Matthew Gardner grew up in East London, England, and studied French at the University of Bristol. Among many other jobs he has been a High School teacher, a Travel Guide writer, a Home Care Worker, and a mushroom picker. Since gaining his Master's degree in 2009 he has been a Registered Clinical Counsellor in private practice. As well as working in a homeless shelter, a halfway house for convicts on parole, a therapeutic community, and the Mental Health and Addictions department of VIHA, he has also led groups on addiction, parenting, interpersonal communication, anger, men's issues, and trauma. He lives in Victoria, BC, Canada with his wife, two children, a cat, and three chickens.

www.matthewgardnercounselling.com