Lisa Matthews, PhD, LPC-MHSP
The work I do with people is based on a relationship of acceptance and trust. If you are looking for someone to accompany you as you begin this work, you have already shown significant courage. While we’ll have a conversation to decide if I am a good fit to work with you, here’s a little more information about who I am and what I bring as a person in this work we do together.
I began my work in community mental health in 2007 with families and young adults impacted by trauma and conflict. Currently, I worked with a wide variety of individuals and couples, ranging from teens to older adults. I love my work and have a passion for helping people find emotional wholeness in the midst of brokenness.
Along with my husband Ryan and our kids, I’ve made Knoxville my home for more than 15 years. As a parent and foster parent, I’m well acquainted with the joys and challenges of foster and adoptive care, from both a personal and professional perspective. My own experiences and struggles have deepened my ability to empathize, understand, and have compassion for the deeply complex nature of parenting--especially in foster and adoptive relationships.
I have a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a PhD in counselor education from the University of Tennessee. I have a special interest in anxiety disorders, parenthood and family concerns, women's issues, and postpartum adjustment. My relational approach to counseling emphasizes the importance of acceptance, courage, and connection with others as pathways to your healing and growth.
Whether this is your first time considering counseling, or you have engaged this kind of work before, welcome. I am honored to walk alongside you on your journey in counseling.