Parent Forum: Dr Leisa Aitken, Rediscovering Hope – Thursday 15 August, 6:00pm
Hope seems to be in short supply at the moment. We acknowledge that we need it, but what exactly is hope and how can we nurture it? How do we hold onto hope when the world continues to give us reasons to doubt it? What role does faith play in providing hope for the future?
This term Meriden will be holding a Parent Forum that will explore these questions and analyse some of the reasons why many people are struggling to have hope – especially younger generations. It will also offer practical, research-based strategies to increase hope for ourselves and those we care for.
Dr Leisa Aitken is a clinical psychologist who has been counselling and teaching on mental health and wellbeing for more than 25 years in workplaces, hospitals, churches and private practice. She has completed a PhD on The Psychology of Hope, inspired by the desire to find practical ways to help her patients be more hopeful. It explores reflections on hope throughout Western history in philosophy, theology and in psychology, as well as her own research on the experience of young people and the impact of contemporary society on their hopefulness.
We hope that this event will be a helpful dialogue between Meriden families and staff as we partner together to help the girls in our care to have a hope filled vision for the world and their own futures.