Maureen Gordon; Director, Counsellor

I have extensive experience in counselling adults, children and young people in the community those who are facing many different problems including depression, self-harming, bereavement and loss, anxiety issues about school and exam pressures. I have worked in several high schools where I provided counselling support to students age 11- 18. I supported students to not only work through the personal difficulties that they came to counselling for, but also to look at how these difficulties can have a detrimental impact on their studies and future goals and aspiration.

Working with young people

When working with younger children I use play therapy approaches to enable better communication between myself and the child and this aids in supporting them to tell their stories. Play therapy is suitable for primary age children but can also be useful with some children in secondary education. Within school settings I also offer a pastoral/counselling support to teachers as well as providing training and advice to teachers and pastoral staff on how to work therapeutically with children and young people.

Qualifications

• - Dip Soc Social Work (CQSW)
• - Advanced Diploma in Counselling
• - Master’s in Education from Cambridge University
• - CPCAB level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision

Carol Elliott, Associate Director

Current Roles

• - SENCO Administrator (special educational needs coordinator)
• - Respite Foster carer

Experience

• - Safeguarding Lead
• - British sign language communicator in (secondary & primary school)
• - Behaviour Support /Learning Mentor

Our Comittee Members

• - Josephine Kasujja
• - Bisi Wilkinson
• - Uche Onwuchekwa

2018-2019 What has the Hope Tree has been up to?

• Children and Parent activity days
• 40 children including parents attended our family matters activity days in Ashford during the half term holidays.
• 21 children received counselling support in schools and in the community. Including family meetings and consultation with professional staff.
• Provided support in a school’s nurture provision
• From April 2019 the Hope Tree became a Community Interest Company, we are now able to attract more funding streams

Want to get involved?

The Hope Tree relies on volunteers for it's activity day programs, we could not do what we do without them!

If you would like to be involved, then please click HERE and mention it in the subject, to find out more information and to register your interest.

Alternatively give us a call at 07444299575