Matthew Laidlaw, MA, LLMSW
(He/Him/His)
Standale Location
O-113 Lake Michigan Dr NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
Matthew serves as a companion to those who desire to experience healing, growth, and transformation in their pursuit of the full human experience. He works to offer a space of mutual, compassionate, and empathetic listening to the story your life is telling. Matthew believes that the opportunity to work with you is a sacred privilege, and is committed to discovering a shared process in therapy that honors who you are, your background, and your future path.
Practicing therapy with Matthew may include focusing on developing tools and practices to help manage emotions and thoughts, support in healing from past experiences, assistance developing healthier behavioral patterns, and/or establishing new values. However, there is not one therapeutic approach that fits all, which is why he works closely with you to identify your own needs and goals.
Matthew is experienced primarily in individual work with adolescents and adults from all backgrounds and genders, in areas related to depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, interpersonal conflict, identity exploration, finding belonging, discovering purpose, grief/loss, and religious and spiritual questions [and related trauma].
Matthew graduated with a Masters in Social Work from Grand Valley State University in 2024. He is also a graduate of Kuyper College [BS], Cornerstone Theological Seminary [MA], and the Living School for Action and Contemplation. His experience living internationally and attending two universities in multi-cultural and inter-religious environments has deeply shaped how he engages individuals from a diversity of circumstances and backgrounds. Matthew’s professional and academic emphasis on restorative justice practices, as well as the unique cognitive, developmental, and mental health needs of people of all ages has deepened his ability to foster effective therapeutic environments and meaningful relationships with clients.
Matthew believes that our growth as people cannot be manufactured or controlled, and is therefore something we can only cooperate with and bear witness to. For many, the journey and practice of our work together becomes an outcome in itself. While Matthew is a generalist when it comes to theoretical orientation, he naturally integrates person-centered, narrative, existential, humanist, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment approaches.
Insurance Accepted:
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Priority Health
Aetna
Cigna