Charlotte Heinz-Hoefert, a local counselor in Worthington, Minnesota, is bringing a new resource to the community to assist those working through grief. She has secured approval from the Worthington City Council to install a Wind Phone at the peninsula in Sunset Bay.
The Wind Phone is a disconnected landline that provides a quiet space for individuals to speak with deceased loved ones. The concept gained international attention as a way for people to process loss. Heinz-Hoefert, who operates Woven Counseling and Consultation Services, stated that the phone is meant to be a permanent, accessible tool for anyone in the community regardless of their personal circumstances or financial situation.
Heinz-Hoefert selected the Sunset Bay location specifically to offer privacy away from high-traffic areas, ensuring that users feel comfortable during what is often a personal experience. She emphasized that grief is a common human experience and the installation aims to support people in navigating that process without the barriers often associated with clinical settings.
Her business, Woven, focuses on systems-based therapy and provides services including clinical supervision and immigration evaluations via telehealth. By initiating this project, she intends to provide a tangible service that remains open to the public beyond her standard counseling work.
Residents will find the phone placed near the paved trail, accessible from the nearby park parking lot. This addition to the local landscape reflects an effort to provide spaces for community reflection and mental wellness in the region.