Ask a Therapist: Spotlight Interview with Matthew Schaffer

How long have you been working at City Therapy?

Almost a year and a half now.

What led you to this career path?

It's been a winding road. In college, I was going to do theatre lighting design, then transferred into the business school and found this niche called leadership and consulting—essentially the psychology of how people behave within organizations. I was always reading psychology books, but it never occurred to me to become a therapist. Years later, I was doing pharmaceutical marketing and wanted to feel more inspired by my work. I remembered a mission statement I'd written for myself in college: To help make peoples’ lives easier, happier, and more efficient. I wasn't really doing that. So I followed it and it led me to therapy.

What do you like most about being a therapist?

Working directly with someone to help them figure something out, whether that's a way out of depression or anxiety, or finding direction in their life. I like that sessions can sometimes be structured and at other times open-ended. I always frame therapy as collaborative. I like reflecting back what people say so they can notice a pattern they’ve been doing. Then comes the real work.

How do you tailor your approach to meet your clients’ needs?

I mainly use CBT, positive psychotherapy, ACT, and existential therapy, but I don't come in with a fixed plan. I listen to how someone talks about what they're going through and then choose tools that make sense. With depression, I might use positive psychotherapy to identify strengths or thought records to reframe thinking. With someone feeling stuck, ACT helps us clarify their values. 

What challenges do you see most frequently right now?

Uncertainty, not knowing if things are going to get better, and sometimes feeling safer staying where you are than actually changing.

How do you take care of your own mental health?

Hanging with friends and seeing family is a big part of it. I try to see friends at least once or twice a week. I also go to the gym and practice mindfulness. To me, self care is about showing up for yourself. When you do things like take a walk, cook for yourself, or read a book, you're telling yourself "I matter," even if you’re not thinking that. The action says it all.

What else do you like to do in your spare time?

I go to a lot of comedy shows. The Bell House and Union Hall are favorites. I also catch movies at Alamo, read a lot of nonfiction, and write.

Read more about Matthew Schaffer here.