Matthew Silverstein (he/they)

In a world that is increasingly polarized and out of balance anxiety is on the rise. For those of us who also have histories of trauma, either recent or from childhood, this anxiety can be compounded. Work, relationship, health, or financial stress also can lead to persistent anxiety. My work can help to reduce anxiety through both mindfulness informed strategies, as well as practices to help resolve traumatic memory and more effectively manage current life stressors.

From a depth psychological orientation spirituality is considered a core ingredient of overall well being. When we are disconnected from our own spiritual center, however that is defined by each of us, we can be more vulnerable to emotional instability, addiction, and depression. While I do not push any particular spiritual agenda, I do invite you to become curious about the spiritual dimension of your life, and how this represent a vital internal resource.

From a depth psychological orientation spirituality is considered a core ingredient of overall well being. When we are disconnected from our own spiritual center, however that is defined by each of us, we can be more vulnerable to emotional instability, addiction, and depression. While I do not push any particular spiritual agenda, I do invite you to become curious about the spiritual dimension of your life, and how this represent a vital internal resource.

LGBTQ+ issues are largely misunderstood societally, and many of us feel the lifelong impact of this through feelings of shame and low self worth. I offer LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy that both helps to get disentangled from the harmful effects of internalized oppression, as well as opening a pathway to appreciate the value, purpose and place of LGBTQ+ identities in your own or a loved one's life. I also recognize the importance of other intersecting cultural identities.

Building intimate connections can be one of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of adult life. Lack of intimacy and feelings of isolation including within the context of a relationship can be a contributing factor to psychological distress. Couple therapy provides a productive arena to assess what is challenging to an existing relationship and what may be interfering with growing individually or as a couple, And it can offer insight and tools needed to reduce conflict and build intimacy.

Contemporary depth therapy focuses on the value of linking the conscious self with what is shut out of conscious awareness, i.e. the unconscious self. This approach also called “psychodynamic” or “psychoanalytic” can be applied to helping to explore and resolve childhood and intergenerational socio-cultural trauma, as well as access hidden strengths. The unconscious world can be explored through night dreams, memories, symptoms, and repeating patterns in relationships, as well as creativity.

I use an approach called Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). MBCT combines principles of cognitive behavioral therapy with classical mindfulness techniques to help interrupt patterns of negative thinking and increase body based present focused awareness. This helps to slow things down, feel more grounded, and consider life events with greater focus, clarity, curiosity, empathy, and insight.

LGBTQ affirmative therapy provides a supportive environment where gender and sexual diversity are embraced as normal aspects of humanity. It offers a safe space to explore and understand your own sexual and gender identities with empathy and expertise. Additionally, it offers confidential process for friends, family, and allies of LGBTQ communities to better understand their own experiences.

​In a world that many experience as increasingly polarized, fast paced, isolating, and toxic, anxiety has become the norm. Traumatic incidents, whether recent or past, can compound anxiety. Consequently work, relationship, money, and health related stressors become harder to manage. I offer strategies to reduce anxiety by both helping to resolve past trauma and improve your ability to reliably diffuse anxiety in the moment.

Contemporary depth psychology focuses on the value of linking the conscious self with what is shut out of conscious awareness, i.e. the unconscious self. This approach also called “psychodynamic” or “psychoanalytic” can be applied to helping to explore and resolve childhood and intergenerational socio-cultural trauma. Depth therapy may make use of dreamwork, shadow work, creative process, memories, inner child and family work, and exploration of hidden strengths. --