MATT RAFTERY, MSW INTERN (HE/HIM)

Hi! My name is Matt (he/him), and I am a white, gay, cisgender male. My previous career was spent in the performing arts, and I am now in my final year of achieving my MSW at Loyola University Chicago. I’m 50 years old and first came out to family and friends towards the end of the AIDS epidemic in the early 90s. I am also a widower, having lost my partner of 10 years in 2014.

I have a strong focus on helping the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly those who have experienced grief and/or trauma, and those who are getting older and facing societal ageism and isolation. I also have experience in Veterinary Social Work and highly value the connection many of us share with animals.

I prefer psychodynamic and narrative therapy techniques as I believe many of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fear we experience are rooted in the history of our relationships with family, friends, and community. Our work together will be entirely unique to your experiences, and we will work collaboratively to identify and address aspects of your mental and emotional well-being that you would like to see improve and work towards you feeling better on a day-to-day basis.

One of the most important aspects of successful therapy is the connection between client and therapist, so I look forward to hearing from you and together we can explore whether we might be a good fit!

SCHEDULING

Contact intake@practicalmagichealing.org to get Matt’s current availability.