Meet Matt Bedell, LPC, LCDC | Mental Health and Addictions Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Bedell, LPC, LCDC and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Initially, I had always considered pursuing a work-life balance thinking it was possible. Much like our illusion of a fair world, our concept of work-life balance is a bit of a mirage. Who feels like they have balance? Yoga instructors, perhaps? Regardless, because we are human and are aware of our flaws, we rarely think we are balancing both work and home well. Either we feel compelled by ambition to work and build more, or we struggle to recognize the immense impact we can have on family and feel shame thinking we could have a more significant impact at home. For women, the top two sources of shame are physical appearance or place in motherhood, while for men, it’s a perception of weakness. Within that framework of shame, we see the work-life balance mirage more clearly; we are good enough to do both when we stay present and capitalize as much as we can at the moment we are in and search for satisfaction.
Rather than a binary, black-and-white work-life balance, I ask myself if I am satisfied with how I spend my time during the day. Since I value family and work, I try my best to stay in the present moment. I can’t be in two places at once, and I can’t create more time. So, I have found that when I feel less satisfied, it’s mainly because I was drifting off and felt scattered. When we can acknowledge our limitations and that we can always do more, we refocus on what we actually can do, which is whatever we are doing in the present moment.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Two parts to this story; first, learn and nurture your individual value. As a helping professional, you must keep gas in your tank. When we overextend, even from a kind place in our hearts, we provide lower-value services. Be open to saying “I don’t know” and then did to learn that answer.

Second, INSPIRED Counseling is a practice that focuses on value-first counseling. What does that mean? It means that we approach the focus of therapy on the client and ensure that when people feel safe, they feel safe to change. Establishing that safety begins in our lobby with small and large notes indicating people to reflect on their time between sessions and provide honest sessions while calming music plays over speakers. Then we offer spaces for clinicians to facilitate therapy in a safe, calm, empathic space. We made sure we have quality and value at the heart of our decisions and trust we will be providing competent and thorough services to continue helping people.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I enjoy supporting local businesses, and that includes a week-long trip. DFW is a diverse place, so new cuisines are easy to accomplish. However, I played baseball through college and would absolutely have a Texas Rangers baseball game included on that trip. I am also introverted, so one day would likely be spent in our backyard, grilling and enjoying the playground and garden my wife and I have worked on for our daughters. Lastly, we would visit the Addison Improv Club and catch a show. I love comedy, and stand-up comedy is something my wife and I do for date nights as often as we can.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, my wife gets a shout-out. She carries our family while I work and makes a fun, warm, safe, and inviting home for our girls. They certainly add a ton of positive meaning for me. They support me, from seeing seven book covers daily to walking to the donut shop Friday mornings.

My coworkers at INSPIRED Counseling encourage and challenge me to keep going. We have lunch together each day. It’s a great time to consult, learn, hear a different perspective, and ask questions. We also grow closer each lunch, watching the office, parks and rec, the occasional volcano documentary, and sharing of the weekend festivities.

Website: www.begincounselingtoday.com www.get-inspiredcounseling.com