Paul Matthews

Paul Matthews is a seasoned School-Based Therapist at White Mountain Middle School, bringing a wealth of expertise in mental health care. He holds a Master’s in Social Work from Portland State University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Paul has specialized training from the Trauma Research Foundation in trauma stress studies and has certifications in Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Forensic Interviewing, Gender-Affirming Care, and Internal Family Systems, among others. He is a member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

As a therapist, Paul believes in providing a safe, trusting environment where individuals are respected and held as valuable and significant. Paul helps people shift patterns and create new ways of thinking by understanding and overcoming barriers that create discomfort in their lives. He takes a collaborative approach to counseling, focusing on restoring balance to the pieces of ourselves that the world can pull apart. Therapy, in his view, is about working together to discover the changes we need to live our best lives.

Paul is proficient in a variety of therapeutic techniques, including Trauma and Stress Integrated Care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, Exposure Therapy, and more. He utilizes a strength-based holistic approach that draws upon multiple modalities. This approach empowers people to discover their authentic selves while enhancing skills to manage anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, personality traits, and life stressors. Paul helps people recognize their uniqueness while balancing autonomy and connection with others.

In his personal life, Paul has a have a deep passion for the outdoors, art, travel, and music. He also enjoys kayaking, backpacking, rafting, hiking, and mountain biking.