love. safety. trust.

Filipino, Latino, African American, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered Therapy

Matthew Lindgren provides culturally sensitive therapy to people from Filipino, Latino, African American, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered backgrounds.

How to find a Therapist?

There is research that suggests that the single most important factor in successful therapy is your relationship with your therapist, no matter what kind of therapy you might consider. It is extremely important to choose a therapist who you feel you can trust, and if you haven't had a lot of trustworthy people in your life, that can pose a dillema. How do you know if you can trust someone, especially from browsing through their Web site?

One thing that helps a lot of people is to find a therapist from a similar background, and if not that, to find a therapist who intuitively "gets" where they're coming from. Ultimately, in your search for a therapist, I encourage you to trust your gut. You might have to talk with someone on the phone or meet in person, but you'll get a good sense from a brief talk whether they're right for you. This is why I offer free phone sessions to help people in Oakland to determine if we're a good fit.

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Cultural Competency in Oakland

I have significant personal, clinical, and professional experience with the following cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds that I bring to my practice in Oakland:

  • Midwest cultures - North Dakota & Minnesota
  • Filipino culture
  • Latino cultures - Mexico, Nicaragua, & Costa Rica
  • LGBTQ culture - particularly counseling same-sex couples
  • African American culture

I encourage you to contact me even if you don't feel I understand your background. Many clients tell me it is very healing to have a positive experience of feeling accepted and understood by counselor who they feel represents a different culture, race, gender, or sexual orientation.

While I do speak Spanish, I do not feel that my Spanish speaking skills are appropriate for counseling work at this time. I do not speak Tagalog.

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Call 415-820-1487 for a free phone consultation.