Child Therapist
Oren Matteson, Saint Patrick High School
Oren Madison, a child psychologist working in Chicago, IL, is becoming more accustomed to working with adults, but only after realizing that be helping kids, he’s helping their parents too. Currently working at a Chicago area children’s hospital, Oren hopes someday to work in a school setting, where he can establish himself, and hopefully develop a program that will extend beyond the reach of one man. He was inspired to this vocation after extended internships in local high schools, in Denver, during his matriculation as an undergrad there.
Oren realized, at an early the age, the power of therapy, when his own parents got divorced. After seeing first hand the power of empathy in the therapist’s office, Oren’s future began trending the way of helping children confront their social and emotional issues.
“Everyone,” Oren says, “has something going on. Empathy is simply listening [to what’s going on] without judgment.” Oren says that “trust is the key to everything,” and that without trust, there is no meaningful progress to be made. Adults, Oren says, often cannot listen in the non-judgmental way that children need to
really trust someone. Oren’s advice to all who care is to “Study harder. Pay attention to what you’re learning and really learn it. Don’t fit right in the middle academically, but rather, stand out.”
THERE ARE 3 RESPONSES TO THIS INTERVIEW
Steve Says:
October 4th, 2007
Oren “gets it.” It’s great to hear someone that young to have found their passion and calling. Wonderful story. I want to highlight his comment that he actually “gets more energy” as the day rolls on. I’ve found that too. When I am doing something that I am passionate about, I get more energy as I do it.
kelly G Says:
October 4th, 2007
Oren has a way about him that kids would definitely feel they could trust him and be open with him. The same would be true for adults, but I think his heart is really with the kids. Keep it up Oren. Some of the rewards you can see on a daily basis, others will happen as these kids have been helped through your work and go out into the world as healthy adults one day!
Thomas J. Hutton Says:
November 15th, 2007
I’ve known Oren since 1999 just before he graduated with his undergraduate degree. Some people learn how to empathize and some are born with it. Oren is both; he was born with it and he has developed it to a fine art. It comes so naturally to him that I found myself, although I am much older, feeling comfortable enough with him to open up about things I would not normally discussed.
Hence, I’m sure that Oren can and will be able to provide his skills of listening and more listening to adults as well as his natural environment of kids and young adults. Oren is a true inspiration.
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