Matthew's Integral Therapy Blog

Transpersonal Hour

My whole life has been a preparation to be a counselor. From a young age, I was concerned with the well-being of others. Whether pleasing my parents, making peace among friends, or looking out for my younger sister, I sought harmony among people. At the same time, I sought a tranquility within myself. Starting around the age of puberty, I began to feel different from my peers. I knew the cultural expectation of a guy was to like girls, but I found myself attracted to other males. This divergence took place within a conservative family and a Catholic school upbringing. There was no place for this type of person within my environment. I lived with this dark secret for many years, weighed down, despairing, fighting against these desires. Eventually my psyche could not take the strain and stress. I plunged into a deep depression around the age of 12. Counseling did not seem to help as I could not face the real problem of my sexuality at that age. My anxiety soared and I recollected the...

Hopeless? Racing thoughts? Can’t sleep? Having manic, depressive or mixed episode symptoms or care for somebody that does? Join a fellowship of people and their caregivers seeking support around Bipolar and other mood disorders, led by Matthew Breuer, a Marriage & Family Therapist Intern with his own diagnosis of Bipolar Type 1. A graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies, he is a trained facilitator by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and has experience with a variety of group settings, most recently as a co-leader for a Harm Reduction group at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Free online support group: www.facebook.com/groups/bipolarblues In-person therapy group in downtown SF. We meet weekly, Wednesdays, 7:30 to 8:30pm at 870 Market St. Suite 800, in the Flood Building off Powell Station, above GAP and across from Westfield Mall. An intimate 10 person per week capacity. 45 dollars per session. For more information, call or text Matthew at 415-745-93...

Greetings Friends & Colleagues, As you may know, I started working at Tierney Psychotherapy Group as a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern this past June. Now a few months in, I'd love to host an Open House Networking Event on Sunday, October 15th from 11am - 1pm. Visiting our downtown office (off Powell Station @ 870 Market, Suite 800) will give you a chance to see me, and also the opportunity to connect with others in the community. I'm envisioning a brunch-like event (coffee, muffins, fruit) and casual conversation, chatting about your professional services and adding to your referral network. I look forward to sharing about my upcoming Bipolar/Mood Disorder Support Group that will meet on Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30 starting November 1st. See more here: SurviveinSF.com/bipolar Please feel free to invite other friends or anyone who may be interested in receiving psychotherapy. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for some self-care: A 95-Minute Thai Massag...

Harm Reduction is an often misunderstood methodology and philosophy for working with clients who might not otherwise receive services. For example, a motto of the approach is to meet people where they are and help them make any positive change. This might mean meeting with a client that is high on crystal meth and in a delusional state of mind, or still having a session with an intoxicated client who just came from the bar after four beers. Most therapists would cringe at such an approach. How can one possibly help any client who is in such an altered state of mind? Academic programs even advise therapists against meeting with people under the influence of a substance. The reasoning might be that doing so is condoning drug use. I propose that harm reduction, meeting clients whether they are high, low or experiencing psychosis, is a more humane approach to working with people. Let me explain. An often referred to concept within this community is that connection is the opposite...