Matt Watnemo, MA, LPCC
Lino Lakes
mattw@bridginghopecounseling.com
Every person has tremendous value and brings a unique life story, strengths, and hardships with them to counseling. My life experiences, both professional and personal, have consistently shown me how people are interesting, remarkably gifted, and possess awesome qualities and personalities which impact those around them. My diverse vocational experiences with adults, college students, and teens from the past seven years influence my understanding of people in the counseling relationship. These professional roles have included teaching, coaching, playing basketball overseas, working in social services (as an employment specialist, program manager and training specialist), and as a counselor. I acquired my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bethel University and am working towards LPCC licensure in Minnesota.
My counseling approach acknowledges the uniqueness of every person and universal needs to be seen, heard, valued, respected, supported, and connected. I believe people are the experts on their lives and can also benefit from an outside trained professional’s perspective to help enact positive change and improve wellbeing. I seek to build a strong therapeutic relationship with every person so they may experience empathy, compassion, healing, clarity, direction, growth, empowerment, and hope for the future. Stemming from this relationship, I tailor my approach to each person’s needs, desires, and environment. I primarily use therapeutic orientations of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy.
Life can bring mountain peaks of joy, valleys of intense sorrow and grief, and everything in between. As you continue on life’s journey, it would be my honor to meet with you, hear your story, and partner with you toward a purpose-driven and hope-filled future.
Areas of interest and experience include (but not limited to):
o Anxiety
o Depression
o Obsessive-compulsive issues
o Career concerns and transitions
o Life transitions/seasons of change
o Christian faith and spirituality
o Financial issues
o Relationship problems
o Grief/loss
o Trauma
o Self-esteem
o Coping skills
o Men’s issues
o Anger
o Communication issues
o Cultural issues
o Mental health and performance issues for athletes
o Interpersonal problems
“All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors-in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.” -Fred Rogers
