Matthew Richardson, MFT (he/him)
Offering In-Person & Online Video Sessions
Relationship Therapist & Teacher in Atlanta
My Approach To Therapy
It can be so frustrating when you and your partner feel trapped in a cycle where every interaction is a minefield for potential misunderstandings and hurt feelings. One minute you’re addressing something that just happened this morning, the next, things from 6 months or 6 years ago are flying between you. When did communicating become so difficult? When did little things become such big deals? What happened?
Every relationship goes through stresses – it’s because each of us carries with us hurts from our past. To protect those hurts, we’ve developed strategies. Maybe we rush toward our partner when we sense distance opening up between us, maybe we isolate ourselves to protect the person we love from us, maybe as soon as we’ve pulled them close, our stomach drops and we feel an overwhelming urge to get away. These strategies make sense based on our pasts but can keep us from getting what we need in our relationship – that sense of safety and comfort. We know how to help couples create and receive that deep sense of security and love.
We know how to help each partner heal the wounds of the past. What we do in couples therapy is learn how to honor those coping strategies in one another – accept that they once helped us – and create a new experience where our partner can touch those hurts without re-injuring them. Where we know and we feel this person is safe.
In our work together I will be open, caring, empathetic, present, and especially enthusiastic! I believe the best results in therapy come from collaboration between the people participating, so I want to work with you to create the therapy that best suits your needs. I enjoy working with young adults, college-aged and young professionals, and those who struggle with anxiety and depression. I want to be the best therapist I can be as a cisgender white man and strive at all times to provide a safe and secure place where people who may feel uncomfortable in a traditional therapist’s office can be themselves. I have worked closely with LGBTQ+ clients, members of the African-American, Asian, and Latinx communities, and neurodivergent individuals. I am constantly working to increase my familiarity, understanding, and empathy for those outside my traditional circle.
Gottman Method
I am trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy through the Gottman Institute, the leader in studying couples from over 40 years of research.
A bit more about my background
I became a therapist after spending a time as a teacher. I remember I was teaching freshman English at a technical university. I’d been in the office for 8 hours and I’d just finished meeting with my fifth student of the day. My schedule was booked and each student stayed to talk a long time after we’d worked on whatever assignment they brought with them. We talked about the transition to college, what it was like to leave home, struggles with roommates, and deeper questions like if it was okay to be anxious or frightened by all the changes everyone else seemed to be handling so well. As we talked, they changed – some relaxed, some cried, some laughed. As the last student left, I realized how much more I cared about those conversations than grammar tests and Hamlet.
Availability
Monday-Wednesday - In-peson at our Buckhead location
Sundays-Thursdays online video
Location - Online Video and In Person
Matthew sees clients both online and at our Buckhead location.
Fees
I charge $200 per 80-minute couples therapy session. I am not in-network with any insurance companies but can provide you with a superbill if you’d like to seek reimbursement. You’ll need to contact your insurance company directly to verify if they reimburse for any out-of-network counseling.
Let’s Talk
If you’d like to see if we’d be a good fit, just schedule a free video consultation call with me. We can talk about your current concerns and goals. I can’t wait to meet you!
For more information, or for help scheduling your first video call, you can also reach our administrative team directly at 678-999-3390.