Provider Spotlight: Ben Mattson, APSW

We’re excited to highlight a valued member of our team, Ben Mattson, APSW, a therapist whose work is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and a deep respect for the human experience. With a thoughtful, collaborative approach and a strong commitment to affirming care, Ben brings warmth, authenticity, and a steady presence to the therapy space.
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Join us as we take a closer look at who Ben is as a therapist and as a human.

​A Journey Toward Healing & Representation

Ben's path to becoming a therapist began with a desire to help others navigate mental health with care and gentleness. He was especially drawn to models of support that embodied calm, grounded masculinity and emotional presence. Later in life, when Ben came out as transgender, the support he received from his own therapist and close friends became transformational. Through that experience, he realized they wanted to offer that same kind of steady, affirming support to others—especially those navigating identity, transition, and change.
“I want to be an example that trans people belong in every field,” Ben shares, “and that we can grow older and have good, meaningful lives.”

His Philosophy: Untangling the Knot, Together

At the heart of Ben’s work is the belief that therapy is a collaborative journey—two people working together to make sense of how life experiences have shaped emotional and behavioral responses.
He often describes emotions as feeling like a tangled knot. Rather than rushing to “fix” things, therapist and client gently pull at the threads together, slowly creating space for clarity, understanding, and change. Healing happens piece by piece, at a pace that honors the client’s capacity and lived reality.

Passion for Supporting People Through Transitions

Ben is especially passionate about working with people navigating life transitions—experiences that can arise again and again throughout our lives. These may include:

• career changes
• starting or finishing school
• grief and loss
• gender- and sexuality-related exploration or transition
• other major life shifts

He understands that transitions can be disorienting, emotional, and deeply meaningful—and that support during these times can make all the difference.

Values in Action: Curiosity, Humility, and Honesty

Ben brings curiosity and humility into every session, approaching clients’ experiences with openness rather than assumptions. Kindness and honesty are central to their work, and when relevant, they are transparent about how broader economic, political, and social realities impact mental health.
Clients can expect a therapist who is compassionate and tactful, but also radically honest—someone who listens deeply, shares thoughtful reflections, and stays genuinely engaged in the work.

Creating Safety Through Affirming, Flexible, and Informed Care

Safety and trust are built through honesty, kindness, and consistency. Ben strives to create a space where clients know their therapist is fully present listening with compassion, offering genuine impressions, and always being on their side.
Their work draws from a variety of evidence-based and experiential approaches, including:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Narrative Exposure Therapy
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
• Somatic approaches

Their practice is trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming, and they are always expanding their toolbox, including ongoing learning around Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Internal Family Systems (IFS).

Affirming Neurodivergent & LGBTQIA+ Clients

Ben actively creates an affirming environment for neurodivergent clients by honoring sensory and accessibility needs. Clients are welcome to request adjustments such as changes in lighting or scent, choose where they sit (including the floor or sensory swing), or approach therapy in nontraditional ways.
Sessions may include practical support like:

• helping find referrals
• taking walks while talking
• working through challenging or “messy” tasks together

If there is therapeutic intention behind the work, it belongs in therapy.
As a transgender man, Ben also brings lived understanding to their work with LGBTQIA+ clients. He is intentional about using correct pronouns, honoring the full spectrum of relationships, and providing poly- and kink-affirming care. These parts of identity deserve space, respect, and thoughtful exploration in therapy.

Beyond the Therapy Room

Outside of work, Ben finds joy in tabletop gaming, playing with their cats, attending Renaissance Faires, and creating art from wood and gemstones.
He's recently been enjoying audiobooks like Rest Is Resistance and No Bad Parts, along with Dropout’s Dimension 20 tabletop campaigns. In his words: tabletop gaming—when done right--is therapy. The stories, relationships, and themes explored mirror many of the same questions we ask about humanity and connection.
His favorite form of self-care is wonderfully grounded: cleaning the kitchen while making a big pot of veggie-packed soup, with music, an audiobook, or a podcast playing in the background. It’s movement, nourishment, mental stimulation, and comfort all in one.
Coffee or tea? Both—but coffee is essential: very large, very iced, with just a splash of vanilla creamer.

A Message for Anyone Considering Therapy

Ben offers this encouragement to those thinking about starting therapy:
​“Be picky about your therapist. If the rapport feels lukewarm or the work doesn’t feel helpful, it’s okay to look elsewhere. No therapist is the right fit for everyone—and we won’t be offended. We can’t make magic together unless the fit is right.”

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Ready to work with Ben?
​Reach out today to schedule an appointment or consultation. 

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