A few of the faces behind J.A.G. Village
Our team
Founder & Managing Director, Registered Social Worker
Jodi Gorham
Jodi Gorham is a Registered Social Worker, a Child & Youth Counsellor, a University Instructional Facilitator, a College Professor, a Circle Facilitator & a Reiki Master. She is a wife and mother of two children, Davis, who she gets to hold in her arms and Jorja who she now holds in her heart. Jodi’s 20 years of professional experience in mental health along with her personal experiences with trauma and grief, drive her passion for honouring and supporting people of all ages. Jodi prefers to work from more holistic approaches rather than traditional medical models that are aligned with the dominant culture which is rooted in colonialism & patriarchy. Jodi strives to facilitate brave spaces where we choose courage over comfort, where we are open to both learning and unlearning and where we are all encouraged to honour and celebrate who we are. 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 Jodi’s other professional credentials, she has the relevant training and experience to draw upon other therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Narrative, and Solution-Focused therapies, Circle Facilitation, spiritual healing.
Psychotherapist
, CYW
Brent Knowles
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.
Master CYC
Cassandra Mathers
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.
Registered Social Worker
Jennifer Bishop
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.
Registered Social Service Worker
Kristen Roberts, SSW
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 connect with people.
Volunteer
Jennifer Maddigan
Jennifer Maddigan is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years experience working and teaching in hospital and community settings. She currently works in an Emergency Department. On July 24th 2018, Jennifer’s life was forever changed when her husband John died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 47 from a cardiac arrest. Jennifer’s professional and personal experiences along with her compassionate nature makes her the perfect fit to be directing J.A.G. Journaling and diligently providing the behind-the-scene help for J.A.G. Village. Along with raising her sons Ethan and Owen, Jen looks forward to joining Jodi in helping to shift grief culture and supporting the families of the J.A.G. Village community.
Volunteer
Jennifer Pym-Murphy
Jennifer is a certified educator with experience teaching kindergarten through grade 8 and her specialist in Special Education. Though into her third decade of teaching, she remains committed to continuously learning with a passion for social-emotional learning and children’s mental wellness. She is the abundantly proud mother of Declan and partner of Graham. A creative soul who thrives on helping others, Jenn is grateful for opportunities to work on special events coordination and community outreach for J.A.G. Village, as well as continuing her own learning about trauma and grief.
Volunteer
Karen Martin
Karen is a social service worker, who holds a dual diagnosis certification and currently working on her grief education certificate at OISE. Karen enjoys reading a good book, eating a meal that is bursting with flavour and her bereavement volunteer role at the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, which allows her to journey with others living with the loss of a loved one. If there is anything that her 20+ years in the social service sector (wearing many different hats) have taught her, is that “Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.”- Heather French Henry. Karen is a wealth of knowledge to her colleagues and the people she works with. Karen values all people regardless of their individual challenges and/or capacity. She is committed to empowering, informing, supporting and facilitating practices that honour these values wherever she goes. Karen is currently extending her wisdom by volunteering at J.A.G. VIllage where she has and continues to consult on new initiatives and projects.
Assistant
Oakley
Pets can be such an important part of our lives. During your online appointments we invite you to include your pets to ground and soothe. There is often opportunities to take them for a walk during in-person sessions as well. Oakley is our family dog and sometimes makes special appearances in our sessions.