Merlyn Matthews
Merlyn Matthews
(she/her)
Hi! I’m a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over 8 years of experience supporting young and mature adults through life’s challenges and transitions. I help clients navigate anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, and more, always with a warm, empathetic, and empowering approach. I believe real healing happens when we look at the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. That’s why I take an integrative approach to therapy, blending different proven methods to fit you, not the other way around. I value working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and believe in creating a safe space where you can feel heard, understood, and supported as you grow and heal. I look forward to partnering with you on your journey toward greater clarity, confidence, and well-being. It is my hope that you feel safe, heard, and accepted when we meet. I want you to leave each session feeling lighter, stronger, and more hopeful about where you’re headed next.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, you can expect a warm, welcoming space where you can share what’s on your mind and what brought you to therapy. We’ll start by going over a few forms and paperwork to make sure you understand your rights and what to expect from our work together. I’ll listen carefully and ask questions to get to know your story, your goals, and what you’d like to change or heal. Together, we’ll talk about what our sessions will look like and develop a plan that feels comfortable and realistic for you. My goal is for you to leave feeling heard, supported, and hopeful about your next steps.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strengths as a therapist are my warm, empathetic presence and my genuine ability to listen without judgment. Clients often tell me they feel truly heard and understood, which creates a safe space for them to open up and grow. I use an integrative, holistic approach — blending techniques from different therapies to fit each person’s unique needs. This means I look at the whole person — mind, body, and emotions — to help uncover the deeper roots of unhealthy patterns and guide clients toward lasting change. My goal is not just to treat symptoms but to empower people to heal, build resilience, and live with more clarity and balance.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I’m here to support adults who feel anxious, sad, or stuck and want real change in their lives. I’m a good fit for people who are open to looking at the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — and want to build confidence, find balance, and handle life’s challenges in healthier ways. My ideal clients are open-minded, motivated to grow, and ready to actively participate in their healing journey. If you’re ready to grow and willing to do the work, I’m here to support and guide you every step of the way.
About Merlyn Matthews
I identify as
Specialties
Serves ages
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have extensive experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is one of the core methods I draw from in my practice. CBT helps clients understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. I use it to help you identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier, more balanced ways of thinking and responding. By combining CBT with other approaches, I tailor the work to your unique situation so you can build practical tools to manage emotional challenges- and create lasting, positive change in your daily life.
Strength-Based
I also use a strength-based approach in my work, which means I focus on helping you recognize and build on your own inner strengths and resources. Over the years, I’ve found that when clients see what’s already good and strong within them, they feel more empowered to face challenges and make positive changes. In our sessions, I’ll help you identify your strengths — whether that’s resilience, creativity, faith, or courage — and use them as a foundation for growth and healing.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients who may feel stuck or unsure about making changes in their lives. MI is a collaborative, non-judgmental approach that helps you explore your own reasons for change and build confidence to move forward. I’ve found this method especially helpful for clients navigating life transitions or wanting to break old habits. Together, we’ll explore your goals and motivations at your own pace, so you feel supported and empowered to take meaningful steps toward the life you want.
Integrative
I take an integrative approach to therapy, which means I blend different evidence-based methods to fit you — not the other way around. Over the years, I’ve seen that no two people are the same, so I pull from different modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and strength-based work, depending on what best supports your unique goals and challenges. This approach also means I look at you as a whole person — mind, body, and spirit — so we can get to the root of what’s keeping you stuck and create a path toward lasting change and well-being.