About

My name is Matthew Gahagan and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). I am located in the East Bay Area, CA and I serve clients statewide via telehealth. I work with adults and specialize in depression, anxiety, and stress. I use a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and solutions-focused approaches to help my clients reach their goals. I use an Integrative Therapy approach with my clients which allows me to pull different interventions from a number of theoretical orientations to best serve my client where they are. Some of the different theoretical orientations I find myself utilizing include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Person-centered Therapy, Solutions-focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I understand that clients may be in different places with life’s challenges and pulling from different theoretical orientations allows me to more individually personalize the most appropriate interventions. I have experience with many client populations, but I find myself mostly working with adults (18 years of age or older) working through situational challenges, life transitions, and functional impairment in their day-to-day lives. Symptoms that may arise during challenging times in life often present as depression, anxiety, stress, fear, and discomfort. My communication style is empathetic, direct, and understanding. My goal is for my clients to be heard and understood. I make my best effort to create a space where my clients can share without fear of judgment and know that I understand they are the masters of their life experience. Throughout my life I found great meaning in understanding and helping others. While in high school and early college I looked for a career in which I could work with others and come alongside those moving through life’s challenges. After finishing a bachelor's degree in Psychology.