Cognitive Serenity Holistic Mental Health Care, PLLC is a therapy private practice that was founded by Dr. Mary Kaye Matthews with your individual healing and overall peace in mind. Dr. Matthews’ mission is to partner with each of her clients through the provision of multicultural, recovery-oriented, evidenced-based interventions, sound psychoeducation, and thorough clinical assessments so that each client can resume and/or begin living a fulfilled life, according to their predestined purpose. At Cognitive Serenity Holistic Mental Health Care, PLLC it is believed that it is never too late to modify the course of one’s life, so long as the mind, heart, and soul are willing. Dr. Matthews is a proud native of Chicago, Illinois. She knew at a young age that God called her to help others and in obedience, developed a strong passion for psychology and pursued academic training in this area. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Tennessee State University, Dr. Matthews continued her journey to becoming a psychologist by enrolling in the Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. During her pre-doctoral internship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), she found her niche for addressing the mental health needs of underserved populations. Dr. Matthews would go on to be hired as a staff psychologist with BOP and later be promoted to Drug Abuse Program Coordinator (DAPC). She joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2013 as the Local Recovery Coordinator and in 2017, Dr. Matthews was appointed as the Director of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs (SATP). In June 2022, she transitioned to working with the Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) as a Suicide Prevention Psychologist, while simultaneously launching her private practice where she sees clients during the evenings and weekends. In addition to her professional duties with the VA and private practice, Dr. Matthews graciously serves as the ministry leader for the Kingdom Counseling Ministry (KCM) at Kingdom Life Christian Ministries, Inc., under the pastoral leadership of Apostle Tyronne McCreary and Pastor Tonya McCreary. Christ has always been at the center of her “why” and she continually looks for ways to introduce Him to others while also educating them on ways they can obtain freedom from mental and emotional anguish. Dr. Matthews has been active in her local community as an advocate for social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion by partaking in marches, speaking engagements, and outreach. She also aspires to publish her original collection of poetry, write children’s books, and expound upon the literature that advises on the mental health treatment of individuals with chronic illnesses such as HIV and AIDS. Losing a close family member to this disease forever changed her outlook on the impact of loneliness, unaddressed sexual trauma, the danger of secrets, and the importance of providing unconditional love and support within families. Dr. Matthews is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the American Psychological Association (APA), the Texas Psychological Association (TPA), and the Bexar County Psychological Association (BCPA) where she presently sits on the Executive Committee as President-Elect and previously served as the 2022 Membership Chair. Above all, Dr. Matthews identifies God and her beautiful family of five as her constant motivation in living a life of service and embodying servant leadership.