Linda Maher

Linda Maher is a semi-retired Chaplain with a diverse background in counselling and guiding individuals, couples, youth and families. Her lived and professional experiences speak to her holistic approach to wellness, that of physical, psycho- social, spiritual well-being.

Linda is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Masters in Theology and Pastoral Counselling, and a Bachelor of Education (Adult). She completed Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) through the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC) in the area of Grief and Bereavement Counselling with certification as a Clinical Chaplain in a healthcare setting. Linda has certification as a Facilitator for Crisis Intervention Stress Management (CISM), leading crisis debriefings with first responders; and, as well holds the designation of Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) Instructor.

Linda worked in a number of areas during her chaplaincy. As a Workplace Chaplain with the oil industry of Newfoundland and Labrador. Having completed the very daunting Basic Survival Training required to go offshore, she would travel by helicopter or vessel to offshore oil installations 500 km. from St. John’s, providing support to workers isolated from their families during their three-week work rotation. As ‘The Chaplain’, she was always treated with exceptional care and appreciation! As workers would often say, “You come all the way out here just to be with us!” During her 10 years as an Offshore Chaplain, Linda assisted with a number of tragedies, from suicides to a fatal helicopter accident in 2009. It was through her work in the oil industry that Linda become a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor in 2015. She has a great respect for oil industry employers who demonstrate an appreciation and sensitivity for their workers and families by striving to provide every opportunity to foster good mental health and wellness. Linda continues to teach MHFA in New Brunswick and she is retired from going offshore!

Linda says she was humbled and privileged to be employed as a Clinical Spiritual Care Practitioner with Mental Health and Addictions at the Waterford Psychiatric Hospital in St. John’s, NL. During her tenure there as a member of the inter-disciplinary care team, she was honored to be invited into people’s lives and to journey with them at a most vulnerable time in their acute state of mental unwellness. She met many wonderful people and learned many things, both professionally and from life stories, about mental illness and mental health problems. The essence of these experiences come through in her passionate delivery of MHFA.

Another area of her work that is very near and dear to her heart was as an Outreach Community Chaplain. This involvement included supporting at-risk youth and families in socio-economically challenged areas of St. John’s, NL. She designed and facilitated life skills education programs for at-risk youth, some of whom had dropped out of high school, and some others who were incarcerated in the provincial youth correctional centre. In conjunction with these programs, Linda, worked closing with them as a trusted confidant, invited into their traumatic life stories of struggles with family and challenges to fit in and belong. Linda holds them in her heart with gratitude for having met them and with hope for their future endeavours.

Linda and her husband, Rick, moved from St. John’s, NL to Rothesay, NB in 2017 to be closer to their daughter and her family who live in Rothesay, as well. Their son and his family live in Calgary, so they had no children (or grandchildren) in Newfoundland to keep them there! Linda is a strong advocate for Self-Care and takes great pleasure in her daily Yoga routine, walking, relaxing and having fun. She has two wonderful grandchildren living close by and absolutely adores spending time with them. A priority for her is to hop on a plane once or twice a year and head out west to spend quality time with her son, daughter-in-law and two wonderful grandchildren in Alberta. And of course, she always enjoys going back home to Newfoundland and receiving a warm welcome and good hospitality from family and friends there!

At present, Linda is employed in a casual position as a Clinical Spiritual Care Practitioner with Saint John Regional Hospital, providing support to staff, patients and their families. Linda and Rick currently reside in Saint John, NB.