MATTHEW GROTSKY (he/him/his), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist – Focusing on Individuals and Couples
Availability Sundays. Online Only.
Accepting BCBS Insurance and Private Pay.
I specialize in working with individuals and couples who have been impacted by trauma and/or addiction. Also working with men (and male teens) to work through feelings of unworthiness.
I have a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir Rhyne University. During my clinical work for my master’s degree in counseling, I completed a practicum at Solstice East, an organization that provides residential and therapeutic services to female adolescents. The work I did with my clients at Solstice East focused on processing trauma and coping with a variety of mental health challenges.
I’ve worked for Meridian (now Blue Ridge Health) since November 2019. I work on an Assertive Counseling Treatment Team (ACTT); we serve adults with persistent mental health challenges. ACTT provides counseling, medical services, and medication to clients in need. I’m the Substance Abuse Clinician on my ACTT Team. I believe in a harm reduction approach. Harm reduction is an umbrella term for interventions which focus on kindness, compassion, and respect for people and aim to reduce the problematic effects of behaviors.
At Asheville Family counseling, we share Gabor Maté’s definition of addiction which is “any behavior that gives you temporary relief or temporary pleasure, but in the long term causes harm, has some negative consequences, and you can’t give it up, despite those negative consequences.”
From this perspective we understand that there are many addictions – whether to alcohol, drugs, shopping, sex, gaming, gambling, or food (just to name a few). Our focus is not on “Why the addiction?” But “Why the pain?” and then I help you answer that question and find relief from the pain without relying on the behaviors that cause more harm.
My theoretical orientation is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Existential. I believe there is hope for everyone. No matter what you’re feeling or the challenges you’re dealing with, I believe we have the capacity to transcend them. I will never claim to be ‘the expert’ of you or life in general; I see myself as your equal, and I hope we can work together to help you feel better and achieve your goals.
All of our clients are seen, heard, and valued for exactly who they are.
Please click on the link below and schedule a free, 15-minute Exploratory Call to see how working with me may help you. You can also call or text (828) 761-3149.