Matthew Wettlaufer, LMFT — Therapist in Palm Desert, California

Hi there, I'm Matthew!

I am a visual artist and a licensed marriage and family therapist, I offer art therapy exercises and interventions in in-person sessions that can address issues around life choice changes and transitions, identity, family of origin issues, codependency, substance use problems and support for recovery, anxiety and depression.

My focus

I typically work with clients experiencing low acuity, who wish to use art as a means to uncover life purpose and authentic self-identity.

My approach

My therapeutic approaches include Art Therapy, Psychodynamic, Inner child (Gestalt) and Family of Origin work, DBT and CBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

My communication style

Through art making, we chat about what is going on and process the issues you are grappling with.

My journey to mental healthcare

I have worked in the visual arts for over 20 years, I have a doctorate in philosophy and a masters in psychology, I grew up in an alcoholic home and empathize with clients who have family of origin issues. I am an openly gay man with 36 years of clean time in recovery. I have also survived and recovered from depression and anxiety.

My goals for you

We discuss the issues being addressed, we go over possible art therapy interventions, and then we adjust the goals and approaches as we go along.

Our first session

Clients should expect a warm, kind, and caring person who is ready to get to know them and find out how to help them.

I identify as...

Male
Caucasian or White
Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Spiritual, Taoist, Unitarian Universalism

Expertise

Specialties

+ 5 more

Treatment approaches

Art Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Dialectical (DBT)

Psychodynamic

+ 4 more

Focus populations

Gay

Recovery/12 Step Friendly

Racial Justice

+ 3 more

Therapy types

Individual Therapy

Ages served

Adults

Practice

Accepted insurance providers

Group and Pension Administrators
Aetna
All Savers
Allegiance
Allied

+ 59 more

Languages spoken

English

Education

Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology from Chapman University and a Master of Arts (MA) in Philosophy from San Diego State University.

Sessions

Video session

60 minutes

Matthew Wettlaufer