A Life in Motion, A Self in Progress
Psychotherapy in MD, VA, and CA
Trajectory happens. We find ourselves, our lives, progressing in unexpected ways. Earnest efforts to make sense of change and uncertainty can lead us to circling the same thoughts, repeating familiar patterns, finding disconnection where once there had been affinity — both outwardly with others, and inwardly toward the self.
As humans we are inclined to wonder what comes next, yet we live on the boundary between an inaccessible past and an unknowable future. The rapid pacing of our always-on culture does not often afford us the opportunity for slowing down, taking stock, and growing present with our deeper human needs.
I offer online psychotherapy for adults in Maryland, Virginia, and California, facilitating the work of human becoming in the midst of anxiety, depression, relationship changes, challenges with self-esteem, and major life transitions. The personal odyssey of undergoing meaningful change is stimulated and enhanced by the experience of a genuine human connection through which introspection, meaning-making, and resolution can be explored without judgment. Grounded in that connection, I help people recognize their patterns, improve tolerance of difficult emotions, and discover previously unknown possibilities within themselves.
Relational, Depth-Oriented Psychotherapy
My approach to therapy provides a space to notice patterns, understand emotions, and align your life with what matters most. This work is relational and attachment-informed, rooted in humanistic, existential, ACT-informed, and interpersonal approaches. Feeling genuinely understood and emotionally “met” often matters more than any specific technique.
From our first session, the focus is on building trust, empathy, and collaboration. Rather than following a preset formula, therapy is something we create together, shaped by who you are, what you carry, and what unfolds between us. Paying attention to the here-and-now, including patterns in interactions and present emotions, often provides the clearest path to insight and growth. Humor, imagery, and creative exploration help make complex experiences more tangible, offering moments of insight, relief, and understanding.
By blending humanistic and existential perspectives with skill-based tools, including concrete strategies informed by Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and thoughtful psychoeducation, and thoughtful psychoeducation, people navigate immediate challenges while exploring deeper questions of meaning, freedom, and connection.
While this work is relational and depth-oriented, it often overlaps with techniques from CBT, DBT, and other familiar approaches, particularly around awareness, values, and practical coping tools. It adapts to each person rather than following a strict protocol. The focus is relational, exploratory, and grounded, offering a steady space to understand yourself, your relationships, and your life in a way that feels authentic, meaningful, and fully alive.
Therapy is, at its core, a shared human process. I show up as a fellow traveler, exploring what it means to live with clarity, presence, and authenticity. Together, we develop new ways of relating to yourself, your emotions, and the world in ways that feel grounded, meaningful, and true to who you are.
True empathy is sitting with another at the window of their world, bearing witness to their view, letting none of their humanness feel alien.
Meet Matthew
I believe the heart of effective therapy is the connection between us. If you’re considering working together, I invite you to learn more about who I am and how I approach therapy.