Matthew Burhan Ozgercin

In my approach to counseling, I listen attentively and non-judgmentally.  I focus on people’s stories and the stories the world tells about them. I value these narratives, and hold them during our work together so that we may reference them in the process of creating a story that feels more in line with my clients goals and purpose. 

In our work together, we can also begin to build the story you want for yourself through Acceptance and Commitment therapy, which focuses on your unique values. Whether it be through behavioral modification (Behavioral Therapy), challenging our own thoughts and beliefs about ourselves (CBT) or identifying parts of ourselves (IFS) that are getting in the way of us living the life we want, together we can create a narrative that feels more authentic to your true self. 

The goal of my work is to alleviate suffering, reduce stress and increase self empowerment and enjoyment of one's life. My approach is strengths based and I believe we each have all the answers we need, sometimes we just need help teasing them out or trusting them.  

Much of our life is in relation to others, our relationships can greatly affect our quality of life.  Together we can work on our emotional awareness, intelligence, vocabulary and literacy with the help of mindfulness in order to better understand our emotional landscape and more effectively communicate with others.  

Through curiosity about myself, I sought counseling and found that it has helped me to not only understand myself as well as how to be in more enjoyable and comfortable relationships with others.  Having been through years of counseling myself, I very much know what it is like to be on the other side of the counseling relationship. I will bring this understanding, empathy and humility to every session. 

Being the son of a US-born Mother and a Middle East-born Father, I have witnessed first hand the challenges being of a non-majority culture this country can pose relationally and socially. I have also seen the beauty it can create. My approach to counseling is based on a multicultural foundation.  Our racial, religious, gender, and social economic identities all play a large role in our experience. I'm here to work with people from all of these varying identities and explore their effects on our life and I acknowledge the intersections within each of us. 

I also use nature and metaphor in my work. The natural world is abundant with wisdom and there is so much to be gained from seeing ourselves reflected in the environment. Just today I was watching the salmon fight their way upstream against the current through the rushing water in Whatcom Creek as the freshly fallen golden maple leaves streamed down towards the bay and collected on the banks of the waterway.  Does anything come up for you with that image?

I want to know, what's your story, and what is the story you want?