Matt Bouse (he/him/his)

In addition to my lived experience as a man, much of my clinical experience has been providing therapy to men. Specific men’s issues I have encountered as a therapist include men’s experiences with body image, sexual orientation, sexual performance, friendship, marriage/dating and societal expectations. I have experience working with male survivors of abuse as well as men experiencing depression and anxiety.

Many of my clients are first- or second-generation immigrants, some of whom experience stress related to cultural differences between their current and former homes. I respect clients’ decisions to find ways to honor aspects of both cultures. I am against the idea of treating white, American values as “normal” and anything else as a problem. I am also a descendant of immigrants and have the lived experience of being separated from ethnic traditions by past generations who chose to assimilate.

As a multiracial/mixed person, I have several years of experience learning about mixed race identities and racial identity development. In addition to my own lived experience, I draw on academic research, films, novels, personal accounts and more in my approach to this topic.

My primary approach is Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy. This approach was developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and is based on attachment theory. In sessions, we will focus on noticing and describing your emotions. We will also process how our interactions affect your emotions and how other relationships in your life affect your emotions as well. This approach can be particularly helpful for people experiencing anxiety and depression.

Specific issues I encounter include men’s experiences with anxiety, depression, trauma, body image, intimacy, sexual performance, sexual inexperience, overuse of pornography, relationship stress and questions about sexual orientation. I work with transmen in various stages of transition and can provide letters of support for gender-affirming care. I also help men navigate hegemonic masculinity, society’s expectations on men and men’s intersections with race, nationality, ability and more.

Anxiety is one of the most common concerns I encounter as a therapist. My approach includes identifying your anxiety triggers, current ways of coping and desired outcomes. We will normalize anxiety as a natural human response while also validating that anxiety can be frustrating and very difficult to live with. Ironically, the less we fear anxiety and fight against it, the more manageable it becomes and the less it holds us back from the life we want.

Anxiety is one of the most common concerns I encounter as a therapist. My approach includes identifying your anxiety triggers, current ways of coping and desired outcomes. We will normalize anxiety as a natural human response while also validating that anxiety can be frustrating and very difficult to live with. Ironically, the less we fear anxiety and fight against it, the more manageable it becomes and the less it holds us back from the life we want.

Anxiety is one of the most common concerns I encounter as a therapist. My approach includes identifying your anxiety triggers, current ways of coping and desired outcomes. We will normalize anxiety as a natural human response while also validating that anxiety can be frustrating and very difficult to live with. Ironically, the less we fear anxiety and fight against it, the more manageable it becomes and the less it holds us back from the life we want.

Anxiety is one of the most common concerns I encounter as a therapist. My approach includes identifying your anxiety triggers, current ways of coping and desired outcomes. We will normalize anxiety as a natural human response while also validating that anxiety can be frustrating and very difficult to live with. Ironically, the less we fear anxiety and fight against it, the more manageable it becomes and the less it holds us back from the life we want.

Often, clients experiencing low self-esteem hold a firmly-rooted belief that they are bad, pathetic, unlovable, toxic, etc. Their desire for perfection may keep them from recognizing strengths and successes others see in them. We will consider how these beliefs formed, ways they have been helpful and times they have been inaccurate. We will learn about self-compassion and how to practice this new skill. We will identify stories we want to believe about ourselves and how we want to share them.