Andrea offers Transpersonal and Cognitive Therapy
for individuals, couples, families and groups
Andrea Mathews has over 30 years' experience as a practitioner and supervisor of others practicing in the Mental Health field, having held such job titles as Counselor, Family Therapist, Program Director, Clinical Director, and Clinical Consultant.
Currently and for the past 23 years she has run a thriving solo private practice in Birmingham, Alabama, in which she offers both Transpersonal and Cognitive Therapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. Therapy, as defined here, is an opportunity for clients to become acquainted with feelings, thoughts, and patterns of behavior, including relational patterns, both effective and ineffective, and to challenge themselves to become authentic, living effectively and happily.
Therefore, authenticity, choice and meaning are key concepts that will be utilized in the therapeutic endeavor. These concepts assist us in exploring what is true and what is false in our encounters both with self and other. We may use role play, interactive and experiential relational dynamics in couples and family therapy, art, poetry, metaphor, story, depth-oriented therapy, experiential dynamic, internal dialogue and/or cognitive restructuring in the therapeutic effort. The length of and the outcome of therapy is largely a matter of individual client choice. The harder the client works, the better the outcome.
Currently and for the past 23 years she has run a thriving solo private practice in Birmingham, Alabama, in which she offers both Transpersonal and Cognitive Therapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. Therapy, as defined here, is an opportunity for clients to become acquainted with feelings, thoughts, and patterns of behavior, including relational patterns, both effective and ineffective, and to challenge themselves to become authentic, living effectively and happily.
Therefore, authenticity, choice and meaning are key concepts that will be utilized in the therapeutic endeavor. These concepts assist us in exploring what is true and what is false in our encounters both with self and other. We may use role play, interactive and experiential relational dynamics in couples and family therapy, art, poetry, metaphor, story, depth-oriented therapy, experiential dynamic, internal dialogue and/or cognitive restructuring in the therapeutic effort. The length of and the outcome of therapy is largely a matter of individual client choice. The harder the client works, the better the outcome.
The biggest job of therapy is teaching the client
how to become his/her own therapist.
Andrea’s approach is based on the theory that as children we all learn, through a kind of osmosis of attachment to family and society, to put on certain masks and costumes, which when used repeatedly become patterns of behavior, thought and feeling. In other words, we have learned to perform a role. In the process of repeatedly performing this role, we have come to believe that this role is who we are.
But it is not who we are. We have an Authentic Self which has been sent out of our conscious awareness and into confinement behind the role we live. Still the Authentic Self has been speaking to us all along in ways we have often denied, and it more clearly speaks to us when we are in a crisis--whether that is a relationship crisis or a life crisis. Therapy offers us the opportunity to learn how to recognize, hear and respond to the voice of our own authenticity calling us home to our own peace.
An analogy to this view would be the tree, which blows in the sometimes harsh wind that might cause branches to crack and break off. This tree suffers the assaults of humanity as people carve their initials in it and put nails in it to build tree houses and hold basketball hoops. And it suffers the insult of the seasons through rain, wind, hail, sleet, snow and ice. Like us, this tree appears to be suffering. But if you look underground, you’ll find that the roots are doing just fine, thank you very much. In fact, throughout the tree’s life above ground, these roots have never been wounded, and, indeed, they are the life source and force for the tree.
We have a part of us that is just like that. It is wise and strong and has never been wounded. It is the Authentic Self. It is possible to begin to live out of this part of ourselves. It is possible to shed the role, the mask and the costume and begin to live in the real. It is possible to learn to formulate relationships, careers, and all other interactive endeavors from this source—the Authentic Self. Andrea works with clients on the following issues and more:
But it is not who we are. We have an Authentic Self which has been sent out of our conscious awareness and into confinement behind the role we live. Still the Authentic Self has been speaking to us all along in ways we have often denied, and it more clearly speaks to us when we are in a crisis--whether that is a relationship crisis or a life crisis. Therapy offers us the opportunity to learn how to recognize, hear and respond to the voice of our own authenticity calling us home to our own peace.
An analogy to this view would be the tree, which blows in the sometimes harsh wind that might cause branches to crack and break off. This tree suffers the assaults of humanity as people carve their initials in it and put nails in it to build tree houses and hold basketball hoops. And it suffers the insult of the seasons through rain, wind, hail, sleet, snow and ice. Like us, this tree appears to be suffering. But if you look underground, you’ll find that the roots are doing just fine, thank you very much. In fact, throughout the tree’s life above ground, these roots have never been wounded, and, indeed, they are the life source and force for the tree.
We have a part of us that is just like that. It is wise and strong and has never been wounded. It is the Authentic Self. It is possible to begin to live out of this part of ourselves. It is possible to shed the role, the mask and the costume and begin to live in the real. It is possible to learn to formulate relationships, careers, and all other interactive endeavors from this source—the Authentic Self. Andrea works with clients on the following issues and more:
- relationship issues—marriage, living together or alternative relationship
- transpersonal concerns
- supportive therapy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender concerns
- mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and others
- unresolved grief.
Andrea Mathews is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Counseling Supervisor, a National Certified Counselor, and a National Board for Certified Counselors' (NBCC) Approved Provider of Continuing Education, with a PhD in interfaith/interspiritual studies and a MA in Agency Counseling.
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