One Man’s Journey

Jun-01-2021

Employees

Matt Mock is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Denver and provides specialized treatment to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), empowering them with the skills necessary to improve their interpersonal relationships and to be their own best advocates.

Rewind over a decade to 2007, Matt felt aimless and did not know where to focus his passions. After earning his Psychology degree at CU Boulder, he wasn’t sure what that meant for him and his future. He would pick the brain of one of his Psychology professors, getting lost in raps about gypsy jazz and how the brain works. Knowing that Matt was still searching for a path, his professor mentioned Imagine! and the work we do in the community. Matt gave it a shot and spent the summer assisting children and adults with I/DD engage in meaningful activities in the community.

“Everyone was so dang positive!” Matt said. “And they really focused on helping people live their best lives.” Matt was immediately drawn to this world of neurodiversity, interacting with brains and minds different than his and challenging himself to connect with the clients on a meaningful level. “Imagine! puts a strong focus on ability, not disability,” said Matt. “Just because someone has a disability, it doesn’t mean they don’t have amazing abilities in other areas.”

In addition to directly assisting the clients, Matt felt that it was his duty to educate the community about neurodiversity when possible. Imagine! facilitates the majority of its programming using community venues and spaces, all within a Therapeutic Recreation framework. “We’ll be out there in the thick of it showing people that disability is just a word,” said Matt. “Oftentimes there would be an awkward or embarrassing interaction between one of our clients and a community member. That’s when Imagine! staff step up and turn it into a positive experience, teaching and creating a connection between community members and those we serve. My main goal was always to avoid fear and misunderstanding.”

After six and a half years of working at Imagine!, something clicked in Matt’s brain and he realized that this is where he wanted to be. He put his money where his mouth is and signed up for a two-year Social Work graduate program at Denver University.

Fast forward to today, Matt works at Collaborative Services for Change (CSC), a mental health treatment agency that offers a variety of therapy solutions and opportunities in the Denver area. Matt is often accompanied by his therapy dog Bonnie, who co-facilitates sessions about two to three days a week and assists in teaching clients about boundaries, communication, consent, empathy, and reading complex social cues.

“The work I did at Imagine! very much trained me for what I do today,” said Matt. “In some ways more than my graduate program.” Looking back at the trajectory of his journey and where he is today, Matt found answers and understanding through his job at Imagine!. Engaging in direct hands-on experience and also being immersed with coworkers who share the same ideals of advocating for neurodiversity, Matt was no longer aimless, he had a focus, and that focus led him to the wonderful work he is doing today.

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