A plan, specific actions and personalized strategies - This is what I give my clients to help them get unstuck, overcome suffering, and fully enjoy the important things in their life. The Bible, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and neuropsychology - The sources of wisdom I use to guide our plans and strategies. When life throws you for a loop, your mind and emotions are overwhelming and don't make sense, and you don't know what to do, you need someone who understands the mind and emotions, and how to tame them. I'm Dr. Matt Bridgman. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband and father, and a clinical psychologist and board certified neuropsychologist. I have a Master's degree in Christian Leadership and a PhD in Clinical Psychology, both from Fuller Theological Seminary. I've been studying the human mind (mood, emotions, behavior, cognition) for over 20 years, through the lenses of God's Word and neuropsychology. I've helped thousands of people with mood/emotion and also cognitive troubles coming from many sources: depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, concussions and traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and numerous other mental health, neurological, and physical health conditions. I've worked in community counseling centers, inpatient psychiatry units, big academic medical centers, small community hospitals, outpatient behavioral health clinics, neurology clinics, inpatient physical rehabilitation units, and VA medical centers. I'm excited now to be helping others through my own private practice. I help my clients not just through empathy and good listening, but through helping them understand their own mind better. I guide them through shaping and training their mind, overcoming suffering, and thriving in the process of it all.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In the first session, we will cover three things: 1. I'll get from you the big picture view of what is going on with you, what you need help with, and what your goals are (and if you're not sure how to articulate them, we'll work together to clarify that). 2. I'll give you the big picture view of what I think we should do to get to where you want to go. 3. If we're in agreement with the plan, we'll get into some details and identify the first specific steps to begin moving you forward. In subsequent sessions, we will: 1. Review progress/outcome with goals set at the previous session 2. Identify and discuss obstacles/challenges to progress and learn strategies for addressing them 3. Set specific actions/goals to work on until the next meeting

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I believe the Bible is the ultimate life manual. My background in neuropsychology then gives me even greater understanding of the human brain and mind - a deeper understanding of how God made our minds to work, and a deeper appreciation for why and how the instructions in God's manual are designed for our good. My experience with ACT has given me specific tools to use, to help apply the knowledge and understanding from the Bible and from neuropsychology, to most effectively shape and train our mind and emotions. This integration of God's Word, neuropsychology, and ACT is quite a gift that has allowed me to help many people through very difficult circumstances.

About Matt Bridgman