THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING & CONSULTING
Matthew Dean
He/Him
RESIDENT IN COUNSELING
EMDR Trained Therapist
*Waitlist Available
Therapist
Hello! My name is Matthew Dean. I am passionate about working with adults who are looking for a space to receive care and hope amidst their struggle. I believe my role as a therapist is to compassionately explore your story with curiosity as you seek growth and healing. My motivation in becoming a therapist is due to the transformative experience I personally had in therapy--I know how powerful having a safe space can be.
Our time together will be trauma-informed, meaning we'll pay special attention to the stories of harm that have shaped the way you see and interact with the world. As a gay man, I understand that your unique and often hidden experiences matter. I pull from theories such as Narrative Therapy, Attachment Theory, and other Psychodynamic approaches that emphasize your past experiences and caring for your body.
I have experience working with people in the LGBTQ+ community, and working with people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. No matter what you are coming in with, I believe the therapeutic relationship of the therapist/client is uniquely suited to facilitate change as I help you gain awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
I received my Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Messiah University and am currently a Resident in Counseling working towards my LPC. Before jumping into the counseling world, I worked in Athletic Administration while coaching basketball and soccer. Whether in person or virtually, I look forward to working with you.
Resources
What if I Don’t Remember
By Matthew Dean
Some of us have lives that are filled with stories of overt harm. We might call these “big T Traumas”. These are stories where our sense of self, safety, and autonomy were threatened, creating a lingering adverse effect. The details of these stories are often easy to remember because they were or are so distressing.
Polyvagal Theory: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?
There is a widely cited “fact” that we make 35,000 decisions a day. I don’t imagine this is possible to prove or disprove; the exact number of choices made in a day certainly changes depending on each person. Needless to say we are faced with countless choices in a day. What should I wear? What should I eat? Do I leave now or in 10 minutes? Do I keep scrolling or put my phone down? Some of these decisions are explicit, meaning they live in our consciousness. We know we are thinking about them. Other decisions happen automatically without awareness.