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DBH Student Profile: Jose Mathew, LCSW, LAC, ACS, EMDR-T, CCTP-II

By October 8, 2024February 25th, 2025No Comments6 min read

Bridging Gaps in Care: Jose Matthew’s Commitment to for Behavioral Health Equity and Disruption

October 8, 2024

As a Hispanic clinician of Puerto Rican descent from the South Bronx, Jose Matthews draws from a deep commitment to advocacy, diversity, equity, and inclusion, approaching every interaction with a trauma-informed, empathetic, and compassionate lens. Over the past decade, he has gained extensive experience working in a variety of community mental health settings, including Inpatient Psychiatric Milieu, Crisis Emergency Services, Disaster Emergency Response (DERT), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), dual diagnosis (BH/SUD) treatment, and clinical training. Currently serving as a supervisor of clinical programs, Jose proudly embraces the role of a “disrupter” in the field. Privileged to be part of a multidisciplinary team of healthcare trailblazers, Jose views the therapeutic journey as a partnership and always begins by asking patients the powerful question: “How can I help?” His daily goal is to make a meaningful impact on those they serve, fostering connection, support, and healing. This interview provides a snapshot of Jose’s experience in the DBH program, vision for care delivery, and dedication to the behavioral health field.

How do you see the DBH program impacting your skills, knowledge, and career trajectory?

The DBH program’s mission, purpose, and objective say it all: We strive for intentional care outcome improvement practices that exemplify whole person-centered integrated healthcare advanced competency. The program of study drives insights and awareness of the ever-changing patient population and multidisciplinary practice environments to change how the world experiences healthcare. This is further reinforced by the pillars of medical literacy, integrated behavioral health intervention, and entrepreneurship skills and expertise. Development growth is needed to prepare the aspiring DBH for the future of the shifting healthcare marketplace through international networking in a growing community of disruptive innovators and an evolving movement toward systemic healthcare change. I feel that I will be positioned alongside a fellowship of like-minded professionals trying to improve the quality of healthcare service delivery value and outcome sustainability. In the clinical world, it is commonplace to see many credentialing letters after a practitioner’s name. Still, the letters before your name will give you a voice of practice, expertise, and excellence and invite you to those influential system spaces instead of remaining an echo for change.

What innovative approaches or strategies have the potential to revolutionize the behavioral health landscape?

As a DBH student, I have come to acknowledge, understand, and embrace the concepts of integration of whole-person treatment, trauma-informed practice, awareness of the SDOH, cultural competency, sensitivity, and humility. I strive for advanced comprehension of the Biodyne assessment and evaluation model, which reinforces refocused psychotherapy informed by pillars of medical literacy, neuropathophysiology, and advanced psychopharmacology grounded in the quadruple aim of healthcare improvement. As I continue to matriculate my DBH studies, I can’t help but become increasingly curious and fascinated by the knowledge and expertise shared by those in my cohort. So, for my thoughts on innovation, the possibilities are endless. My world has opened up to advanced areas of public health, disease management, preventative medicine, healthcare quality improvement, and healthcare equity. We humorously refer to ourselves as disruptors in the DBH program and proudly embrace this mindset as a clinical practitioner in a rural region of the eastern plains of Colorado. I feel that it is my future endeavor to bridge the healthcare divide in siloed practices, advance the mobility of integrative healthcare service delivery, and foster community partnerships in what is considered a healthcare desert.

Looking forward in your DBH journey, what specific insights or skills do you hope to gain?

Looking ahead in my academic and professional endeavors, I hope to advance in healthcare quality improvement dynamics, psychotherapeutic combined modality, and healthcare analytics skill sets to build on a developing healthcare leadership role throughout my career. With this in mind, my professional horizons continue to broaden as I advance in my studies and continue to be challenged by my mentors, teachers, and coaches who support and empower my academic excellence.

What are your future career goals, and how do you envision the DBH program contributing to your success?

My aspirations include redefining the patient health home model of integrated care by one day founding my clinic and extending in-clinic care to my community through mobile service delivery. My current studies have allowed me to develop several course assignments that speak to these goals and objectives of clinical pathways, program and proposal, and research data collection, eventually resulting in a culminating project to solidify my purposeful and intentional efforts. The DBH program provides me with a coordinated and inspired sense of direction in pursuing career excellence.

How do you view the role of leadership in advancing behavioral health outcomes, and how do you see the DBH program preparing you for leadership positions in the healthcare sector?

I believe that leadership is a consequence of competency, transparency, humility, lifelong learning, and a responsibility of service to others in your charge. The DBH program builds on the foundations of leadership principles, advanced competency, specialty practice, and clinical expertise as fundamental driving factors of growth and development.

Jose is advancing through the Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program with a growing dedication to reshaping integrated behavioral healthcare delivery and outcomes. With a foundation built on years of experience in community mental health settings, he remains committed to advocacy, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of his work. Through the DBH program, Jose is honing the skills and knowledge needed to disrupt traditional healthcare models and advocate for patient-centered, whole-person care. Looking ahead, his goal is to drive meaningful change in underserved communities, bridging gaps in access and nurturing collaborative, innovative care solutions. His journey exemplifies the powerful combination of expertise, compassion, and leadership, positioning him to leave a lasting impact on the behavioral health landscape for years to come.

José Mathew Contributes to Upcoming Book: Integrated Behavioral Health: Applying the Biodyne Mindset in Healthcare

Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI) is proud to announce the upcoming release of the groundbreaking new book, Integrated Behavioral Health: Applying the Biodyne Mindset in Healthcare, set for publication in January 2026. This new book builds on the foundation laid by Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings and Dr. Janet Cummings, renowned psychologists and co-founders of both the Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) degree program and CGI, who previously introduced the influential Biodyne Model in their seminal work Refocused Psychotherapy as the First Line Intervention in Behavioral Health.

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Testimonials

“As a member of the AAPI community, I’m very familiar with the barriers to mental health services and the need to break through the glass wall of cultural stigma that prevents many from receiving potentially life–saving treatment. I was the only Asian American person in my master’s cohort, the only Asian American person in many of my clinical work settings, the only Asian American person to walk into many of the professional settings that I pushed myself to show up to. In my current practice, I’m constantly reminded by my patients of how difficult it is to find an Asian American mental health provider, though this reminder constantly informs me that more needs to be done for my community. Day after day, I read stories of Asian American people who die by suicide as a consequence of our culture’s avoidance of mental health topics. As a DBH, my biggest goal is to use my expertise in whole–person care to amplify the conversation around mental health and help my community understand that mental healthcare is not a privilege that we are not entitled to, it is a crucial part of our healthcare that will manifest differently in us than what many Western psychology or psychiatry textbooks will describe, and that our unique experience of mental health issues are valid, important, and is time to be part of the larger conversation.”

Willam Chum, LMHCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - September 16, 2022

“The Doctor in Behavioral Health (DBH) program has changed my understanding of the subject and career path. Before this academic journey, my knowledge of behavioral health was primarily theoretical, including essential ideas and methods. However, the DBH curriculum combined intense academic research with practical application, helping me understand behavioral health from multiple angles. Recognizing mental health as part of total health changed my perspective. The biopsychosocial model, which showed how biological, psychological, and social variables affect mental health, was stressed in the DBH curriculum. This comprehensive approach made me realize how complex human behavior is and how important it is to address mental health issues. Effective interventions must target the individual’s surroundings, relationships, and life experiences, not just symptoms. The curriculum also gave me enhanced evidence-based practice training to execute successful solutions. Studies methods and data analysis classes improved my critical thinking and allowed me to evaluate and apply behavioral health studies. This gave me the confidence to contribute to the field’s knowledge base through practice and research.”

Dr. Rhea Hill, DBH, LPCDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 17, 2025

“This program will change how you present to the world, not just as a professional but as an individual. Understand this is work but the work is worth it and the journey is undeniably transformative. If you are seeking a doctorate for the title, this is not the program for you. If you are seeking a doctorate to interrupt and disrupt the course of healthcare, then this is the program for you. You won’t find a more supportive program with professors who are dedicated to your success and your education. This program is not about the regurgitation of information. It is about the appropriate applied application of knowledge and information to push forward and become an advocate for equitable and quality care for all.”

Brandy K. Biglow LMHC, CCTP, QSDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 5, 2024

“The Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program has definitely transformed my understanding of behavioral health. Understanding the links between physical and mental health has taught how to make better treatment decisions. The DBH program has also given me insights that otherwise would not be possible and allows me to view individuals through a lens that I was previously ignorant of. This program has helped me grow into a more confident individual, provider, and parent.”

Cory H. Cannady, BCBA, LBADBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 13, 2024

“The DBH program has reinforced my vision of viewing behavioral health (BH) as an integrated component of the healthcare system rather than a siloed service. As a practitioner in the focused BH realm of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, I observe on a regular basis how identifying and serving SUD patients is often missed, ignored and stigmatized in primary healthcare, despite the fact that early intervention at these check-points often has the potential to intervene earlier and lessen the negative SUD outcomes frequently seen by the time a patient reaches specialty SUD services. Reinforcement received in my DBH program has motivated me to promote integration as a leader in my workplace and is a primary factor in considering the long-term trajectory of my individual career path.”

Kenneth L. Roberts, MPS, LPCC, LADCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - November 5, 2024

“Graduating from the DBH program has influenced and enhanced my approach to addressing behavioral health challenges and making a difference in the field by preparing me to become a serious business owner. Through the DBH program, I understand now that becoming a business owner not only assists me in reaping the financial benefits of working for myself, but the program also offers me a sense of freedom to make a difference in an individual’s life.”

Dr. Rebecca K. Wright, DBH, LBA, BCBA, QBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - December 18, 2024

“I have always wanted to pursue a higher degree but never found a program that met my needs. When I investigated the DBH program, I can honestly say I was excited. It was a program that would expand my knowledge in behavioral health but also how it relates to physical health. The philosophy of treating the whole person was exactly what I was looking for.”

Elizabeth Nekoloff, M.Ed., LPCC-S, NCCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 16, 2025

“Prior to obtaining my DBH, I practiced behavioral health within the boundaries of behavior analysis. The DBH degree has given me the ability to broaden my scope of competence allowing me to provide a higher quality of care to my clients through a person-centered approach, while still staying within my scope of practice. I was in the beginning stages of opening my business when I enrolled in the DBH program which set my trajectory towards being a stronger leader. The program equipped me with essential healthcare leadership and entrepreneurial skills, allowing me to ensure high-quality services for my clients and foster a supportive work environment for our staff. It has also given me the confidence to expand my business and pursue other healthcare ventures, reaching a broader range of patients in need.”

Dr. Pauline Tolentino Pablo, DBH, BCBA, IBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 21, 2025

“Although I have worked with many patients who have mental health diagnoses, or behaviors which make managing their medical diagnoses and day to day life difficult, the DBH program at CGI is broadening that knowledge and providing a deeper understanding of behavioral health and how best to help these individuals manage their health and improve their quality of life. This will allow me to provide and advocate for more meaningful and seamless integrated care, providing new tools for my intervention toolbox, and the confidence and skills to collaborate within and lead whole person focused interdisciplinary teams. I also anticipate building upon my knowledge as a nurse case manager and long time caregiver, as well as my personal passions and professional vision, learning about processes and operations, to be in position to start up and lead my own company one day, offering the services and care I know every person should have access to.”

Hollie Wilson, MSN, RN, CCMDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 11, 2025

“The DBH program will open opportunities for me to contribute to healthcare system innovation, particularly through trauma-informed care and integrated behavioral health settings. I will be better positioned to advocate for and implement holistic care models that improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Ultimately, this program will help me transition into higher-level roles, such as a director or consultant in behavioral health, where I can influence broader system changes and contribute to the future of healthcare delivery.”

DeKyn Rashad Peters, MPH-CHES,BSW/BA,APCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 4, 2025

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