Michael Matthews(He/Him/His)

I began my career as an environmentalist in Humboldt County when attending Humboldt State University from 1972. I contributed to the expansion of Redwood National Park by 46,000 acres., investigated the seismic problems at the Humboldt Nuclear Power which closed in 1976; edited the eco-journal at the Northcoast Environmental Center in Arcata, and I was named Humboldt State Student of the Year in 1976.

Then I worked as a rehabilitation counselor with the industrially injured from 1983 through 2007. Then I worked 2007 to 2021 at the California Department of Rehabilitation in Berkeley at the Ed Roberts Campus, a unique center for the disabled. I was appointed to the State DOR Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, and retired in 2021.

I have been a therapist since 1983 interning at Crossroads Counseling, the Institute on Aging Crisis LIne, San Francisco Suicide Prevention and with the UCSF Therapy Internship Program at Everett Middle School for two years in the Mission District.

I have always been a client centered rehabilitation counselor and therapist studying Dr. Carl Rogers, Dr. Heinz Kohut, empathic attunement, Jungian Dream Therapy, Solutions Therapy and Murray Bowen Family Systems Therapy. I have been with Path/Rula Mental Health since September of 2021.

I have almost 36 experiences professional and lifetime of experience within myself coming from a family with sudden loss, trauma, alcoholism, depression, divorce, and emotional abuse and denial and shame. My mother was in AA. My father was manager of the Inglewood Social Security Administration office. I bring all of this experience as a therapist and I am always a strong advocate for those with mental health issues.