In this reflective piece, therapist and former paramedic Matt Short shares the story of a sudden death that transformed his understanding of grief, presence, and human connection. The experience reveals how meaning-making and compassionate support help us navigate the hardest moments of life.  Read More…

Tags: grief, sudden loss, first responder wellness, inspiration, growth mindset, meaning, humanity, resilience

Today's reflection is about Matt's transition from EMS to mental health counseling, showing how both fields can share similar missions of helping people in crisis. He outlines lessons each can borrow from the other and shares his vision of building a bridge between first response and long-term healing.   Read More…

Tags: EMS, counseling, mental health care, resilience, first responder wellness

Matt's blog highlights ethical pitfalls in mental health counseling, from confidentiality breaches to organizational climate. Drawing on ACA guidelines, models from Cottone and Tarvydas, and even the Aggie Code of Honor, Matt underscores how values, virtues, and cultural accordance shape ethical decision-making across both client care and professional workplaces.   Read More…

Tags: ethics, ethical decision-making, confidentiality, dual relationships, cultural competence, counseling ethics, aca code, accordance, values, workplace, aggie code of honor

Money steers mental health care more than most clients realize. Here Matt explains how insurance incentives shape clinical decisions and shows how time-limited, skills-based therapy plans can deliver effective care without open-ended treatment. Tactical Counseling clarifies its private-pay model and new superbill option while emphasizing planned, collaborative endings.   Read More…

Tags: insurance, superbills, privatepay, therapy tools, sfbt, dbt, counseling, outcomes, policy

Today, Matt reflects on recent tragedies, political hate speech, and polarization. Drawing from research, Tactical Counseling calls for compassion, dialogue, and unity.   Read More…

Tags: polarization, unity, resilience