Life can be a challenging space to navigate. With all of the ups and downs, twists, and turns, sometimes it’s hard to figure out whether you’re coming or going. Here’s the thing to remember when you find yourself trying to find your way through one of those situations; you’re not alone.

“People see ‘Doctor’ in front of your name and forget that you guys have feelings too.” – (Danny), 3:14

My guest today is a man who felt so knew so many were suffering, feeling alone and as if they had no way to cope … so through the power of social media, he gave them one. On this episode, I sit down and talk with renowned psychologist and content creator, the one and only Dr. Ali Mattu. Dr. Mattu specializes in mental health disorders and his online presence has become a beacon of light for many sufferers around the world who simply can’t afford to get the help they need. He’s an amazing man with a heart for people that comes through from the moment you first hear his voice. Our conversation runs the gamut and touches on suicide, a topic so many of us fear, but so many of us need to discuss. 

“The hardest thing about being a therapist is how lonely it can get.” – (Dr. Mattu), 16:57

If you’ve been looking for a way to cope and get answers to some of the pressing questions that have for far too long kept you awake at night, this episode will speak directly to you. This is an episode that was designed with you in mind and one you won’t want to miss.

“One person cannot and should not be your sole source of support for everything.” (Dr. Mattu), 37:02

“People who are suicidal aren’t just suicidal once.” – (Dr. Mattu), 50:45

“You never know in a conversation when you stumble upon someone’s trauma.” – (Dr. Mattu), 1:05:22

In This Episode:

• (3:30) – Dr. Mattu discusses how he balances patient challenges with his own emotions.

• (5:00) – No matter what the profession is, people bring issues, and we have to figure out how to manage them and their issues. 

• (6:11) – Self-care is part of his practice as it allows him to take care of his patients.

• (9:40) – The beauty and value of community colleges. 

• (10:10) – Dr. Mattu found himself after transferring to a 4-year university.

• (11:34) – The balancing act of being a doctor and content creator.

• (12:42) – Dr. Mattu shares why he began making content. 

• (13:02) – How the higher-ups felt about his content creation mechanism. 

• (14:27) – The importance of putting yourself out there becomes apparent.

• (16:57) – The loneliness of being a therapist. 

• (18:45) – A day in the life of a therapist.

• (20:58) – Striking the balance between what to share and what not to share with your partner. 

• (21:52) – Danny asks when and where to share his daily challenges with his spouse.

• (26:37) – Being brave in relationships is important according to Danny.

• (27:20) – The importance of checking in when you’re sharing panic experiences with your significant other.

• (33:47) – Learning to lean on his professional colleagues during tough times. 

• (35:25) – There’s trial and error involved with finding your support system.

• (38:45) – Sometimes you just need your feelings validated. 

• (40:00) – The conversation moves to the topic of suicide. 

• (41:12) – Danny discusses in-patient suicide and how it impacted his life.

• (41:44) – Dr. Mattu and losing his brother to suicide. 

• (44:00) – No matter what you’re going through, Danny expresses the importance of finding levity. 

• (45:00) – The range of emotions a person goes through when death happens. 

• (47:45) – Dr. Mattu goes back and remembers incidents with his brother. 

• (50:34) – The times Dr. Mattu saved his brother but had no idea he was actually saving him. 

• (53:15) – Dr. Mattu shares the dream he had about his brother. 

• (55:56) – Sorrow will always be present, but guilt isn’t necessary. 

• (1:01:58) – The complicated grief process that comes with losing a loved one to suicide. 

• (1:05:20) – When parents lose children, what happens in the aftermath? 

• (1:07:12) – Dr. Mattu shares grounding methods.

• (1:11:12) – Patient experiences with grounding. 

• (1:17:00) – Comparing yourself to people who are on the next level. 

Our Guest 

Dr. Ali Mattu became an expert at treating anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and body-focused repetitive behavior disorders using cognitive behavioral therapy. He was trained as a child clinical psychologist and specialized in adolescent and young mental health. In 2020, Dr Mattu shifted his focus to creating media for those who cannot afford effective mental health care. He received his B.A. from UCLA where he majored in psychology and minored in Asian American Studies. Dr Mattu received his PhD in clinical psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. and completed a doctoral internship at the Bellevue Hospital Center and a post-doctoral fellowship at the NYU Langone Medical Center’s Child Study Center. He is a loving father and husband who resides in the Bay Area. 

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

• https://www.offthecuff.fm/ 

• https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore 

• https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/ 

• https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/ 

Ali Mattu

• https://www.alimattu.com/

• https://www.youtube.com/@DrAli

• https://www.instagram.com/alimattu/

• https://www.tiktok.com/@alimattuphd

• https://www.facebook.com/dralimattu/

• http://www.linkedin.com/in/alimattu