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Meet our newest members of staff at the Headway Belfast team and get to know a little more about them and their interests/hobbies outside of work!!!
Dr Marie Goss (Clinical Neuropsychologist)
1. Marie, what will your role in Headway involve?
My Primary role is to develop and co-ordinate the Younger Person's Network. The Younger Person's Network is a free programme developed to provide a range of fun, practical and personal development modules for young survivors of ABI aged 16-20.
In addition to this I have a role in helping Headway Belfast to develop its services for people with ABI and their families.
2. Please tell us about yout career before joining Headway.
I worked as a Clinical Neuropsychologist within the NHS, working with people with a range of problems arising from neurological conditions, mainly acquired brain injury. I have had a long history of interest and involvement in developing services for ABI and have worked both within the NHS and on the Boards of a number of charitable organisations to improve service provision for people with brain injury in Northern Ireland.
3. What attracted you to the role at Headway Belfast?
I was very excited to hear about Headway Belfast's plans for the development of a specialist service for younger people with ABI (The Younger Person's Network) and was keen to be involved in this. I enjoy working directly with people of all ages and especially with young people as they can be so full of enthusiasm and have a real zest for life. I am keen to support young people in building a positive identity and future for themselves following ABI.
4. What do you like to do outside of wotk?
I enjoy spending time with my children who are now both young adults. I play tennis occasionally. I think I enjoy meeting up with my friends more so than playing the game, which is just as well because I never win!!! I have recently taken up walking with a group of friends as a means of getting regular exericse and having a catch up and gossip with friends!
Eoin Treanor (Fundraising Officer)
1. Eoin, what will your role at Headway involve?
My role is to drive and develop new fundraising opportunities with specific focus on events, community and corporate fundraising to raise income and to develop, sustain and improve our services.
2. Please tell us about your career before joining Headway?
Before joining Headway I graduated from the University of Ulster with a Masters in Population Health , before that I completed my undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences.
3. What attracted you to apply to Headway?
Since the age of 16 I have frequently fund-raised for certain charities close to my heart, all the while I always admired the work that the fundraising officers from those respective charities were doing. When a fundraising position became available within Headway I was delighted to apply as brain injury is something that has affected my immediate family in the past.
4. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I'm a keen handball player and travel back home to Monaghan each week to participate in competitions there. Sports are a massive part of life and I will watch/support just about any form of sport. Other interests include socialising and spending time with my good friends from home and abroad, watching a good movie and getting to see a new part of the world I haven't had the pleasure of visiting before.
Lorraine Ni Bhriain (Music Therapist)
1. What will your role at Headway involve?
I have two roles at Headway. I am project officer and music therapist. My main role is to provide music therapy sessions for day therapy service users. Referrals are received from service users, family members or staff at Headway. I carry out assessments to establish each person's individual needs and plan and implement a music therapy programme based on these.
Please tell us about your career before joining Headway?
I qualified as a music therapist in 2009 and worked part-time in a special needs school, part time on the MA Music Therapy course in the University of Limerick as a tutorial assistant and also worked privately with children and adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I joined Headway in October 2011 providing music therapy sessions for 2 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In November 2012, I became a part-time member of staff and now work here 3 days a week.
What attracted you to apply to Headway?
There is much evidence to support the effectiveness of music therapy in aiding recovery from brain injury. There are very few music therapists working in the clinical area in Northern Ireland and I enjoy the challenge of developing and running the music therapy programme in Headway Belfast.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love to play traditional Irish Music. I have been playing concertina since I was 6 or 7 years old and teach music at weekends. My other great love is travelling and I'm always planning my next adventure. I have travelled to many countries, including Colombia, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Iceland, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Outside work I love to go to the gym, practice yoga, surf and go to concerts and gigs.
Keelin White (Counsellor)
1. Keelin, what will your job entail?
In my role as counsellor at Headway Belfast, I provide one to one counselling sessions to individuals with an acquired brain injury, their relatives and carers. I will also assist Headway's Clinical Psychologist with the development and implementation of the counselling service.
2. Please tell us about your career before joining Headway?
I have been in the fortunate position to be a stay at home mum, however when my youngest started school I made the decision to return to higher education as I felt the time was right. Becoming a counsellor had always been an ambition of mine, so I decided to enrol on a Foundation Degree course in 2009. I have been a volunteer with Headway Belfast since January 2010 previously as a project volunteer and most recently I have been employed as a part time counsellor.
3. What got you interested in counselling?
As a Psychology student in my early twenties I spent my placement year in Dublin. During this year I was mentored by a counsellor whilst working on a project that involved supporting young people with learning disabilities gain employment. The counsellor who mentored me both inspired and enthused me by the work he did with the young people; his positive influence was a key motivator in my decision to pursue a career as a counsellor.
4.What are your interests outside of working for Headway?
Being a mum to two young boys most definitely keeps me on my toes. I really enjoy spending time as a family and we enjoy, rugby, swimming and outdoor pursuits. When I do get some "me" time I enjoy nothing more than curling up on the sofa with a good book.
If you would like to talk to Eoin, Keelin or Lorraine about any apsect of their work you can contact them at Headway Belfast on 02890705125 or email
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There's lots of ways you can get involved with Headway Belfast.
Pictured are Nina Mc Keag, Terri Watson, Claire Malone, Jade Wallace and Clare Hoey
Peter Quinn (Chairman Board of Directors) and guests
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