Peer Counseling

Our peer counseling program matches clients with volunteer peer counselors who listen, share resources and referrals to local services, and help clients feel less alone.

Creative solutions to help with sorting out priorities, medical questions, family, work or legal issues, referrals and information is all part of the support we offer.

Maria Malaguti, Executive Director

With a certificate in non-profit management and BA from Marlboro College Vt, Maria founded the Lyme Disease Resource Center as a way to educate and support those who are affected by Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illness. Maria is passionate about supporting clients of the center to find ways to cope with and thrive in the face of illness.

Mal Labriola

Mal (they/them) is a volunteer Peer Counselor for the Lyme Disease Resource Center (LDRC). Mal comes to this work having lived with Lyme Disease and chronic illness since the age of twelve, and has found great solace and healing in resources like the LDRC. In addition to their role as a peer counselor, Mal is also a direct service advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, a nonprofit developer, environmental sociologist, editor, and artist. In all of these professional capacities, Mal’s thruline has been a desire to empower others. They hope to continue championing resilience in response to the often isolating experience of Lyme while connecting people back to community.