Matt Fitzgerald, MS, LPC, NCC
Therapist
About Matthew (he/him/his)
Hello and welcome to WHC! My name is Matt Fitzgerald. I have experience treating clients of all ages, and my main areas of focus are managing depression and anxiety by working to achieve symptom reduction while using introspection to investigate the sources of distress, processing trauma, identifying healthy and unhealthy relational patterns, helping athletes through the mental and emotional trials of competing in sports, and dealing with acute stress and adjustments, such as a transition from school to work or moving to a new area. I also have experience working with clients with severe and persistent mental illness.
I maintain an eclectic practice, which means that while I have experience using established treatment modalities such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, and other mindfulness-based approaches, I prefer to learn principles from several different counseling theories and use them as appropriate depending on the issue that the client is facing. I believe that context is so important in telling the story of someone's life, and that no two clients are ever the same, which is why I like to use this case-by-case approach to treatment.
I treat my clients with unconditional positive regard while gently challenging them to become more aware of aspects of their life that may require a change, keeping in mind that recovery is a journey rather than a destination, and that growth is a process that will sometimes be uncomfortable. My goal is to create a space in which the client feels that they are able to safely access this discomfort and learn from it.
Just like anyone, hobbies and self-care are essential to my life and I take great enjoyment in doing things outside of the office! I enjoy nature and try to spend time outside each day, be it through dog walks, hiking through a reservation, or jumping in the ocean. I also try to stay physically active by coaching hockey, a sport I've played for as long as I could walk, and by playing bass and guitar, either alone or with my band. I'm eager to incorporate some of these aspects of my life into my practice via avenues such as walk-and-talk sessions and music therapy. I truly believe having important hobbies such as these is essential to maintaining mental health!
