ABOUT

Matthew Laidlaw
is a Social Worker and Therapist.

Matthew has worked in non-profit and educational contexts for the past 20 years. During this time, he has served in executive leadership, managing large teams of staff and volunteers while also having the honor of supporting, caring for, and guiding countless individuals through life’s complex joys and sorrows as a pastor, educator, spiritual director, and therapist.

He is a graduate of Kuyper College [BS], Cornerstone Theological Seminary [MA], the Living School for Action and Contemplation, and Grand Valley State University [MSW]. Matthew has also lived in the Middle East, studying at both Jerusalem University College and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Matthew's experience living internationally, working as a guide for historical and archeological tours, and attending two international universities in multi-cultural and inter-religious environments has deeply shaped how he engages individuals from a diversity of circumstances and backgrounds. And his professional and academic emphasis on 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.

He is a certified trainer for the International Institute for Restorative Practices, and has served on the Editorial Board of the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary. Matthew has partnered with the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary on various projects, including his book, How We Read the Bible: 8 Ways to Engage the Bible With Our Students [2018].

Matthew enjoys reading, running, jokes, and outdoor adventures with his wife, Stephanie, and their two young children.