LPC, 18 years of experience
Hello there! My name's Matt, nice to meet you! I'd like to first give you a brief introduction to my background, which began in 2007 when I began working in the mental health field, supporting individuals dealing with severe illnesses in a number of group homes throughout Monmouth, Somerset, and Hunterdon Counties. This experience continued throughout my graduate studies, where I had the opportunity to apply my skills and knowledge in real-world settings through internships. After several years of working various short-term positions while raising my children, I returned to full-time clinical work at a community clinic in northcentral New Jersey. I remained there until and throughout most of the pandemic. In late 2022 to early 2023, I made the decision to part ways with the group and open my own private practice, the Zen Den Counseling Center. Currently, the center operates exclusively online, as I've found that the majority of my clients prefer teletherapy over in-person sessions. This shift allows me to better focus on providing the best possible care to my clients while staying updated on the latest developments in the field. I can also manage the number of clients I see, ensuring that each person I meet with receives my undivided attention and dedication.
Meeting someone new for the first time can sometimes feel a bit nerve-wracking, especially when discussing sensitive topics. During our initial sessions, we'll take things slowly, allowing us to get to know each other and explore why you're reaching out for help. I'll follow your lead, making sure you feel safe and comfortable enough to open up at your own pace.
I'm a compassionate and understanding listener who takes a relaxed approach to therapy. I've been managing depression and anxiety since I was a child, and I sometimes share how my experiences relate to a client's current situation.
People decide to take the step and try (or continue) therapy for many, many reasons. All of these reasons, from severe to relatively minor concerns, have solutions, and together we can work on figuring out what they are! Therapy should be uniquely tailored to each person. I work with clients to identify patterns of behavior that may have contributed to difficulties in relationships—with family, friends, or at work or school—and help find ways to create positive change. We learn to change our perspective on life, our past, our entire reality, and recognize that we really can control how we think and what we think about. I've worked with a wide array of clients: some with bipolar disorder, PTSD, trauma, grief, and work-life balance issues, along with "every day problems".
This is a well-known, "gold standard" approach that has been demonstrated to be effective for many people facing many issues. It is one of the most commonly used "go-to" methods. This is based on the idea that there is a direct link between thoughts, expectations, and behavior that, with attention, can be changed.
A useful approach that many find helpful, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been incorporated into many different disciplines recently. This can be particularly helpful for those with anxiety.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) works by teaching people to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment while committing to actions that align with their personal values. Instead of fighting difficult emotions, individuals learn mindfulness and acceptance strategies to become more psychologically flexible. This allows them to stop struggling with unwanted thoughts, which frees up energy to focus on making meaningful changes and living a more purposeful life.
Narrative therapy works by helping people separate their identity from problem-saturated stories, externalize the problem, and then re-author a new, more positive and empowering narrative. Therapists use techniques like externalization, where the problem is named and treated as separate from the person, and unique outcomes, which involve identifying times the person resisted the problem. Through this process, clients can deconstruct negative assumptions, connect with their values and strengths, and create a new story that aligns with their preferred future.