Matt explores the myth of a “magic pill” to fix mental health struggles and why that expectation often leads to disappointment. He explains how medication and counseling serve different, complementary roles, emphasizing that symptom relief and personal agency work best together. This piece reframes treatment with compassion, realism, and strategy.  Read More…

Tags: medication, mental health care, trauma, antidepressants, counseling

In this post, Matt explores how trauma is understood differently in EMS and counseling, why the term has become overextended, and what trauma-informed care actually looks like in practice. By balancing body-based insight with meaning and agency, trauma counseling can remain precise, humane, and effective.  Read More…

Tags: trauma, trauma-informed care, counseling, the body keeps the score, first responder wellness

This article explains ambiguous loss and why the absence of certainty can be more painful than a clear goodbye. By naming this unique form of grief, Matt highlights pathways toward healing that do not depend on closure.  Read More…

Tags: ambiguous loss, missing person, grief, unresolved grief, trauma

This article explores how one family’s experience after a house fire illustrates post-traumatic growth and the rediscovery of what truly matters. By honoring grief while recognizing resilience, Matt highlights how meaning and connection can endure after loss.  Read More…

Tags: posttraumatic growth, life after loss, Rebuilding, resilience, meaning