For Victoria Freeman, counseling is more than just a job to pay the bills – it’s a means of helping other women heal, whether she gets paid or not.

It’s a passion so strong that the psychotherapist of more than 30 years started a free counseling support group for female workers who have reportedly faced physical, verbal and sexual abuse at this university.

Since last year, dozens of Facilities Management and Residential Facilities workers have alleged incidents of abuse, and an anonymous letter last March likened the departments’ atmosphere to a “Nazi camp.” When Freeman – who owns Freeman’s Family Counseling in Halethorpe in Baltimore County – heard this plight, she decided to create a comfortable space for female workers to express suppressed emotions.

“I couldn’t stand back and not let these workers have a place to go,” Freeman said. “We started this as an opportunity for them to come together, so they don’t think they are the only ones going through this.”

The counseling sessions, held every other Thursday, are free and vary in length between one to 1.5 hours. Sessions are held in the Nyumburu Cultural Center after the 4 a.m. to noon shift finishes its work but are open to any female worker who is available from 12:30 to 1:30.

During the sessions, the women are encouraged to confide in one another, and Freeman provides techniques to help them deal with the struggles they are facing.

“Not only is it a place where they can come andtalk about what they are going through, but I try to help them develop coping skills about what they need to do to manage stress they experience on the job,” Freeman said.

While Freeman said she cannot solve any of the women’s issues on her own, she said it’s important for them to have a safe, trustworthy and confidential environment.

But creating such an environment takes time.

“At the beginning they didn’t know who I was,” Freeman said. “When you’re doing any type of therapeutic work, that person has to trust you in order for them to be able to open up.”

Black Faculty and Student Association President Solomon Comissiong, who has been an advocate for these employees, said he’s heard firsthand that the counseling sessions are helping the women cope and realize they are not alone.

“[The workers] have told me so many times how much the group has helped them and how much talking to the other women, being able to voice these grievances in an environment that’s non-threatening, is extremely beneficial,” Comissiong said.

In order to maintain patient confidentiality, Comissiong said he has never asked any of the workers about specific things that are shared during the sessions. However, he said he has noticed a change in the participants.

“When I see them leave the room [in Nyumburu], there is a totally different demeanor than when they went in there,” he said. “I can tell that they have a strong affinity for her by watching how they interact with her before and after the meeting.”

Currently, Freeman’s group averages four to five workers per session, most of whom are Latina. Freeman runs the sessions in both English and Spanish, and a student volunteer comes to help translate.

Tim Baldauf-Lenschen, a member of Justice at Maryland who has been an advocate for the women, said many officials and students have rallied around the cause – and he hopes this continues.

“I think a lot of students and community members can help us provide programs to socially uplift the workers at this university,” Baldauf-Lenschen said. “Everyone should be thinking how they could be helping the very people who help beautify this university on a daily basis – it’s up to all of us to uplift each other.”

As the workers’ rights fight continues, Freeman said she will continue counseling on a pro bono basis and eventually expand the group to around 15 people.

No matter the number, no matter the forum, Freeman’s motivation to help others remains tied to her life’s passion.

“This is my life’s work, and I find so much fulfillment when I can see it’s making a difference in their lives,” Freeman said. “It’s the kind of work that makes me want to keep coming back.”

sinclair@umdbk.com