Research and evidence-based therapy and counseling

Get back to your life with clinical services designed to help you move through stress and struggle as quickly and comfortably as possible.

Counseling and Therapy Services

Therapy/Counseling

Individual and couples therapy focused on helping people move through challenging situations.

Supervision

Individual and group supervision that helps clinicians develop counseling skills, ethical and legal discernment, and their own character.

Training or Speaking

Personalized presentations to support your organization in promoting retention and skill development.

Dr. Matt Rensi is an active independent researcher who reads, implements, conducts and publishes research. Below you will find his published studies, and others currently in process will appear here as they are completed.

Research

Rensi, M., Geisler, J., Jacques, J., & Silber, C. (2024) Understanding Anxiety. Journal Ment Health Disord.;4(1):1-7.

Rensi, M., & Dykeman, C. (2022). The diagnosis of substance use disorders over the past century: Implications for addiction counselors. Annual Review of Addictions and Offender Counseling, 5, 117-140. 

In review with Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology: Examining the Key Topics in Research Articles on Burnout among Firefighters, Police Officers, and First Responders: A Topic Modeling Analysis

Why Dr. Rensi?

  • Therapy Approaches - I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

  • Education - I hold both a Master’s and Ph.D. in counseling, and while only the Master’s is needed to work as a counselor, the additional education helps me to provide a higher quality of clinically relevant therapy for my clients.

  • Therapist Supervision - As a supervisor of other therapist, I provide training and education that keeps me up-to-date on research and therapy best practice. I continually develop my technique using the latest in scientific data to provide the best possible care for my clients.

  • Personal Experience - I have struggled through my own journey with mental health and have a unique perspective that helps me connect with and aid my clients.

  • Military Background - I served in the Marine Corps in the infantry on three combat tours. This helped me to develop the ability to cope with distressing situations, a robust work ethic, and a high commitment to excellence, which I now use to serve my clients.

FAQ

Do you take insurance? If not, why?

No, currently I do not take insurance. I don’t like the idea of having your information available to an insurance company. Additionally, not having to deal with insurance frees me up to focus on providing the best quality services to you.

Where are you located?

I am in the South Bay Area of California, but I currently only see clients online. I am licensed in both CA and OR, so I can see residents of either California or Oregon.

Who do you work with?

I work with adults and teenagers, individuals and couples.

Therapy, over the internet, does that work?

While therapy over telehealth is not for everyone, research shows that it is effective. Many people find it more desirable as it is easy to access, convenient without the need to drive to an office, and flexible for those that might need sessions over a lunch break, for example.

What are your fees?

Individual and Couples counseling is $175 per 45-50 minute session.

Supervision depends on the specific contract.

Speaking and Training is negotiated per contract.

Is there a max participant number for trainings?

I’ve run trainings for intimate groups as small as 3 to groups of over 200 participants. My trainings tend to have an active participation component regardless of the size.

Do you offer super bills? What is a super bill?

Yes, I offer super bills, but I have to give you a diagnosis for that to apply and you will need to check with your insurance about what they will cover. A super bill is essentially a receipt that you take to your insurance to ask for reimbursement. This is sometimes called Out of Network (OON) benefits. If and how much your insurance reimburses depends on the company, with some having covered 50-70% of my fee in the past. Please check with your insurer for your specific coverage details.

Will therapy help me?

Research tends to suggest that about 80% of people who get therapy will do better than people who do not get therapy (Wamplod, 2007).

How helpful therapy is for you depends on a number of factors, which is why I encourage you to get in touch for a free 15 minute consultation to see if I’d be a good fit to help you.