Matthew Houston Psychotherapy, LCSW

Since a young age, I have been deeply curious, interested not only in experiencing the world around me but also in understanding the world of others. I was always seeking to know why we do the things we do. In pursuit of better understanding this question, I received an undergraduate degree in psychology, worked at the American Psychological Association, and worked with the CHEST at Hunter College. I found myself doing postgraduate studies at The New School and gaining professional experience working at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ medical centers in the United States. I also earned an MA from New York University. My passionate curiosity has led me to attend training and workshops in a diverse tapestry of theoretical viewpoints, including cognitive behavioral, sex, somatic, psychodynamic, and psychoanalytic therapy.

I work to bolster awareness in everyday life, strengthening one's ability to respond and to connect with their power to change. In partnership, we explore the conscious and unconscious obstacles in order to grow and change unhelpful patterns that are hard to let go of. My job is to understand you in order to help you empathically understand yourself, creating a space where one can identify, connect with, and verbalize feelings. I believe one is entitled to an easily understood formulation of the psychological barriers that are standing in their way of living a more abundant life. I speak plainly about those barriers from the first session. At any point in treatment, I will tell you exactly what's in the way of achieving your goals. I incorporate a variety of modalities into my work, and I tend to focus on the here-and-now. This means I'll be curious not only about what's happening in your life between sessions but also what's happening in the room — between you and me — during a session.

I believe that therapy consists of three crucial components: understanding how past experiences impact growth in the present, strengthening the muscle of awareness in daily life, and developing our motivation for change. Throughout this process, I work with clients to develop, strengthen, and live the values they wish to see in daily life.