A Q&A with Marc: Healing, Inspiring, and Serving Clients for 40 Years

Meet Marcelene Lowes, better known as Marc. Marc joined Compass Health in 1984, and for the last 40 years, has been an integral part of driving our mission of delivering exceptional care to the most vulnerable members of our community.

Originally, Marc didn’t set out to work with clients when she applied for a job in one of Compass Health’s kitchens. But when she was asked to help take clients out for activities, she found she enjoyed getting to know the people so much that she became an activity specialist. Through that role, she connected with her clients on a personal level and realized how incredible they are, which is what led her to taking on her first caseload – and she instantly found her calling.

Since then, she’s worked in several different programs including homeless and outpatient programs before joining Intensive Outpatient Services, where she works to this day.

Because Marc has devoted so much of her time, career, and self to furthering the mission of Compass Health, we are honored to announce that we’ve named the Phase II Facility of the Broadway Campus Redevelopment Project after her: The Marc Healing Center. Marc has been a center of healing for both this organization and each client we serve, and our team thought it was only fitting to commemorate her legacy at this new facility.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Marc to hear about what motivates her, the work she does in Intensive Outpatient Services, and what she’s looking forward to when The Marc Healing Center opens. Read what Marc had to say below.

Q: You’ve been with Compass Health for 40 years. What motivates you?

Marc: My clients are what get me up in the morning, they invigorate me. Even those who first resisted treatment and services eventually come around and start looking forward to seeing us in IOP. They make the weekends without them feel too long. It’s really fulfilling work.

There’s one client who comes every morning and sits in front of the door, waiting until we get there. The day before Thanksgiving, she told me she’s thankful for “IOP and this door.” I’ll get her coffee and hang out with her—it’s that kind of interaction that keeps me going. Just seeing a client smile inspires me. There are people who sleep in the cold, hear voices, and have gone through terrible strife, and yet they still smile, laugh, and thank us for the work we do. It makes my heart happy.

I’m also fortunate to have colleagues across the organization who are just as committed and dedicated to our clients as I am. The people at Compass Health are a big part of why I’ve stayed for so long. We all share a passion for helping our clients find a meaningful life, discover their purpose, and celebrate their accomplishments.

Q: What is it like working in Intensive Outpatient Services (IOP)?

Marc: The most wonderful thing about being in IOP is witnessing our clients’ growth. Many of them are schizophrenic and bipolar, for example, and though they struggle with the side effects, they’re still amazing members of the community who work to overcome their challenges.

We have a really special team at IOP who always put the clients above themselves. They leave their personal baggage at the door so that they can focus on uplifting our clients. It takes a certain kind of person to be successful in the IOP; there are members of the community who aren’t as empathetic to our clients and their struggles, but I’m proud to say every member of our staff respect our clients, want the best for them, and is there to help them realize their full potential.

In the IOP, we see a lot of people. Some leave, but many stay with us for a very long time – even up to decades. Some clients are in and out of the hospital, resistant to medication, or get detained, but we’re there for them no matter what they’re going through, working to ensure they’re supported and cared for.

Q: How do you build a relationship with your clients? How do you serve them?

Marc: First things first, we always establish trust and respect with the people we deliver care for. You must gain your clients’ trust, which helps you trust them, and then you trust the team you work with, and then you’ve created a tightly knit community that knows and cares for each other.

It’s the little things that foster a beneficial relationship: brewing folks a coffee in the morning, grabbing them a blanket if they’re cold, and simply just letting them know we’re here for them. We meet them where they are—even after hours—and never cast judgement. They’re people, no matter what they’re struggling with.

It’s also important that we wrap-around services for each client. Our team meets twice a week to debrief, talk about our clients, and put a plan in place for them. We make sure our staff rotates so they all get a chance to connect with our clientele. Because of that, the people we serve know they can come in at any time and someone will be there to help them.

At IOP, we have a network of resources available to help promote positive outcomes for these folks and their families. There’s this mother and daughter we’ve helped out with housing after their time with us. They’ll be moving into their new place in January 2025, and they’re so excited. What we do here goes so far beyond providing therapy services; we help our clients in every area of their life, and use the connections we have to do so.

Q: Can you share an impactful experience you’ve had while at Compass Health?

Marc: There was this one client who I served for quite a while. He entered the homeless program as a young man, and we helped house him until he began receiving intensive care at a hospital outside of the area. He eventually returned to Everett, homeless.

One morning when I was opening the former Bailey Building, a tall man in a mask came up to me. He asked me if I was doing okay and wanted to check on me—I realized it was that man, my former client. It was obvious he was struggling with significant challenges, but even so, he made an effort to see me every morning after that, even when we moved buildings.

Unfortunately, a few days went by when he didn’t show up, and we ended up finding him deceased. The bittersweet nature of our work is we’re given opportunities to grow close bonds with clients, like this man, but also that we grieve those who are no longer with us.

That’s why I always make sure to thank my clients for meeting with me. I know if they could be there for us, they would.

Q: What are you looking forward to when moving to the new Bailey Building?

Marc: It’s going to be great. A lot of our clients are excited to see the new space. We currently have two cramped offices and a small communal space—which isn’t the best for our schizophrenic population—so this new, larger facility will benefit us all. The new building will also expand the level of service we can deliver, too. Having a triage center onsite will benefit our clients in so many ways, and I’m looking forward to continuing our outpatient work there as well.

I’m excited that there are going to be plenty of open spaces; our clients often like to hang out and chat with each other in the lobby, so we try to make it comfortable for them. It’s good for them to connect with people who are going through the same programs as them, so that they have a support system and can be inspired by individuals who progress.

Clients often like to visit me in my office, too, so I’m happy to have a larger space to host them.

Q: What do you wish people knew about these kinds of facilities and the services they house, like IOP?

Marc: A lot of the general population doesn’t understand what our clients deal with inside of these walls because they’re not exposed to it. I wish they knew that these facilities help keep the most vulnerable members of our community safe. Without these services and the incredible staff that deliver them, I don’t know where these folks would be.

I want the community to overcome the general stigma around mental health and serving those who are struggling. The clients we work with are kind, strong individuals, and you just need to get to know them to see that.