Matthew Schmeckpeper

Matthew Schmeckpeper is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) who brings ten years of clinical work to his practice in Iowa. He has experience across community mental health, school-based behavioral services, residential substance use treatment, corrections, and both intensive outpatient and outpatient settings. Matthew focuses on practical change and recovery rather than labels.

He uses Trauma-Focused Therapy alongside client-centered approaches to help people handle painful past events and the effects those events have today. He also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy and emotion regulation strategies to teach coping skills for strong feelings. Sessions often focus on clear steps people can try between meetings.

Matthew works with people addressing addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood issues, and stress from life changes. He also helps with relationship strain, parenting concerns, self-esteem, and common problems like impulsivity, guilt, shame, and control issues.

He has particular experience with domestic violence, dissociation, codependency, autism and Asperger syndrome, first responder and veteran issues, and fatherhood concerns. His background includes work supporting child abuse recovery and programs meant to empower people who have been served by community organizations.

In sessions he aims to listen first, then build skills and plans that fit each person’s life. People who prefer straightforward language, concrete coping tools, and a focus on safety and practical progress tend to find his style helpful.

Approaches that guide online work

Matthew commonly uses Trauma-Focused Therapy to address the impact of past harm, helping people name what happened and learn ways to manage symptoms and reactions. Client-Centered Therapy is a second cornerstone that prioritizes listening, understanding each person’s perspective, and shaping goals around their values. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques are also used to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills useful for handling intense moments.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Matthew will work with each person to decide which methods fit best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative conversation helps shape the plan for work together rather than assuming one method fits all.

Confirm current session options before booking if you need a specific online format. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also help when someone prefers to focus on skills practice and step-by-step plans from a familiar setting. Ask about the available formats when you start the matching process to be sure they match your needs.