Meet the Team: Damion Matthews on Fatherhood, Therapy, and Finding Support
Over the next few months, we'll be introducing you to the passionate team members behind Bridges to Understanding, sharing who they are, how they work, and the heart behind their care through warm, behind-the-scenes conversations.
First up is Damion Matthews, LMFT (he/him)––a therapist at Bridges to Understanding who brings years of heart, experience, and deep compassion to his work with children, adults, and couples.
With a background that spans acute residential care, community counseling, and a variety of creative and evidence-based therapies (like CBT, DBT, ACT, and Play Therapy), Damion creates a warm, non-judgmental space where people can feel heard and supported. He is also our most senior staff member, coming up on his five year anniversary at Bridges to Understanding.
A father himself, Damion brings a relatable, grounded perspective to the joys and complexities of family life. Below, he shares a few thoughtful insights on fatherhood, overcoming the pressure to "be the rock," and what to expect when you take that first step into therapy.
As a father, what unique perspectives do you bring into the therapy room for men and fathers navigating family life?
I think many fathers are surprised by how much raising a child triggers material from our own childhood––the traumas, parental relationships, and coping mechanisms we developed, and how all of that shapes us. In the midst of the pressures and chaos of parenthood, we revert to old scripts and patterns, often without even realizing it.
When I sit with fathers in therapy, we dig through these old scripts and figure out what needs to be discarded, edited, or rewritten. Often we discover that a process of reconnecting with and re-parenting our own inner child is necessary to finding confidence and joy in our roles as fathers and husbands.
Fatherhood can bring immense joy, but also pressure. What is one misconception you often see men holding about balancing family responsibilities and their own mental well-being?
Men in our culture are conditioned to feel like we must be the “rock”—never being too emotional or vulnerable, never needing help, always being in control and having the answers. The misconception is that this standard is at all sustainable or realistic. Inevitably, the overwhelming internal pressure this creates breaks down our mental wellbeing, and we may resort to unhealthy coping strategies or lash out at our families.
What many men don’t realize is that attending to our own mental health and self-care can be one of the most important things we can do not just for ourselves, but also for our loved ones.
How can fathers, and partners in general, feel more comfortable taking that first step to seek therapy when they are feeling overwhelmed or burned out?
While beginning therapy can feel daunting, it represents a really unique and wonderful opportunity. I mean, how often do we get to enter into a relational space that is validating and completely free of judgement?
I also think it’s helpful to remember that being overwhelmed and needing support is not a sign of failure or weakness––it is a completely appropriate response to trying to navigate a world that seems to become more complex, fast-paced, and chaotic every day.
Some people might think that therapy is just going to be talking about feelings without getting anywhere. How do you ensure your sessions are concrete, practical, and leave clients with actionable tools?
I always work collaboratively with clients to create specific goals for what they want to achieve in therapy. I offer clients a variety of concrete tools to meet these goals, from changing their thought patterns, to working with difficult emotions, to building healthy routines, to learning relational or organizational skills. It’s up to the client to practice and apply these tools outside of the therapy session, but I am there to provide support, feedback, and guidance along the way.
When family life gets chaotic, what is one simple grounding exercise or habit you practice at home to stay present?
The life of a modern-day parent can often feel almost impossibly full. I have found that one of the most important things we can do in the midst of the daily chaos is: Nothing. If we can spend even just 10 or 15 minutes a day (preferably outside) doing absolutely nothing––that means no phones or distractions––it can help to reset the buildup of stress and pressure.
It doesn’t necessarily need to involve sitting in silent meditation; you could be sipping a morning coffee, taking a short walk, or doing some calm yoga or stretching. The point is just finding a way to stop everything for a few moments.
Want to work with Damion? Reach out today to connect with Damion and start building practical tools for a grounded, fulfilling life. Contact us here.
