This month, we’re excited to highlight Natalia Milner, a new Behavioral Health Specialist at the Family Health Clinic.

Read our interview with Natalia to learn about her, her time at the Family Health Clinic, and more. 

Tell us about your education and previous work!

“I graduated from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina in Social Work…At the age of 27, just married, I came to the University of Chicago to study Russian Language and Literature.  There I was a lecturer of Russian teaching graduate students while taking classes… When my then husband obtained his Ph.D. in mathematics also from the University of Chicago, he was offered a tenure track position as a professor at Purdue University in West Lafayette.  We moved here while I continued being a graduate student in Chicago and teaching.  Soon I also started teaching Russian at Purdue to undergraduate and graduate students.  I was preparing to work in the Academia teaching XlX Century Russian literature and philosophy.

While teaching at Purdue, I had the opportunity to spend a semester as a resident director of abroad studies in Moscow.  There I could do research at the Moscow Central Library and interact with Russian Scholars.  I was there during a very interesting time in the political and economic arenas…  

Then I decided to return to my old field of studies: counseling.  I obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling at Purdue…  After graduating, I worked as a therapist at the Wabash Valley Outpatient Services in Monticello.  There I obtained my Certification as an Alcohol and Drugs Addiction Counselor (CADAC ll) and was also certified as a National Certified Counselor (NCC).  After moving to the Counseling Center in Lafayette (to be closer to my youngest son), I passed the exam to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).  Since then I have worked twice for the Alpine Clinic and, in between, 7 years at the Sycamore Springs Psychiatric Hospital doing Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP).”

What drew you to the Family Health Clinic? 

“Working for many years for a corporation, I find that work done by the Family Health Clinics is extraordinary…I’m proud to be part of such an outstanding team.  I’m learning from each and everyone in the FHC how to provide such dedicated and professional services to an otherwise disenfranchised population.  I admire the hard work and respect to patients of the professionals in the Clinics.”

What are you most looking forward to about working at the Family Health Clinic?

“Work and studies have been a very important part of my life. The Family Health Clinics fit well into my mission of helping people, especially those less privileged, to be healthier, both physically and mentally, a holistic approach that the FHC realizes with much dedication and success.” 

What is your favorite part of being a Behavioral Health Specialist? 

“Helping people to improve their life by being happier and accomplishing their goals in life makes this job very important to me. After over 20 years of experience, I haven’t felt burned out or disappointed.”

Why do you think the FHC is important to the local community? 

“Help is brought to people where they live. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have the opportunity to have primary health services and even less BH treatment. The small town and rural population now has access to devoted health professionals.” 

Is there anything else you want to share about yourself? (Hobbies, family life, etc.)

“Regarding my personal life, I will try to be short.  I lived in 5 different countries: Argentina, Ukraine, Russia, Italy and, of course, the United States where I have been a citizen for almost 30 years.  I learned the language of every country I lived in, mainly, because I didn’t want to be dependent on others. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, into a Ukrainian family of immigrants.  When I was age 4, my family moved back to the Western Ukraine which was now part of the Soviet Union.  I lived there for 10 years and attended Russian schools.  At 14, my family managed to leave the Soviet Union and return to Buenos Aires, where I lived until I came to the USA.  (It was supposed to be for only 3 ½ years.)  

In addition to having lived in each country for at least 3 years,  I traveled extensively. I visited over 40 countries, mostly European, Eastern and Western, but I also spent time in China, including Hong-Kong, and Japan.  I’m glad I had the opportunity to travel when I was young and open to learning.  It was my best education.  I enjoy different cultures defined by the way people think, feel, and act.  I love art, architecture, music, dancing, the way people talk, laugh and look.  I experienced different foods and drinks typical of each country.  I bought recipe books and learned how to cook what people eat every day in their homes.

My other hobbies or way of spending my time outside of work include gardening, listening to music, reading about current events, spending time with my family and friends, eating out, going to cultural events at Purdue, Indianapolis and Chicago. One of my very important hobbies is reading. I have been part of a reading group for 10 years.  

I have 3 grown-up sons. They are very kind, intelligent, and highly educated. They have good jobs. The youngest is finishing his Ph.D. at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and he has already received 2 tenure track position offers as a College Professor, one is in Rice University in Houston. The bad part is that they are or soon will all be very far away. My only constant companions are my 2 doggies, Gabriel and Rafael. They are a mixture of shih-tzu and poodle. I also have friends with whom I spent time on the weekends.”

Thank you, Natalia, for being a part of the Family Health Clinic!

If you would like to make an appointment to see one of our behavioral health counselors like Natalia, simply call (800) 321-5043.