Nitish Matthew

Biography

Qualifications and Experience

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado. I hold a Master of Arts in Counseling with an emphasis in Bible and Theology from Denver Seminary and a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Seattle Pacific University. I am also certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. I have been counseling informally since 1990 and professionally in the United States since 2002. I have logged over 10,000 hours of coaching counselors and have met with hundreds of clients over the years.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I believe God has given me a natural gifting for counseling and a love for working with people relationally. He also provided numerous years of preparation and experience leading up to my counseling career, beginning with my Bachelor’s degree in psychology, which I obtained from the University of Victoria in 1997. My education and ministry experience have also afforded me a strong knowledge of Biblical studies and theology, which contributes to my ability to counsel and coach from a Christian perspective.

On a Personal Note

My wife and I have one daughter. Having lived in Denver for 12 years before moving to Seattle, I love the outdoors and enjoy hiking, snowshoeing, and sledding. I am a prolific reader of global current events, and I enjoy watching Netflix and almost all sports. I have significant exposure to world cultures, having grown up through International Schools in Hong Kong and lived in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States. I have a deep understanding of American culture, as all of my counseling and psychology training took place in North America. My multicultural background assists me – I can relate to many different types of people and cultures within Seattle’s diverse population. In terms of specific counseling topics, I have a good understanding of trauma, abuse, and attachment issues from life experience.

Services and Specialities

• Individual Counseling
• Marriage Counseling
• Christian Couples Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Family Counseling
• Personal Development
• Chemical Dependency
• Bipolar Disorder
• Professional Development
• Coaching
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individual Counseling

Through our one-on-one counseling sessions, we will embark on a journey into peeling back the layers and getting to the core of inner conflict. I see us walking together down the path of healing by inviting God’s light and truth into places of deep pain. As the Lord’s servant, I am grateful that He has equipped me to be an instrument of healing, comfort, and joy. I am excited about the accomplishments you will make through individual counseling.

Marriage Counseling

My heart for you as a couple is to continue to live towards the goal of being one flesh (Mark 10:8, Genesis 2:24). Our sessions will be geared towards identifying barriers that prevent the unity within diversity that God desires in marriage. Barriers can include a fear of intimacy, sexual dysfunction, loss of wonder, selfishness, abuse, addictions, and anxiety provoking conflicts, just to name a few. I will work with you to prioritize the areas of deepest concern to you as a couple, then seek to guide you towards forgiveness, God’s favor, and improving understanding in those areas.

Couples Counseling

With the divorce rate at 50% in the United States, the need for couples to build strong foundations heading into marriage remains stronger than ever. I will work with you as a couple to explore the shared values and goals you have in being together. I will help you learn to be more effective together than apart. An old professor of mine used to say that there is nothing more powerful in God’s kingdom than when two become one.

Coaching

Maybe you are not in major crisis mode right now. Do you need a coach who can come alongside you to help you reach greater heights to glorify God in this world? Using my years of wisdom and insight gained from being a coach to counselors and my teaching experience from Colorado Christian University, I will engage with you in creating healthy implementation intentions to help you reach your highest calling in Christ.

Professional Development

The most effective means of developing professionally is to utilize your talents in areas within and outside your comfort zone. Using the gift of encouragement and exhortation as the apostle Paul practiced in the early church, I will journey with you in applying your gifting to the workplace and beyond so you can thrive professionally.

Family Counseling

Families can be a source of our greatest joy and our greatest pain. Family of origin issues and generational curses are important aspects to consider when assessing our own barriers to growth in Christ. God’s design for family life requires parents to train their children in righteous living and for children to grow as part of a loving, nurturing environment. Forgiveness, love, respect, and nurture are all key elements of God’s design for family. As a family man myself, I will take your family through the steps of grace-based living.

Chemical Dependency

Chemical dependency is a difficult struggle to experience and fight against. The brain becomes hardwired to crave a substance. I will work with you to identify triggers and create healthy alternatives to drug dependency. Turning our eyes to Jesus frees us to live the abundant life He has called us towards. Over the life of my practice, I have helped people live a life free from chemical dependency and start a relationship with Christ that lasts an eternity.

Bipolar Disorder

In my professional experience, substance dependence or lack of stability in life can often mask a real issue with Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is biologically based, so there is no shame in battling with this issue. Whether you struggle with knowing whether you have Bipolar Disorder or if you have been diagnosed and need active support through your highs, mediums, and lows, I am here to offer my expertise and experience in guiding clients to lead more manageable and fulfilling lives for the glory of God.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Everett – Tuesday and Thursday
• Mill creek – Monday and Wednesday
• Online (WA only) – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Couples and Groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) a majority of insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover individuals, couples and families.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 3.7% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.