Matt Glover, principal counsellor at MGA Counselling Services

Matt Glover

Director and Principal Therapist, MGA Counselling Services
BSc (Hons), BTheol, GradDipTheol, M (Counselling), M.A.C.A. (Level 4)
Director MGA Counselling Services
Director Forest Therapy Victoria
Director Nature Play 4 Kids
Director Life Therapies Victoria

Matt Glover’s initial training was in Chemistry and he began his working life as a technical officer for Dulux Australia, before entering into full time ministry with the Baptist Church in Victoria. Holding the positions of Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor and finally Senior Pastor, Matt specialised in Pastoral Care and was involved in several community care projects such as a playgroup for homeless Dads, caring for families as they grieved the unexpected loss of loved ones, attending road side accidents to offer care to traumatised witnesses, working as a chaplain in the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires, and hospital visitation. A particular area of interest was the support of LGBTI community, and people recovering from the abuse and trauma inflicted by ex-gay and conversion therapies.

On leaving the church, Matt completed a Masters in Counselling at Monash University while working in palliative care, and establishing MGA Counselling Services. Since opening MGA Matt has helped hundreds of individuals and couple work through a range of issues. He draws extensively on the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), plus utilises the Gottman method for relationship, couples and marriage counselling.

Matt is a member of the Australian College of Supervisors, assisting other counsellors, psychologists, spiritual carers, social workers, and clergy in their work practice and life balance. He also provides ACA recognised training in Forest Therapy on a regular basis.

Matt appears regularly in the media and since the end of 2011 has been interviewed by the Age Newspaper, the ABC’s 7:30 Report, Channel 31, SBS’s Insight Program, JOY FM, 3RRR, SYN FM, and 3CR . Working towards improving the mental health of the LGBTI community is one of Matt’s passions and in July 2012 he was awarded Freedom 2b’s “Most significant contribution to increasing understanding between the LGBTI community and people from faith backgrounds”. Matt also belongs to the Australian Counselling Association.

Aside from his counselling work, Matt also freelances as a cartoonist and illustrator. He is the author and illustrator of the Shapes, Lines and Dots: Creativity and Wellbeing for Kids series of books, plus regularly does commissions for corporate and community clients. He runs cartoon incursions in schools around the country, as well as the unique “Creativity and Wellbeing” workshops that combine his cartooning skills with mindful practice.

Matt works out of the Warrandyte and Croydon Hills rooms and is available for public speaking engagements, workshops and seminars.

MGA Counselling Services
Director: Matt Glover
General enquiries: 1300 38 50 20

Head Office: Manna Gum Studio, 4 Oxford Close, Croydon Hills, Victoria

VIC Branches
148 - 150 Yarra Street, Warrandyte, Victoria
1/122 Beresford Street, Lilydale, Victoria
Kirk's Place, Corner Kirk Road & Winterley Road, Point Lonsdale Victoria
6/171 Boronia Rd, Boronia, Victoria

NSW Branches
Wotso Healthspace, 1/5 George Street, North Strathfield NSW
325 Homer St, Earlwood, NSW
1/25-29 McKeonstreet, Maroubra, NSW
The Inner Shine Clinic, 108 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction, NSW

Greensborough address given at time of booking.

For the nature based health and wellbeing divisions of MGA Counselling Services, please visit:
Forest Therapy Victoria
Nature Play 4 Kids

If you’re looking for Matt Glover’s personal page, including his art and writing, please visit www.mattglover.com.