Biography

I received my Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) from Utah State University and my Ph.D. in MFT from Florida State University. Prior to joining UVU, I was a core faculty member in an MFT program in California for 7 years.

My research focuses on parent-child relationships and child outcomes, such as depression and resilience. I am particularly interested in parent-adolescent attachment and attachment oriented approaches to couple and family therapy.

Education

PhD, Florida State University, 2017

Major: Marriage and Family Therapy

MS, Utah State University, 2010

Major: Marriage and Family Therapy

Teaching

FAMS 2705

Ethics for Family Interventions, Spring 2026

FAMS 1150

Marriage and Relationship Skills, Spring 2026

MFT 6910R

Practicum I, Spring 2026

MFT 6940R

Practicum IV, Spring 2026

Presentations

Augustus, Rachel , Fawcett, Elizabeth , Story Chavez, Megan , Peterson, Colleen , Withers, Matt , Teaching for Learning, "Examining the Practice of Co-Therapy in MFT Graduate Programs", Teaching for Learning, Orem, UT. (February, 2025)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Nan, J , Jaiswal, S , Ramanathan, D , Withers, Mathew C, Mishra, J , (2025) "Climate Trauma from Wildfire Exposure Impacts Cognitive Decision-Making" (vol. 15). Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-94672-0
Grennan, G , Withers, Mathew C, Ramanathan, D , Mishra, J , (2023) "Differences in Interference Processing and Frontal Brain Function with Climate Trauma from California’s Deadliest Wildfire" (Issue: 1, vol. 2). PLOS Climate. https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000125
Kornbluh, M , Withers, Mathew C, Ades, J , Grennan, G , Mishra, J , (2022) "Identifying protective socio-ecological factors for college students in California’s deadliest wildfire" (Issue: 2, vol. 72). The Journal of American College Health. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07448481.2022.2047706
Boullion, A , Withers, Mathew C, Lippmann, M , (2021) "Mindsets: Investigating resilience" (Issue: 174). Personality & Individual Differences. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886921000441
Reed-Fitzke, K , Withers, Matt , Watters, E , (2021) "Longitudinal and intergenerational connections of self-esteem and depression among adult children and their parents. " (Issue: 28). Journal of Adult Development. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10804-021-09371-7
Silveira, S , Kornbluh, M , Withers, Mathew C, Grennan, G , Mishra, J , (2021) "Chronic mental health impacts of climate change extremes_ A case study of the deadliest Californian wild fire" (Issue: 18, vol. 4). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1487