- 20 years experience
- Family perspective
- Focus on anxiety
About Matthew
Matthew Smith is a licensed mental health counselor with 20 years of clinical experience. He comes from a large family and draws on those early lessons about family roles and discipline when helping people navigate stress and anxiety. Matthew is straightforward and practical in session, and he aims to create space where people can talk about what matters most to them.
He brings personal experience with childhood abuse into his work and understands how early hurts can shape behavior and self-view. That lived perspective informs his approach to trauma and recovery without defining the person. He helps clients look at how they respond to difficult memories and supports changes that feel manageable and meaningful.
Matthew focuses on common life struggles such as panic and anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, and relationship strain. He also addresses issues like substance use, obsessive thoughts, and the aftermath of assault or domestic violence. His style is practical - talking through patterns, identifying clear steps, and practicing them between sessions.
In the therapy room he prioritizes collaboration and steady progress. Sessions tend to emphasize real-world skills, manageable goals, and tracking small changes over time. He draws on two decades of experience to tailor the work to each person's pace and needs.
People who seek Matthew's help are often looking for someone who listens, names patterns, and offers straightforward tools to reduce distress. He works with people who want to change how they cope with fear, shame, and relationship stress.
Approaches that help with panic and trauma
Matthew uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on changing unhelpful patterns and reducing distress. One common approach helps people learn skills to manage sudden anxiety and panic symptoms by practicing calm responses and changing breathing and thought habits. Another approach focuses on working through painful memories and their impact on daily life, helping people decide how they want those memories to shape them going forward.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Matthew collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and pace. He takes time to explain options, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what feels helpful in practice.
If you are considering online therapy, confirm the specific session formats before booking since the biography does not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around work, school, or family life and can cut commuting time. It can also allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight or let someone start therapy sooner while arranging other commitments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Matthew address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, parenting and family difficulties as well as trauma and abuse. Additional focus areas include panic disorder and panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, substance concerns, and relationship issues such as infidelity and separation.
How would he describe his therapeutic style?
His style is practical and collaborative, emphasizing clear steps and skills people can practice between sessions. He aims to help clients notice patterns, try small changes, and track progress over time.
What background experience does he bring?
Matthew has 20 years of clinical experience and also draws on personal experience with childhood abuse and parenting to inform his work with trauma and family concerns.
What are his credentials and where is he located?
He is a LMHC, which stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and he practices in Florida.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or for international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. He is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.