Hi there, I’m grateful you have found J.A.G. Village and that you were brave enough to reach out. I’m sad that you have a reason to need this service. I wish that we were meeting under different circumstances, yet here we are. Grief, mourning and bereavement can be difficult. My role is to help you navigate this new terrain while also supporting and bearing witness to the experiences you have along the way.
My name is Jodi Gorham and I am a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and a College Professor. More importantly, I am the mother of two awesome children, Davis, who I get to hold in my arms and Jorja who I now only get to hold in my heart. My personal experiences with trauma and grief, along with my 20 years of professional experience in children’s mental health, youth justice and most recently teaching drive my passion for honouring grief and supporting people of all ages. I tend to use more of a companionship model to interact with bereaved people, rather than traditional medical models. Medical models often align with the dominant culture which pathologizes grief, rather than embracing it as a natural and normal response to loss. I try to hold a space where your unique grief is honoured. A space where love and loss, joy and pain and many other emotions can co-exist, while simultaneously and collaboratively learning to walk the paths that life has given us. For those of you who are interested in my other professional credentials, I have the relevant training and experience to draw upon other therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Narrative, and Solution-Focused therapies.
Hi there, I’m grateful you have found J.A.G. Village and that you were brave enough to reach out....
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Cassandra Mathers is currently a Masters of Child and Youth Care student at the Toronto Metropolitan University. Through her education and experiential internships she has developed a love for working with children and youth. Utilizing an anti-oppressive lens that is also strengths-based she and her clients are able to develop meaningful connections that promote healing and positive change. Her current strengths include working with those who live with different developmental abilities, anxiety, and depression. Her caring & curious personality has led to a deeper interest in working with those who live with grief and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). In her final stretch of her masters degree she continues to be committed to nurturing her passion by participating in various certifications, workshops, and always learning from those that have trusted her with their life experiences. As a competitive athlete, when Cassandra is not working, you will often find her participating and volunteering in local sporting events, to ensure her own self care. When we take care of ourselves, we are not only practicing what we often encourage others to do, we are better equipping ourselves to be present for everything that life throws at us.
Cassandra Mathers is currently a Masters of Child and Youth Care student at the Toronto Metropoli...
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Being vulnerable and asking for help gives us strength to learn, speak and live our truth. With over 24 years of experience Jennifer Bishop, (pronouns she/her), a woman, a mother, and a registered social worker walks alongside those who are feeling discomfort, pain and/or fear, while supporting them in recognizing ways to reconnect, integrate and manage their emotions. Jennifer prides herself on being an empathetic ear, an ally and an advocate for those she has had the privilege to work with. Jennifer has had extensive experience working with children, youth, and families. She is particularly passionate about supporting those who have experienced abuse, neglect, and/or intimate partner violence. She also has extensive training and experience working with those living with chronic and/or situational mental health problems, as well as, individuals living with different cognitive abilities. Jennifer customizes her therapeutic approach to each person she works with by utilizing her training and experience in attachment, trauma informed, and signs of safety models. Through empathy and understanding, hope can be cultivated, nurturing personal and collective growth.
Change is possible when we can deepen our self-awareness, focus on reconnection and learn to forgive ourselves. Let me help you, help yourself. You “got this” you just may not know it yet.
Being vulnerable and asking for help gives us strength to learn, speak and live our truth. With ...
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Brent Knowles is a Registered Psychotherapist and a Child and Youth Worker who earned his diploma in Child and Youth Work at Northern College. His areas of practice include parenting interventions and behaviour management with a focus on increasing the knowledge, skills, and confidence of parents and reducing mental health, emotional, and behavioural struggles in children and youth. In addition to his role with JAG Village, Mr. Knowles has worked as an Intensive Community Support Worker at Kinark Child and Family Services for the past 20 years providing individual, family and group treatment. Mr. Knowles also has previous experience working in live in treatment settings at Frontenac Youth Services. Mr. Knowles’ approach to treatment is primarily cognitive behavioural always ensuring a collaborative relationship with clients.
Brent Knowles is a Registered Psychotherapist and a Child and Youth Worker who earned his diploma...
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Kristen is a Registered Social Service Worker with a dual diploma in Social Service Work and Mental Health and Addictions. She graduated with an Indigenous Perspectives Designation after completing additional studies in Indigenous culture, knowledge, and experiential learning. Since acquiring her academic credentials, Kristen has been providing trauma-informed support to youth and families in Durham who have experienced crime and tragic circumstances. She has a passion for helping others and uses her lived experiences to build connections with others. Kristen is a wife, a mother of two, a youth group volunteer, and is committed to ongoing learning. She enjoys getting wrapped up in a good book and finds calmness in nature and being outdoors.
Kristen is a Registered Social Service Worker with a dual diploma in Social Service Work and Ment...
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