, Sister Laura launched what was then known as Maria Droste Counseling Services, naming it after Blessed Maria Droste zu Vischering. Maria Droste was known within the Good Shepherd family for her unwavering compassion and her ability to console those in emotional and spiritual pain. With only two volunteers and a fierce hope, Sister Laura began the mission of offering healing and restoration through accessible mental health services.
From those humble beginnings, Maria Droste Counseling Center has grown into a vibrant, mission-driven community. Today, the center offers access to compassionate, affordable therapy to more than 300 clients each year, thanks to a team of over 20 therapists, most of whom work nights and weekends to meet people where they are. “Access doesn’t just mean affordability,” explains Executive Director Sarah Strole. “It also means being available when people actually need help. »
Sarah stepped into her leadership role four years ago, just after COVID-19 reshaped the world, especially the field of mental health. “My first challenge was to help us adapt,” she recalls. “We had to move into telehealth, update our systems, and rethink what accessibility really means in a digital age.” From training therapists in electronic health records to helping clients sign forms online, the mission was never just to provide therapy. It was to make healing possible.
Even with change, the heart of the center remains steady.
«We’re rooted in the dignity of the person,” Sarah explains. “We don’t just treat diagnoses, we listen to stories. We see the person, their identity, their experience, and the systems that have shaped their journey.” Many clients have had negative experiences with large mental health systems in the past, especially those who are immigrants, low-income, or BIPOC. But here, at Maria Droste, they find something different: safety, presence, and respect.
The center offers individual therapy, family and couples counseling, and group sessions. While not every therapist specializes in every modality, Sarah ensures that the team evolves with the community’s needs. “My goal is to never have a waitlist,” she says. “Because when someone is finally ready to ask for help, they shouldn’t have to wait. »
Still, healing doesn’t always come in solemn forms. It can arrive with laughter too.
Sarah chuckles as she recalls a recent encounter: “I teach my child the same emotional tools I share with clients—naming feelings, pausing before reacting, empathy. We were in the car, and someone cut me off in the grocery store parking lot. Without thinking, I said, ‘What a fool!’ And from the backseat, I heard, ‘Mama, maybe he’s just having a tough day.’ And you know what? My kid was right. I had to pause and say, ‘Yes, Mama was wrong. ’” She laughs. “Sometimes your own teachings come back to keep you in check. It was humbling and funny.”
Humility, joy, and deep care all infuse the spirit of the Maria Droste Center. But like many small nonprofit agencies, the work is not without its challenges.
«Therapists here could earn more elsewhere,” Sarah says. “But they stay because they believe in this mission. Still, the emotional weight they carry is heavy.” She adds, “If you’re asking how you can support us, I would say please pray. Pray for our clinicians, who carry so much emotional weight alongside our clients, while working in a place where they could be earning more elsewhere. Pray for our team, who do this work out of deep care but at a cost, both emotionally and financially. Pray for strength and clarity for our board and leadership as we continue to think through our future, especially in this chaotic political and economic climate. And pray for our clients, especially those who have been let down by systems that were supposed to help. As we continue striving to be a place of healing, we know your prayers make a difference.»
After four decades, Maria Droste Counseling Center remains rooted in the spirit of its founding but with eyes wide open to the evolving needs of its time. From Sister Laura to today’s diverse team of therapists and staff, one truth endures: healing is sacred work. And when done with humility, humor, and hope, it becomes a sign of God’s love in the world.
As the center looks toward the future—toward partnerships, sustainability, and broader access—Sarah names one final, essential ingredient: community.
«We don’t do this alone,” she says. “We’re part of the Good Shepherd family. We have sister agencies we lean on. People we call when things get hard. And that sense of shared mission, that we’re not alone in this work, that makes all the difference. »
To learn more or support this ministry, visit www.drostemhservices.org.
