I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Southern California. I received my Master of Social Work from Azusa Pacific University and have been practicing therapy for 6 years. I specialize in depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, ADHD, and trauma. I love working with individuals who struggle with the deep existential issues in life such as death, responsibility, meaning, and isolation. I don't believe that there is a "cookie cutter" approach to therapy. I love to draw from other theoretical approaches and fields to create a specialized treatment plan that is suited for your specific needs and goals.
I love to start where the person is at. Sometimes, therapy can be scary and uncomfortable for people at first. My objective is to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to share their story. From there, we'll work together to tailor an action plan on how we'll proceed for our follow-up sessions.
One of the reasons why I enjoy being a therapist is working together with my clients. One of the best ways I do that is by creating a place where the individual feels understood, supported, and valued, no matter where you're at in life.
I enjoy working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. In addition, I love working with individuals who feel stuck in life and unable to find meaning or purpose. I love to work collaboratively with individuals to help guide them to a place where they can learn about themselves, their strengths, and use their personal beliefs to find purpose for their lives.
Matthew Figueroa offers therapy covered by CalViva Health (Medi-Cal), Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal), Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal), Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Health Net (Medi-Cal), L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Orange County Mental Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal) and San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal) in California.
I've used the Existential Therapy in my practice for the past 3 years. It's helped many people who struggled with core issues such as meaning, isolation, death, responsibility, and freedom. Together, we can explore and potentially come to terms with these life issues. This approach helps the individual find purpose, gain self-awareness, facilitate authenticity, and promoting a more active engagement with life.
I've used CBT in my practice for the past 5 years. I consider this approach as one of my "go-tos" as a therapist. It's helped many people manage their struggles with anxiety, depression, phobias, and trauma. CBT encourages self-awareness and empowers individuals to take control of their mental health by changing faulty thinking patterns.