Hi, I’m Dr. Matt Dwyer
Provisionally Registered Psychologist
Provisionally Registered Psychologists are not students! Please feel free to ask me more about what Provisional Registration means and I’ll be happy to tell you more!
My Specialties
My primary specialty area is behavior change, and my post secondary education was uniquely specialized in this area as I completed a master’s degree in clinical psychology and behavior analysis. In a nutshell, most of my clients want specialized help because they are doing too much of something (like compulsions or other problem behaviors) or too little of something (like sleeping or other valued activities).
As with all the clinicians at Brown Psychological, OCD and anxiety disorders are an area of primary focus.
A major secondary area I work in is sleep problems, like sleeping too much, sleeping too little, trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep, and nightmares, and I am passionate about the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues that cause sleep problems. I have helped a lot of people who have insomnia, but I also see a lot of people who believe they have insomnia, but on careful exploration actually have another diagnosis impacting their sleep that they weren’t aware of.
Other Areas I work in
I also work do a lot of work with ADHD and trauma, including PTSD. I have over ten years of applied clinical experience in a wide range of settings, and most recently I worked providing psychological treatment to veterans needing help with trauma, insomnia, depression, anxiety, substance use, and other concerns related to their time in service. This makes me a good fit for people who might have a number of related issues that all impact one another.
I also work with people who may be doing “too much of a good thing” (e.g. stable addiction to nicotine, alcohol, or cannabis, or behaviors such as problem internet or social media use, pornography use, binge eating, video games, or gambling).
Additionally, I have lots of experience working with people who have mental health concerns co-occurring with chronic or acute medical issues like diabetes or cancer.
Who I Work Best With
My approach is deeply collaborative and often involves suggestions around changes we can make to your environment as well as to your own behavior. Following a careful and thorough assessment of your issues I will make direct suggestions of what we might address and how I think we should address it.
I have a calm demeanor and take a structured and data driven approach to problem solving. I work best with people who appreciate thorough information gathering, are open to understanding their issues in a new way, and who are willing to put in some work to get what they want and take an active role in the therapeutic process by completing between session tasks.
While I have been privileged to work with individuals from many different backgrounds and I work with all genders, I have a special interest in working with men and men’s issues. I have extensive experience working with Veterans and welcome those who served in the military, law enforcement service, or other first responder occupations to reach out.
I offer in person sessions in Downtown Edmonton at 11523 100 Ave, or online sessions to clients across Alberta.
Sessions with me cost 235.00 per 50 minute hour.
My University Education
(The degrees)
I received my doctorate (Ph.D.) from Rowan University and completed my clinical internship at the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System at St. Louis, Missouri. Prior, I completed a dual masters of science in clinical psychology and behavior analysis from Eastern Michigan University and a bachelors of Arts from Winona State University and received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2023
My Advanced Clinical Training
(The Training that happens after University)
Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD - Cognitive Behavior Institute
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Insomnia (CBT-I) Series - St Louis VA and Philadelphia VA
Prolonged Exposure - St Louis VA
Assessment and Treatment of Sleep Problems in PTSD - Philadelphia VA
Assessment of Insomnia and Nightmares- Philadelphia VA
Behavioral Interventions for Sleep Disorders - St Louis VA
Foundations of Motivational Interviewing- St Louis VA
Didactic seminars:
Moral Injury - St Louis VA
Smoking Cessation- St Louis VA
Role of Psychology in Weight Management - St Louis VA
Use of MI in Primary Care: Addressing Common Concerns and Changing Old Habits - St Louis VA
Things I don’t do
(Nobody good will claim to do everything!)
I do not work with couples, families, or children, or with people who need a higher level of care than I may be able to provide, such as folks in acute psychosis, with anorexia or bulimia, and addictions where there is acute physical withdrawal. While I will always assist existing clients in a crisis, if your primary concern is a mental health emergency I may refer you to other services before doing a longer term piece of work with you.