About Matt Cowan
My Story
Hi, I am Matt Cowan and thank you for your interest in my services. I look forward to working alongside you to help you conquer any struggle you may be having. I am a Certified Canadian counsellor and a marriage and family therapist. I have worked in many settings over the years and have gained knowledge and skills to assist you in many areas including addiction, depression, anxiety and healing from trauma. I have worked in top-tier treatment centres in southern California and in Canada. I have a passion for helping those who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. I personally have had mental health struggles and received invaluable help from therapists over the years on my road to recovery. I will walk beside you on your journey through whatever issue you are struggling with as I realize there are many ways to heal and together we can figure out what is the best way for you. I pull from many types of therapeutic styles including cognitive behavioral therapy and Gestalt, solution-focused, and person-centred therapy along with somatic experiencing therapy. I have completed training in providing online therapy and I am excited for the opportunity to help Canadians across the country.
Together we will find the best approach that works for you and get you started moving in a forward direction. I have realized through my personal experiences with therapists and as a therapist that it is important to find the right fit, so If we meet and I am not the right fit for you I will do my best to help you find one who may be better suited. I pride myself on building strong and trustworthy relationships with my clients and know through the research that it is the most important aspect of helping one heal. I offer a nonjudgemental, supportive, and empathetic environment but will also challenge you to grow and look at your issues from a different perspective and to step out of your comfort zone.
My Education & Experiences
I began my journey into becoming a therapist about 2 decades ago. I grew up on the prairies and was an organic farmer for many years until I realized it was not my passion, however, this experience did teach me the value of hard work. So I took the plunge and left the family farm and began my educational journey with the love and support of my family. I moved to southern California and began taking all types of classes and then I realized my interest in substance use counselling and began my first internship. My supervisor showed me what was possible through therapy and how you could impact the lives of others. After witnessing a group where he conducted a psychodrama, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, it was so powerful! At that point, I knew I needed to continue my education and pursue a master’s degree. I finished my associate’s, earned my bachelor’s, and went on to Chapman University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program where I had an unbelievable learning experience and received my Masters.
My cohort was the first to work at outside internships in year two and for our third year, Chapman has its own community health clinic where we treated many from the community and provided low-cost counselling options. The experience I obtained was priceless. We had the ability to record all sessions and have live supervision. It was an unforgettable experience.
I then went on to work in 4 different treatment centres in the area and became skilled at treating dual-diagnosis clients and trauma. I returned to Canada and worked in the public health sector for a while before returning to addiction treatment. I am now at the point where I want to branch out and offer my experience and services to those who may not come into that setting or have been and assist them in bridging the gap into a strong recovery.
My Certifications
