Matthew Johnson, III, LCSW

Matthew Johnson, III is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 24 years of social work experience. He focuses on helping people facing major life shifts such as grief, addiction challenges, relationship strain, and midlife transitions. He listens first and works at a pace that feels manageable for each person.

He uses a client-centered approach that puts the person's experience at the center of sessions. That means conversations start with what matters most to the individual, and Matthew offers practical feedback and tools rather than one-size-fits-all answers. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is part of his work when patterns of thinking and behavior are contributing to distress.

Matthew draws on long experience with addictions and bereavement to address anxiety, depression, trauma-related concerns, and family conflict. He helps people learn coping skills, manage strong emotions like anger or jealousy, and navigate separation or divorce. He also supports those coping with career pressure, parenting stress, and feelings of emptiness or isolation.

Sessions aim to help people notice unhelpful patterns, try concrete changes, and develop healthier habits of thinking and acting. Matthew emphasizes emotional growth so clients can make lasting changes in their daily lives. He frames progress as small steps that add up to meaningful change.

Matthew practices in Louisiana as an LCSW and conducts sessions in English. He does not work with international clients. To start, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to his availability.

How his approaches shape online therapy

Matthew uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as core approaches. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, validation, and following the person's priorities so they feel heard and understood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and test small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, depression, and patterns tied to addiction.

Motivational Interviewing is another approach he draws on to support people who are ambivalent about change. It helps uncover personal reasons for change and builds motivation in a nonjudgmental way. Together these methods are practical and goal-oriented, while still honoring each person's pace.

Finding which approach fits best is part of the work. Matthew will collaborate with each person to choose methods and goals that match their needs, preferences, and life situation. That collaborative process may shift over time as goals change and progress is made.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also be useful when someone prefers not to be on camera or needs a simpler, phone-based option for a brief conversation.