About Matias: The Journey to Integration
Life doesn't have to feel like you're walking with Lego pieces in your shoes. If you've found your way here, you're already demonstrating remarkable courage by recognizing that something needs to change. After 10+ years in mental health care, I've witnessed countless transformations, and I'm here to tell you that the life you're envisioning is not just possible: it's waiting for you.
I'm Dr. Matias Massaro, a Doctor of Nursing Practice specialized in psychiatry from Vanderbilt University and a Clinical Psychologist from the University of Buenos Aires.
A Personal Journey in Global Perspective
My path began in Buenos Aires, where I earned my Clinical Psychology degree and discovered my calling working with individuals across different cultural, socioeconomic, and identity backgrounds. Something profound happened during those early years: I realized that the brain is… peculiar, and healing isn't just about addressing symptoms; it's about understanding the whole person within their cultural, social, and personal context.
This insight drove me to Vanderbilt University, where I pursued advanced training in psychiatric nursing. Being named Outstanding Student was an honor, but what truly mattered was discovering how sleep disorders can masquerade as mood problems, how trauma rewires the brain's stress response, and why some people need completely different medication approaches based on their unique neurobiological makeup. My doctoral work focused specifically on Sleep Dysfunctions and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi).
This international perspective, combined with my bilingual practice, helps me understand how cultural factors influence mental health experiences and treatment responses.
Specialized Expertise and Continuous Learning
Differential Diagnosis and Complex Case Expertise: My unique combination of psychology and psychiatry backgrounds creates exceptional skill in differential diagnosis, particularly for patients who have been misdiagnosed or whose cases have proven challenging to other providers. This integration allows me to identify subtle patterns and connections that might be overlooked when using a single lens.
Sleep Medicine & CBTi: Advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia to address sleep disruptions that often underlie anxiety, depression, and cognitive challenges.
Perinatal Mental Health: Active participation in the University of Washington’s Perinatal Psychiatry Case Conference Series, supporting individuals through pregnancy, postpartum, and family planning, along with specialized training from various institutions.
Psychoendocrinology: Current focus on understanding the role of PCOS, perimenopause, and menopause in psychiatric care, particularly their intersection with ADHD and sleep disorders.
Complex Medical-Psychiatric Interfaces: Specialized work with chronic conditions including Fibromyalgia, migraines, hEDS, POTS, MCAS, IBS, SIBO, and Hypothyroidism, understanding their dynamic relationship with mental health.
Neurodevelopmental Conditions: Comprehensive assessment and treatment for ADHD and autism spectrum conditions across the lifespan.
Trauma-Informed Practice: Understanding how past experiences shape present challenges, particularly how trauma intersects with neurodevelopmental differences and medical conditions.
I provide services in both English and Spanish, ensuring language never becomes a barrier to healing.
Mentorship and Continued Growth
Teaching and learning fuel my passion for this field. I regularly mentor students, new graduates, and established clinicians while maintaining relationships with my own mentors, including Dr. Chris Aiken, editor-in-chief of the Carlat Psychiatry Report, and Dr. Gregory Malzberg, creator of PsychoFarm. Learning from their experience and points of view continuously enriches my clinical practice.
The Person Behind the Practice
When I'm not in clinical sessions, you'll find me diving deep into psychiatry literature: something I genuinely enjoy rather than consider work. My wife often jokes that my idea of relaxation includes either reading the latest research on psychopharmacology or the oldest psychology book in existence.
Beyond psychiatry, I enjoy a good coffee or tea, get thoroughly managed by our two corgis (Pickles and Bagel), and lose myself in compelling books or video games. My "side quests" include yoga, cooking experiments, musical instruments, and an admittedly weak resistance to adopting more pets.
These interests remind me that healing happens in spaces between formal treatment: in small joys we cultivate, connections we nurture, and moments when we remember what it feels like to be fully ourselves.
Your Partnership in Transformation
Whether you're struggling with treatment-resistant conditions, complex diagnostic questions, or simply feeling disconnected from your authentic self, I'm here to help you understand what's happening and develop practical strategies for meaningful change.
Your healing journey deserves a clinician who sees you as a complete person, not a collection of symptoms. Someone who understands that effective psychiatric care requires both scientific rigor and genuine human connection.
If you're ready to move from surviving to thriving, let's start this conversation.