Hi, my name is Matthew. I was born in Mississauga, ON. My childhood took a meandering path across the prairies, and after a lengthy stay in Edmonton, I now live in Jasper, AB, with my wife and our two kids.

I completed a Master of Counselling Degree from Athabasca University. I started as a program therapist with the Hinton Friendship Centre in the fall of 2022. My past work includes working with youth and families in various settings, such as addiction treatment programs, schools, and community-based youth programs.

As a therapist, I value getting to know your story. I think that we are always a part of a bigger community. Our friendships, family, history, and the time and place where we live, all contribute to who we become. We will likely spend some time talking and thinking about how these things work together to make you who you are. I believe therapy works best when we collaborate. Because of this, my approach will shift and change with each new person to match what they want or need out of this process. This may mean we will try out some tools to see if they help you live your values and pursue your goals. This may mean we spend more time processing and talking through challenging things. In the end, therapy is an adventure we are going on together where we can explore new possibilities and better understand ourselves.

When I am not working, I love to be outside hiking, biking, and playing with my kids. I enjoy cooking and have a minor sourdough bread-baking obsession. I look forward to talking with you.

Matthew Cairns
Master of Counselling in Counselling Psychology
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology