Mr Matthew Evans

A conversation with Matthew Evans

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I wanted to make a contribution to people's health, happiness and wellbeing. I had a longstanding personal interest in the field of psychology and it seemed a natural step to turn it into my profession.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  I used to read a lot of Jungian psychology initially as it dealt with the spiritual aspects of psychological and human development. I also have been influenced by interpersonal approaches to personal development especially Family Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I am particularly interested in the integration of psychology and spirituality. For many people a biopsychosocial model is not enough; many people have a thirst for meaning and are interested in spiritual growth and development.

• What methods do you use?

  I try to listen well to the client, to help the client clarify what's important to assist them find direction and then help them move in that valued direction. I often find that clients are interested in learning new skills and practical strategies to become unstuck and to get their lives moving. I really try to meet the client where they're at.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  I often notice that a client starts feeling better when their symptoms ease such as feeling less anxiety or their mood improves. However I also find if the client develops insight they often feel a significant shift in the way they look at things and the way that they do things which indicates a deeper level of progress.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  I think it has made me a more reflective person. I hope I am less quick to judge and have a greater capacity for compassion; however these qualities are best judged by others.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I love seeing people change and I love accompanying them on their journey of growth.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Yes, that's when I get to practice some of the strategies which I usually share with others. On those days I do my best to 'walk the talk' and take some of my own medicine.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  On a personal level I think people need to find a sense of belief and confidence in themselves and in their own essential goodness. Without this confidence, they can often lack the confidence to form meaningful, stable, loving relationships which in turn help them to become fully themselves.
  
  I also think people are overloaded with too much information from all sorts of different media and societal pressures. Given so much information people can often find it hard to discern what direction to head, which requires wisdom.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  I recently saw Playbook Silver Linings which I found inspirational. It was the story of a person coming out of a Psychiatric Hospital who was able to successfully rehabilitate himself by learning to love his life, and the people in it, just as they were; rather than how he wanted them to be.