Mat Elder

Therapist
Downtown, DC
Book Now With This Provider
Education
Master's of Social Work, Master's of Public Health - Silberman School of Social Work / CUNY School of Public Health
Session Type
In-Person, Virtual
Specialties

ADHD

Anger Management

Anxiety

Autism Spectrum

Bipolar Spectrum

Depression

Grief & Loss

Identity Issues

Life Transitions

OCD

Relationship Issues

Stress Management

Substance Use

Trauma & PTSD

Approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

EMDR

Exposure therapies (ERP/PE)

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

My approach to care:

I’m a therapist whose driving therapeutic principle is holistic care. The parts of your wellbeing— emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, social, and more— that give you meaning and define who you are is at the core of my practice.

To find contentment, that goal we are all seeking, it is essential to consider each part of your being. Much of my time in the profession has been dedicated to the treatment of specialty populations, including LGBQ and TGNB folks of all ages, those suffering from drug and behavioral addictions of all levels of severity, and those exploring their identity and sexuality, including kink, chemsex, increasing intimacy, sex work, and more.

I’ve worked with those suffering from trauma, depression, anxiety, bipolar, personality disorders, and more. I’ve worked in criminal justice spaces including family court, intensive-care practices, and addiction and harm reduction services.The heart of my practice is people, so I have a special interest in discovering collaboratively what healing means to you, including symptom reduction, decreasing maladaptive behaviors, and supporting you in achieving your goals.

I am certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which assists your nervous system in reacting more calmly to distressing memories. I also pull from cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies (CBT/DBT), which influence our consideration of thought patterns, emotional experience, social interactions, and much more. 

I believe change begins at the threshold of discomfort, and that is where much of our work will be. With compassion and respect, I encourage my clients to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and embrace new coping skills and thought patterns during treatment that support their version of actualization. This is what I call supportive confrontation, which involves giving value to your personal stories while pushing you to challenge yourself and worldview to enact meaningful, long-term change. The work can be challenging, yetwe are in it together.I’m excited for the opportunity to be on this journey with you. 

 

Questions before getting
started with SOL?
Not sure? Meet our
other providers.