Matthew Leary, Ph.D.

I help people change through developing a greater awareness for all of themselves, which allows them greater resources to deal with the struggles that they are experiencing. As clients develop greater awareness of themselves, including their wants, needs, emotions, and ways of relating to others, they tend to develop a wider range of choices in their lives. They learn to recognize what they do that keeps them from being their best selves. They also learn to tap into and use their own internal wisdom to help guide their choices, developing a greater authenticity in their lives. In relationships, couples and families develop greater intimacy and ability to use conflict to further their relationship through their greater awareness of themselves and their other family members. People I work with also learn with guidance and coaching to experiment with new ways of being with themselves and others in the world, which furthers their growth and development into more happy, fulfilled human beings. As an experienced psychotherapist and former graduate psychology professor, I have developed a wide range of expertise in helping others. I am honored and humbled by the courage and spirit of the people I work with and the struggles they face. I feel privileged to help people come to terms with pain, face challenges, and change their lives.

In response to COVID-19, I am seeing all current and new patients online via a HIPAA-compliant telehealth program. For clients in the Bethesda, MD area, sessions can continue online or in-person when health officials designate it is safe to discontinue social distancing. For clients in NC, I am seeing people on an ongoing basis online only, even after social distancing ends.

I work with a wide range of issues, but I feel particularly adept at helping people struggling with relationships, especially couples, parent-child, and whole family relationships. I have a deep respect for the complexity of relationships and the ways cultural context, life stress, family of origin issues, and conscious and unconscious needs can affect how family members interact. From my training, my experience as a psychotherapist and former graduate psychology professor, and my own life experience, I understand how people can experience deep joy, deep acceptance, and deep pain in relationships. I am passionate about helping people change their relationships to make room for more love, joy, and acceptance, while managing and growing from the necessary tensions and conflict that occurs in intimate relationships.