For All Seasons Moves Front and Center in Cambridge

Making remarks at Wednesday’s dedication for the new For All Seasons office in Cambridge, President and CEO Beth Anne Dorman had a story for the dignitaries and business leaders assembled in an adjacent parking lot.

Just before heading to the ceremony, she got a call from the head of Talbot Mentors. There had been a suicide in the community. The victim’s sister was traumatized and needed help. Within minutes, For All Seasons had her scheduled with a counselor for the very next morning.

“There’s no wait time,” Dorman said. “She’ll be with a clinician tomorrow.”

That kind of responsiveness, she said, is precisely what the organization hopes to expand in its new, more visible Cambridge home. After more than three decades tucked away on Cedar Street, For All Seasons has moved to 407 Race Street, bringing its mental health and rape crisis services to the center of town.

The move is part of the nonprofit’s ongoing campaign, Bringing Mental Health to Main Street, an effort to make mental health care as present in daily life as dining out or shopping.

“After being a well-kept secret for 30 years, it’s great to be part of the fabric of everyday life,” Dorman said. “As much as you think about going to a restaurant for dinner, we want you to think about mental health and mental wellness.” She added that For All Seasons is not just there to serve the business community, but to be part of it.

Founded in 1986 as a one-person office, For All Seasons has grown into a $13 million agency employing nearly 90 staff across five Mid-Shore counties. Through its Open Access program, anyone can walk in or connect by telehealth and receive counseling the same day, with no wait list and no screening based on ability to pay. Services are offered in English, Spanish, and other languages through translation technology.

The new Cambridge office boosts capacity from just three rooms to ten counseling spaces, with room to expand to sixteen. That growth reflects both rising demand and For All Seasons’ commitment to Dorchester County, which has some of the region’s highest rates of sexual assault and related trauma.

“We provide services for the things people don’t want to talk about,” Dorman told the crowd. “We’re wrapping around families, children, first responders, veterans, anyone who needs that blanket of safety.”

Last year, For All Seasons served more than 4,000 clients and delivered over 100,000 individual services across the Mid-Shore. In Dorchester alone, 529 residents received care – nearly one in five of the organization’s total clients – including many youth.

At the ribbon cutting and open house, which included tours, light fare, and the usual networking, Dorman thanked local and state officials who helped make the expansion possible. But her message was aimed at the wider community.

“All you need to do is call,” she said. “We want to dig in with you. We are here to be partners.”

For All Seasons’ move to Race Street, she added, is not just about square footage. “Mental health belongs right here on Main Street, visible, local, and without stigma. It’s a place for children, families, and individuals to heal and thrive.”

Bill Christopher, president of the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event, agreed that mental health is a major issue for the county.

“Our stats are off the charts in terms of sexual abuse, rape, and other issues,” he said. “Having the services here and helping the community learn about their availability is extremely important.” He noted that publicizing the relocation might help For All Seasons recruit volunteers and raise awareness.

“They’ve received a warm welcome.  In some places they might not,” Christopher said. “Cambridge is unique in that way. It’s awesome to have them here.