Matthew R. Murray, LCSW
Psychotherapy & Psychodynamic Therapy
I specialize in psychotherapy for adults and adolescents, providing support for individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, personality, and attachment-related concerns.
Education & Training
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with experience working with adults and adolescents in a clinical setting and as a school social worker.
I earned my master’s degree in social work from Aurora University. Before entering the field, I studied philosophy at Elmhurst University and Oxford University. I continue incorporating philosophical ideas into therapy and recognize how they guide us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and our everyday experiences.
My clinical training is primarily in psychodynamic therapy, specifically attachment-based & self-psychology. I also have extensive education in other modalities like acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT), mentalization-based treatment (MBT) and interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB)
How I Work
One may have relationship hardships, be depressed or anxious, experience trauma, or just feel incomplete and want to expand their self-development. Some people's everyday coping strategies stop working as well as they once did. Others may find themselves repeating distressing patterns in their lives or feeling something's wrong, unable to verbalize or comprehend their pain. We will work together to make sense of your experience through insight and emotional understanding.
I strive to help people by widening self-awareness through a balance of emotional experience and insight. I believe people should feel heard and understood, and I do my best to understand what it’s like for you in your unique subjective experience. Having a secure, stable place will allow you to freely explore your internal world and take risks in the outside world.
I aim to help you deal with difficult thoughts and feelings so you can move towards what you care about in life, live more fully with greater passion and vitality, increase your curiosity, and be more present.
Professional Affiliations
Member of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology (IAPSP)
Integrative Attachment Theory Certified (IAT)
Member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)
Member of the American Association for
Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work (AAPCSW)
Teaching & Publications
Adjunct Faculty of Social Work at Aurora University
-SWK 4110: Social Work Practice with Individuals
-SWK 4140: Social Work Practice with Families
Murray, Matthew (2011) "Recognition, Humility and Education: A Hermeneutic Approach," ESSAI: Vol. 8, Article 28.
Murray, Matthew (2021) “Communication Breakdowns & How to Reconnect with Your Child.” KA