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Mat Barbosa is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the private practice providing telehealth throughout Massachusetts (and for those close to the border in RI/NH who are able to physically be in MA during appointments). Thoughts and emotions are normal parts of being human. Mat’s clients, whether homeless or wealthy, uneducated or have doctoral degrees..they all have at least one thing in common: they are all humans who experience difficult thoughts and feelings.
Mat knows the decision to come to counseling can be difficult. Taking that leap into the unknown can be scary. Mat believes an individual decides to come to therapy because they have tried everything they can think of to improve their situation but have become stuck. The goal in therapy is to assist the client in becoming ‘unstuck’ and taking steps towards a more rich and meaningful life. Mat will work with you from a down to earth, non judgmental, and accepting stance.
Mat’s therapeutic approach is a behavior therapy (like CBT) called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) although he uses ideas from other therapies based on what the individual needs. In ACT, an aim in therapy is to help you with getting your life going in the direction you want it to be going while also helping you to better handle the obstacles along the way. This is done through a goal-oriented approach tied to YOUR values, not anyone else's.
Mat also has training in exposure and response prevention (ERP) which is the gold standard for treatment of OCD and phobias (including social phobia previously termed “social anxiety disorder”). It does require hard work, commitment, and stepping out of your comfort zone. In doing ERP from an ACT approach, Mat will work with you on this and move at your pace.
Years of Experience: 10 years
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - Through exposure you will learn that you can still do the things you want to do/live the life you want to live even though there will still be some anxiety along for the ride. The anxiety does not need to disappear for you to move forward. By staying in contact with the anxiety (through exposure) and not engaging in safety behaviors (compulsions), your confidence in your ability to handle the anxiety and discomfort is going to gradually grow.
Phobias & fears - Providing techniques and support to overcome intense fear, anxiety, and panic related to specific triggers, such as heights or crowded spaces. Description of treatment under OCD applies here as well.
Panic attacks / panic disorder - Brief, intense periods of overwhelming fear or anxiety. Description of treatment under OCD applies here as well.
Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)
Chronic pain - Managing the biological, psychological, and emotional aspects of pain. My role as your therapist is not part of your medical team but, rather, is to help you change your relationship with pain to reduce and even eliminate the secondary suffering which is often common with chronic pain.
Gender identity & transgender health - Exploring gender identity, including trans, non-binary, and gender variant identities; support throughout the process of transition.
Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.