Dr. Brittany L. Mathews, PhD

FEELING ANXIOUS OR DEPRESSED? Hey, if you’re here, you might be dealing with some heavy stuff – feeling stressed, worried, or just overwhelmed. It may feel like everything in life is cranked up to 11, and you’re tired of anxiety being the boss of your life. Are you experiencing symptoms of anxiety? Here are a few anxiety symptoms that are commonly experienced by adolescents: • Worrying too much or too often • Easily irritated • Difficulty concentrating • Trouble falling or staying asleep • Muscle tension • Using substances to relax or “calm your nerves” • Avoiding situations that make you feel anxious or uncomfortable • Avoiding social situations Or maybe you’re feeling kind of down, sad, or even depressed. It may feel like the happiness switch got stuck, and you just can’t seem to feel as good as you used to. Finding the energy or motivation to do anything feels like a major mission. Are you experiencing symptoms of depression? Here is a list of depression symptoms that may be experienced by adolescents: • Feeling depressed (sad, empty, hopeless) • Easily irritated • Not getting as much enjoyment or feeling as interested in activities you used to enjoy • Changes in appetite (how hungry you feel) or body weight • Difficulty falling or staying asleep OR sleeping too much • Feeling tired or a lack of energy • Feeling worthless • Feeling guilty about things that are out of your control • Difficulty concentrating • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide* • Suicide attempt or developing a specific plan for suicide* *If you have experienced recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempt, or developing a specific plan for suicide, please contact a crisis resources such as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (Dial: 988) immediately. If this sounds like something you (or your adolescent) are going through, I am so glad you’re here! Anxiety and depression during adolescence are common, and there are great treatments available that are backed by science. Hello! I am Dr. Brittany Mathews (preferred pronouns: she/her). I am a Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychologist and licensed to provide psychological services in the state of Wisconsin. I am passionate about providing holistic, science-backed mental health care to youth. I provide assessment and therapy services for adolescents (ages 10-25) who are struggling with anxiety and/or depression. Psychotherapy treatments for anxiety or depression that have a well-established evidence base include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A). I take a whole-person approach that views each individual in the context of their broader world (e.g., family, community, culture), and I flexibly adapt treatment to meet each individual’s needs. I aim to work from a cultural humility framework, provide LGBTQ+ affirming care, and celebrate each individual’s identity. I would love to work with you! You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation call to discuss basic information (e.g., why you are seeking therapy, my services and approach, fees, etc.) and to determine if it feels like a good fit for both of us, Psychological services at MindKind may include: 1) a thorough diagnostic assessment where you and your family (the experts on you!) tell your story and I gather relevant clinical information, 2) collaborative development of treatment goals based on what is important to you, 3) psychotherapy that is based on science and flexibly adapted to meet your needs, 4) ongoing assessment to monitor progress in treatment until goals are met, and 5) follow-up appointments as needed to maintain progress. MISSION AND VALUES The mission of MindKind is to provide evidence-based (a fancy way of saying treatment that works!) psychological services to adolescents (ages 10-25) in a way that empowers youth to embrace who they are and live a fulfilling life. Psychological services at MindKind are grounded in the core values of 1) honoring individual and collective humanity, 2) ethical decision-making and behavior, and 3) utilization of evidence-based assessment and treatment methods. It is our aim to create a safe and inclusive space to provide affirming and culturally responsive psychological health care. The name of the psychology practice, “MindKind,” is based on two meaningful meditation practices. First, mindfulness. Mindfulness means “maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.” Second, loving kindness. Loving kindness is a type of meditation, also referred to as metta, that focuses on developing compassion and cultivating love (for both self and others). Dr. Mathews aspires to embody mindfulness and loving kindness on a daily basis and to share a compassionate, mindful presence with others through her work at MindKind. ABOUT DR. BRITTANY I grew up on a farm in southwestern Wisconsin where I learned the values of hard work, empathy for others, and the importance of community. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with honors (2008). I then moved to Ohio to pursue advanced graduate level education and obtained masters (2012) and doctoral (2015) degrees in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology from Kent State University. I finished my clinical training at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minnesota, where I completed a predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Psychology, with specialized training working with children and adolescents. I have extensive experience working with children and adolescents of all ages (0-25+) in medical settings (e.g., pediatric primary care, level-I trauma hospital, partial hospitalization program) and a variety of other mental health care settings (e.g., community-based and university-based clinics). I have loved every clinical experience I’ve had, and providing psychological services to youth brings me great joy! In addition to my clinical work, I also enjoy participating in the research process and providing instruction and supervision to learners. My research has generally focused on relationships between youth and parents, social-emotional development, and internalizing disorders (anxiety, depression). I have taught undergraduate-level courses on Child Psychology and Research Methods and been involved in graduate student and medical education in various ways over the years. On a more personal note, I enjoy spending my time with my spouse and children, taking our dog for walks, reading books from different perspectives that help me broaden my world-view, practicing yoga and meditation, and having living room dance parties with my kids.