Matt's House Helps Survivors of Violence

Emily Conbere

Amid papers, projects and midterms, MSW student Emily Conbere has founded an organization committed to helping people who have lost loved ones to suicide, homicide or tragic accidents. Matt’s House provides a place for therapy, art and healing for survivors of violence. Visitors report that the opportunity to carry out an artistic project helps to work through emotions that result from the violent, preventable death of a loved one. Matt’s House also works in the Seattle community and beyond, creating artistic opportunities to encourage social thinking, research and reflection on grief and loss.

This includes an annual conference, a documentary in development and an annual series of plays about different ways of handling grief and loss according to different cultures, featuring playwrights from around the world.

"My goal is to work in the fields of trauma and grief and loss, and to continue to learn clinical skills in order to be the best therapist that I can be," said Emily. "Luckily, the UW School of Social Work has provided me with stellar teachers including Bill Etnyre, Taryn Lindhorst, James DeLong and Todd Herrenkohl. I am extremely grateful for all of the support I have received in this community and I look forward to continuing to build a strong presence in Seattle as a social worker, community organizer, and artist."

On Nov. 20, 2010, Matt’s House sponsored a daylong conference at the School of Social Work called "The Story Room: Reframing Trauma with Social Work and Art" in partnership with organizations including The Orion Center, Pongo Publishing and The Human Writes Project. The conference featured nationally known speakers and scholars Dr. Edward Rynearson and Dr. Shannon Jackson and included theatrical performances and playreadings. This event was free to the public (with a suggested donation), and brought in more than 100 participants.