Dillon Mathew - Gilmore (they/them)

Aloha! My name is Dillon, and I am a program manager and therapist for Affirming You Therapy. I am originally from the currently occupied island of Hawai’i and I have had the honor of pursuing education in several states and countries prior to moving to the currently occupied Akimel O’odham Land (Phoenix, Arizona). I am a social worker and my practice both in work and in my personal life is rooted on the belief that we heal through community. I chose to pursue a career in social work as a way to continue doing what I have done throughout my life; finding ways to create solutions and support for gaps in care through community resources.

As an individual therapist, I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in social work and I am currently trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and strengths-based approaches. I have worked in behavioral health in a variety of settings since 2017 and I specialize in working with queer, trans/gender expansive folks, people in multiamorous relationships, and folks who are discovering the power in their identity. I have experience in career counseling and working with people in a variety of industries including tattoo artists, performing/drag artists, community advocacy, and first responders. I am passionate about helping to build therapeutic spaces where you as a client are able to explore ways of becoming your most vibrant, authentic self. I strongly believe in pushing past any societal or interpersonal expectations of how and why we are "supposed" to do things and moving towards an acceptance of ourselves.

I am dedicated to supporting my clients, my coworkers, and my community by meeting you where you are on your journey. I am always seeking ways to learn and grow as a social worker and as a human, to facilitate spaces of joy and curiosity in queer and neurodivergent communities. I believe that we can work on dismantling oppressive systems by resisting as a community as well as unlearning internalized oppressive beliefs. I also strongly encourage and support using movement, rest, community gatherings, and art as acts of resistance in a world that tries to deny us. Let’s play, resist, explore, and heal together!