Radical Ownership.

Lead a great life. Live it with a big soul.
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About

Take the Risk: Become that Man

Vita Magna is Latin for “Great Life.” And you were meant to have one. But a great life isn't built on quick fixes, pop-psychology trends, or the latest coping techniques. It requires rock-solid psychological and emotional maturity. I work with Catholic and Christian men in leadership who, by all external accounts, look incredibly successful—but inwardly, find themselves stuck repeating the same old reactive patterns. Whether you're facing family challenges, relationship ruptures, or hidden compulsions, the answer isn't just "praying harder." That is spiritual bypassing. Grace builds on nature. If your underlying psychological foundation has serious structural deficits, you won't be able to freely cooperate with God's action in your life. But neither is the answer more navel-gazing and blind validating. Dr. Murray Bowen, the pioneer of the family systems movement, realized that genuine growth doesn't come from the medical model of a passive patient receiving treatment from an expert. That growth comes when one man courageously decides that, instead of running from the problem or waiting for others to solve it for him, he's going to take radical ownership of the part he's been playing in it. Dr. Bowen called this work is DIY therapy—almost. Together, we'll map your "first formation"—your family system—to understand how you learned to move through the world. This isn't about labeling, blaming, or writing off your family: it's about becoming the self-possessed, mature man who can re-engage these primary relationships without giving up or giving in. Dr. Bowen called that capacity "differentiation of self." We can also utilize EMDR (when clinically indicated) to clear any past traumatic bottlenecks. Just know: real growth in maturity is a psychological and emotional workout. If you're looking for a conventional approach oriented mostly to help make you "feel better" in the short term, I'm not your guy. But if you are ready to see the whole system, understand your place in it, and risk doing something about it—then let's get to work. Counseling in Texas. Bowen-based coaching and consulting nationwide and internationally. Hablo español.
James Van Matre
MS, LPC

Services

You didn't create these patterns. You can still change your part in them.

  • Men's Issues
  • Family Conflict
  • Blended Families
  • Anger Management
  • Couples Counseling
  • Sexual Addiction
  • Work Stress
  • Burnout
  • Codependency
  • Trauma
  • Life Coaching
  • Spirituality and Religion
  • PTSD
  • Perfectionism
  • Life Transitions

Approaches

  • Bowen Family Systems Theory
  • Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

Fees

  • Individuals: $175
  • Couples: $195

Location

Located in Houston Heights.

Vita Magna Counseling Coaching and Consulting PLLC

731 Rutland St
Houston, TX 77007-1527

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