About Matt

The decision to seek out counseling to help you work through a trying time in life can seem like the most difficult decision of your life. The stigma around mental health care and your friends and family telling you that you just need to “get over it” don’t make the decision any easier. Once you have made the decision to seek out counseling, now you have to actually find a counselor. I hope the information on this site can help you quickly determine if we would work well together. 

I try to be the counselor I would want to see. I keep it light and friendly with humor sprinkled in, but I will also push you outside of your comfort zone and challenge your preconceived notions. I see counseling as a partnership that works best when both parties are fully honest with each other. If I see something you are doing that isn’t working, I’m going to let you know. If you hide things from me or aren’t completely honest with what’s going on, I won’t be able to give you my best. Clients who are successful with me learn to trust me and become vulnerable with me. I understand it takes time for some people to build up to that level of trust, but you are too important to not be your real self with me.

I have been in clinical practice since 2009 and have worked extensively with children, adolescents, and adults. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Illinois License # 149.017004, Wisconsin License # 9454-123) and Certified Problem and Compulsive Gambler Counselor (Illinois Certificate 39227). I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Ball State University in 2005 and my Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of Illinois in 2012. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Northern Illinois. 

I use a variety of therapeutic techniques with my clients including:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing