Psychotherapist Matthew DeWitt Highlights Holistic Growth and Person-Centered Therapy at Perspectives

So when I'm not in session I'm kind of a homebody, I like to spend time with my wife and cats, have a baby on the way, so that will take up some time I think, I like to go to the gym as often as I can Hello, my name is Matthew DeWitt. I'm a psychotherapist. My areas of focus are depression, anxiety self worth, interpersonal relationship issues and I work with kids as well. I've been with Perspectives for about three years now. I started my internship getting my master's and I'm still here never left. Working with me, clients can expect validation and acceptance. I listen a lot more than I talk, I keep the focus on you, I really want to help people see the worth that they bring to the world and focus on their strengths instead of what they perceive as their weaknesses and what they're doing wrong I want to focus on what you're doing right. What made me want to join Perspectives was the emphasis on growth. When I was reading all the profiles of the people who are now my colleagues who are wonderful people the focus wasn't really on a diagnosis or what problems they help people with it was more how are we going to grow. It seemed more personal and I got the impression that this was a practice, that there wasn't too much of a power dynamic where therapist knows everything and the client is just kind of listening, I didn't get that impression at all and I like that. The approaches I use are person centered which basically means I follow the client's lead, I don't give any answers or advice, I just try and help you find your own answer to things, I also use existentialism which is focusing on the really big questions of life, focusing on the freedom of choice and basically making meaning out of any situation good or bad. I think therapy can benefit people by being a break. It's a non-reciprocal relationship, so that means that it's a relationship totally focused on one person. Normally there's a give and take with relationships, friends, family. You tell them how you feel and then usually they tell you how they feel. In therapy, it should be different where the focus is kept on you, how you feel doesn't get lost to the needs of another person, it's an arrangement that should be unique and unlike the other relationships you have in your life, it should be a place where you're able to be honest without fear of consequence and we are ethically obliged to want the best for you and take actions that only benefit you. Holistic therapy to me, means focusing less on a diagnosis and more on the whole picture. It's not really ignoring any facet of life there isn't a specific focus on just this and just this, it's the whole picture every part of you is relevant and important and holistic therapy honors that.