Julie Matija
LCPC
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over 15 years of experience working with adults, teens, children, families, and couples. My work is grounded in the belief that while we share many common human experiences, each person’s story is shaped by their unique family, cultural, and social history. I help clients understand current challenges within the larger context of their lives and relationships, creating space for meaningful and lasting change.
I work with individuals navigating anxiety, life transitions, grief and loss, parenting concerns, identity development, and relationship difficulties. I also bring a thoughtful, collaborative approach to couples therapy, helping partners clarify what is happening in their relationship and identify the healthiest path forward together. Drawing primarily from the Gottman Method, I use research-based tools to strengthen friendship, improve communication, manage conflict more effectively, and rebuild trust and emotional connection. I help couples better understand their patterns, deepen empathy for one another, and develop practical skills that support lasting change.
My treatment approach is individualized and integrative. I combine Gottman interventions with mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and psychodynamic perspectives to address both the deeper emotional underpinnings of challenges and the day-to-day behaviors that keep people feeling stuck. I work collaboratively with individuals and couples to identify both personal and shared values, supporting relationships that feel more secure, intentional, and aligned with the future they want to build.
I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University, a Master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University. In addition to my clinical work, I have experience as an educator.
