Matt McGillvray
With a foundation established in a correctional institution, Matt embarked on a path of care for persons in conflict with the law. His subsequent roles extended to recidivism mitigation and the preservation of community and victim safety. Drawing from lived and professional experiences (e.g., family violence, military service), Matt’s work has included contributions in crisis management, program development, and agency reform through hostage/crisis negotiations, agency review, and systemic barrier elimination.
In his social work capacity, Matt has worked in the micro, mezzo, and macro levels to support clients navigating trauma, addiction, victimization, and mental health challenges. Currently employed as a Mental Health Clinician with a local school board, Matt also operates a private practice offering individual, couple, and family services through an anti-oppressive, eclectic approach, utilizing therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural, Dialectical Behavioural, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapies. Matt endeavours to specialize in wellness work with clients challenged by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), first responder occupations, and military service.
Matt's educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that learning is an active and participatory process. He underscores the value of collective engagement, emphasizing that the discovery process is enriched through collaborative effort. Matt believes participants can collectively broaden their perspectives and foster mutual growth by sharing lived experiences. With over a decade of experience teaching, coaching, and mentoring in the private and public domains, he has contributed locally (guest speaking), provincially (mental wellness training), and nationally (course delivery) on topics including mindfulness, critical stress response, and ethics.
Matt's research is presently centered in trauma-informed design and ADHD management within family systems. Through this work, he seeks to deepen the understanding of these areas and contribute to improved interventions.