We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Lundy (they/them) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, what matters most to you?
My most important value is khesed.

Khesed, chesed, or hesed is Hebrew and translates, “loving kindness, especially for those on the margins.” Sometimes people ask me, “What exactly is khesed though?” It’s an energy of loving kindness that expands and reciprocates as individuals and communities embody it.

Khesed envisions and believes that a thriving society is possible and inevitable if we all pursue khesed within ourselves, relationships, and work. Khesed is what our world most needs right now, more than ever–deaths related to drug overdose have doubled in the last two years and depression has grown four times.

At Khesed Wellness, we make therapy affordable for the underinsured and prioritize therapists’ wellbeing. Why? The number one reason U.S. residents do not seek mental health therapy when they need it is cost, whether or not they have insurance. One out of three Americans live in a mental health shortage area. 65% of American Psychological Association members do not have capacity for additional clients as of 2021. Two out of three therapists meet criteria for burnout. Therapists and clients need loving kindness within their therapy experience(s). We exist to eliminate these top roadblocks to mental health in the U.S., because we desperately need it.

When tragic events occur in Colorado, we find ways to support the community, because when you spread khesed to those who need it, the collective has a chance to thrive. When you don’t support the community when we most need it, we all suffer. Khesed steps in when we don’t know where else to go.

The day after Colorado’s shutdown during March 2020, we raised funds to provide over 2,000 free mental health therapy sessions to hospitality workers. The hospitality industry was impacted more than most sectors during the pandemic, it’s known for lack of employee insurance, and need for mental health therapy. Since then, I created a corporate benefit for underinsured employers and we now serve 1,000+ restaurant employees. We have also expanded our pro bono programs for the underinsured. For example, we have a Recovery Pro Bono Program providing 12-24 free therapy sessions, as ongoing affordable outpatient mental health therapy for those in recovery is rare to find.

Khesed isn’t just a fluffy idea of kindness for me. Khesed lives in the trenches looking for ways to step into darkness with the radiating light of loving kindness for those in the shadows of society’s margins. Khesed imagines a world where business is rooted loving kindness not profiting off people’s mental health needs. We center the de-centered because Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+, and immigrants are disproportionately underinsured in the United States.

What if everyone had access to therapy when they needed it? Khesed makes this possible, that’s why it’s our name and my life’s philosophy.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Like every great story, every great company includes struggle. Discrimination against my queer identity has been my greatest struggle as an entrepreneur. And, my experiences guides the innovation that I see possible, like Khesed’s focus on the underinsured.

Just like we know from biology, when the conditions are right, the organism can thrive. So too with a company. My goal is to create an ethic-centered work environment where workers can thrive, because then we can provide the best quality of affordable mental health therapy for the underinsured.

I’ve learned there’s always more to the story, and everything is your teacher.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A walk through RiNo.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Dr. Ali Hill (ali@soundadvicewomen.com), a dear friend and mentor who has met me for lunch at True Food Kitchen since Khesed’s beginning.

Website: https://www.khesedwellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hnlundy/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm3k3wmt4KH42fnftcD6T9w

Other: https://www.instagram.com/khesedwellness/

Image Credits
Images courtesy of Unsplash

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