Matthew Manz, LMHC

Matthew Manz is a licensed mental health counselor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. He speaks plainly and focuses on practical steps parents and adults can use to feel steadier. Clients who are dealing with relationship strain, grief, or career pressure can expect a calm, straightforward approach.

Matthew uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and try small, realistic behavior changes. He pairs that with client-centered listening so people feel heard while they work on goals. He also draws on narrative therapy to help people rethink the stories they tell about themselves.

Sessions aim to break problems into manageable pieces. That can mean mapping patterns that keep recurring, testing out new ways of communicating, or building everyday routines that reduce anxiety. He offers coaching-style guidance when people need concrete next steps for parenting, work, or life transitions.

Matthew has six years of experience as a licensed mental health counselor. He practices in Iowa and works with adults dealing with family issues, divorce and separation, codependency, and related concerns. He supports people through midlife shifts, workplace challenges, and struggles with guilt and shame.

People who choose him typically want direct feedback, practical tools, and a respectful space to sort things out. Sessions include talk, problem-solving, and exercises to try between appointments. The focus is on progress that fits each person’s life and schedule.

How his approaches work in online therapy

Matthew draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot patterns in thinking and try specific behavior changes that reduce anxiety or low mood. CBT's step-by-step focus makes it easy to practice skills between sessions and measure small improvements.

He also uses client-centered techniques that prioritize the person’s experience. That means listening first and tailoring the pace and focus to what the client needs. Narrative therapy is used when helpful to reframe difficult life stories and create new, more helpful perspectives.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. He discusses goals and preferences with each person and adapts methods over time. This collaborative process helps pick exercises and conversation topics that match a client's daily life and values.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and screen-sharing for handouts. Phone sessions can be a good choice when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging are useful for ongoing check-ins, brief coaching, and tracking progress between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a workday, parenting schedule, or busy life.