ROBERT MATTSON, PSYD

Licensed Psychologist
Director of First Responder Services
Dr. Robert Mattson completed his doctoral studies at the Spalding University School of Professional Psychology. His predoctoral internship with the Institute for Child and Family Health, one of the largest providers of community health services in the Miami-Dade area, included extensive experience in providing mental health services across a broad range of diverse ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. His clinical practice extends to the treatment of adults–especially first responders, young adults, and children, with particular interest in problems that affect his youngest clients and their families.

​He is the Director of First Responder Services at Compass and has initiated a number of programs in the community to help those who serve. He provides therapy to individual first responders and is also active in providing education on stress and trauma coping and peer mentorship at seminars for first responders.

In addition to common childhood adjustment problems, Dr. Mattson specializes in helping children and their parents deal with more stressful issues, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and behavioral concerns, and emotional trauma. His practice also extends to the area of infant mental health. This involves the child’s social and emotional development during the critical first three years of life, as well as assisting parents in adjusting to their own new roles and providing them with effective and individualized parenting strategies.

Primary among Dr. Mattson’s therapeutic modalities are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which assists clients in understanding the thoughts and feelings that influence their behaviors; Mindfulness, which stimulates an active and open engagement with one’s present experiences; and Play Therapy, to help clients communicate their feelings and experiences through free and unstructured play.

On a personal level, Dr. Mattson enjoys being active in sports and outdoor activities, undertaking challenging experiences, and developing new skills (most recently, scuba certification while in Florida). He and his wife enjoy their two sons and dog, watching movies and U of L sports, and spending as much time as possible with family and friends.