I’m Patrick Johns. My son, Toby, and I have been finding strength and healing at Hope Floats since 2018, after the loss of his mom, Sarah. Inspired by the incredible support we’ve received, I’m honored to be a peer facilitator, offering a listening ear and a helping hand to other grieving parents and guardians within Mike’s Club.

I was fortunate to find a community of heartfelt support at Hope Floats over the loss of my daughter Jamie. The empathy and insight I received from two beautiful group leaders and other group members was instrumental in guiding me forward in my grief journey. For the past ten years I have facilitated two grief groups for suicide loss. I have been inspired by meeting so many courageous, open-hearted, deeply compassionate individuals and families who have helped each other move forward after such a devastating loss. I also volunteer at Mike’s Club. It has been a joy for me to work with such honest and resilient kids, who continue to put a smile on my face at each meeting.

 I’m retired living in Plymouth with my husband. I enjoy reading, hiking, biking, kayaking and walking my 90lb exuberant lab Hudson who never stops wagging his tail.
Emily was first introduced to Hope Floats in 2021 and quickly knew she wanted to help spread the kindness that Hope Floats brings to the community. In 2022, she began as a volunteer facilitator with their Mike’s Club program. When she was asked to join the Hope Floats team in 2023, she was honored to accept the offer. She continues to volunteer, and hopes to continue to volunteer for many years to come!
Emily was born and raised in Massachusetts and appreciates the sense of community that comes with the small-town feel of Kingston. She enjoys baking cookies, spending time with her family (and her cat, Annie!), and painting.

 

My name is Grace, I am a new intern here at Hope Floats! I will be here for the school year as I am pursuing my masters in mental health counseling while specializing in expressive therapies at Lesley University. I am originally from Connecticut but currently live in Weymouth MA. I love all things art, yoga, going to the beach, and overall spending time outside.

Liz is the Executive Director and Board Member at Hope Floats. She found herself seeking support at Hope Floats after experiencing a significant loss of her own. After years of volunteering as a co-facilitator for the Pregnancy, Infant, Toddler Loss Support Group, she was very eager and excited to accept her position as Managing Director.

Volunteer work is Liz’s passion. She has experience with kinship foster care, adoption, and supporting friends and family through loss, mental illness, and addiction. Liz understands that life isn’t always straight and narrow, and people need to be met where they are on their journey through healing.

Liz graduated for UMass Amherst with a double major in sociology and psychology with a minor in education. She worked in the medical insurance field for 16 years before joining the Hope Floats team. She currently volunteers as a co-facilitator for the Mike’s Club teen group at Hope Floats.

Maureen F. Walsh is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, grief therapist and educator. Maureen is certified as a Fellow in Thanatology by the Association for Death, Education and Counseling (ADEC). While working as a school nurse/health teacher Maureen started the school bereavement program and coordinated it for14 years. She developed Lessons of Life and Loss, a grade 1-8 school bereavement program, which she has presented to faculties of various schools on the South Shore. Maureen began her own grief practice, Grief Weavers LLC in 2007 in which she sees private patients and speaks at schools and community organizations about grief issues. In 2017 Maureen moved Grief Weavers to Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center where she continues her private practice as well as facilitates the Sibling Loss Support Group, assists in Mike’s Club and is part of the H.E.A.R.T program. (Hope Floats Education and Awareness Response Team).

Meaghan is the Mike’s Club Clinical Director at Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center. Meaghan has been affiliated with Hope Floats since March of 2016 as a Private Practice Social Worker and has been assisting with Mike’s Club since the Fall of 2015.

Meaghan assists with researching current best practices in bereavement support services and disseminating this information to Hope Floats staff and those we serve. She also conducts outreach to local schools and agencies in order to increase the community’s awareness of Hope Floats and the many support services we offer. Meaghan assists with the evaluation process to help assess and ensure the ongoing quality of Hope Floats’ services and helps in locating and coordinating with guest speakers.

Meaghan holds a Masters Degree from Boston College in Social Work and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Stonehill College. She has previously worked as a clinician and a supervisor providing intensive home-based family therapy services to at-risk children and families. She continues to meet with clients at her private practice located at Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center.

Heather Gray is the Program Manager for the Mike’s Club Program.

Heather began her journey at Hope Floats in 2018 volunteering with children and adults in our Mike’s Club program. She later served as a masters level intern facilitating a variety of groups, workshops and individual support sessions to those coping with grief and loss, medical diagnoses and other life challenges.

Heather also provides individual counseling services at Hope Floats and is currently accepting new clients. Heather has experience supporting individuals of all ages. She previously worked as a Therapeutic Mentor and Therapeutic Training & Support worker providing intensive therapy services to at-risk children, teens, and their families.

Heather earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Simmons University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Bridgewater State University. She has a strengths-based approach to working with clients and incorporates a variety of therapeutic modalities to ensure that the client experience is individualized. She works from a trauma-informed perspective and provides a healing space where clients feel safe and supported. Heather believes in a Holistic approach to therapy and uses her knowledge of CBT, Solutions-Focused, and Narrative techniques to provide compassionate and effective support to her clients. ,

Alice Kearney has over 25 years of experience as a licensed mental health counselor and registered art therapist. After completing her undergraduate degree from Skidmore College, Alice earned her Masters Degree in art therapy from Lesley University. While pursuing her graduate degree, she worked at both the Walker Home & School, as well as at South Shore Mental Health (SSMH). Upon receiving her Masters, Alice spent 10 years at SSMH, working in various mental health programs and assisting in their Quincy early intervention program. In 2001, Alice began working for Brockton Area Multi-services treating children, families and adults. In 2007, Alice opened her own private practice. In 2013 she began leading Mike’s Club children’s groups at Hope Floats Healing & Wellness Center. Today, Alice is thrilled to move her positive, creative and strength-based counseling services to Hope Floats and be apart of the Hope Floats team full time.