Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Bedell.
Hi Matt, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Hi! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, and am Eye Movement Desensitization Trained therapist.
Finding a starting point is rather challenging if I’m being honest. My journey has focused more on growth and how I can best help people. When I left High School, I was focused on continuing my baseball career at the collegiate level. While working on my undergrad, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do beyond swinging a bat, catching, and throwing a baseball! Since I was in general education, the advisor sat me down to choose a major when I started my second year. Since he was a psychology professor, I chose psychology. The classes interested me and felt natural to me. However, as the classes progressed and became more focused, I found a passion for understanding the human condition. I guess that could be a starting point for my counseling career.
A starting point for my passion as a helper began while my interest in psychology was progressing. I remember sitting with a coach talking about the team’s morale, and they challenged me to be the change I was hoping to see. I started to intentionally set out to build connections with younger teammates in hopes that if we could create momentum in the next wave, we could continue building our ranking and connections as a team even after I graduated.
Once I finished my undergraduate degree, I continued playing baseball. After reaching my ceiling, I focused on how to continue being the change I was hoping to see on a larger scale. During my master’s program, I was fortunate to work as a health coach and case manager in community mental health and residential care. The extremes can teach us a ton about human resiliency and grasping the benefit of strong foundational helping skills. I took the work ethic that helped me advance my baseball career and dedicated that effort to learning how to help people with mental health struggles. Working in hospital systems and at an advocacy center, other therapists helped me further learn and continue my growth as a helper.
A starting point as a businessperson began after starting at another private practice; I learned the business side of counseling from other therapists and opened my own. There remained a desire to learn more, and I have continued advancing my passion by working on my Doctorate in Psychology.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with most things in life, challenges precede growth. A smooth road is often not as enriching, although I understand the appeal of wanting a smooth road.
One of the significant challenges is learning that wandering is still a direction. When you aren’t sure what you want to do or how to do it beyond what is in front of you, your choice is to wander with your eyes wide open for opportunity.
I have struggled with and maintain effort on living as an introvert with social anxiety disorder (social phobia) which presents an ongoing challenge with marketing, networking, and living in a predominantly extroverted society. However, no one has said life is fair or easy, so challenges are welcome in my life. They present a new opportunity to learn and refine skills. Often in my life, career, and consultations, I encourage people to adopt a growth mindset that things may not ever become easy but will become easier with intentional effort.
I am where I am today because of luck, hard work, and support from quality people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I provide individual counseling/therapy to people ages 14 and up. I specialize in social phobia, addictions, life transitions, depression, anxiety, and suicide/self-harm.
A theme in my life has always been finding balance and looking at how we can create an environment where we can readily look at what we want our life to be and how we can accept what we cannot change and then feel inspired to act bravely in facing our fears.
Often the feedback I hear from clients and other professionals is they get the sense that I genuinely care. While that may seem like a given, listening without judgment, shame, or criticism is a skill that takes time to develop. I still find that teaching people to become evaluators, to see themselves without shame, and finding growth areas to be the most rewarding part of my work.
When I ask other professionals what separates me, they often answer how I speak to social anxiety, existential dilemmas, and being a college athlete. The dedication and work that went into developing my athletic achievements helped me empathize with student-athletes and band members.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
On a professional level, I learned new marketing methods that blended well with my introverted nature. Learning to develop my website, SEO, and find methods to connect with referral sources.
On a personal level, my wife’s mother passed away due to Covid-19 in April 2021. While that time was challenging for us as a family, the loss helped me navigate grief with clients in a deeper meaning.
Pricing:
- Initial 60-minute appointment: $165
- 60-minute EMDR: $165
- 60-minute individual session: $165
- 45-minute individual session: $150
- I can provide an “Itemized Invoice for out-of-network mental health benefits”
Contact Info:
