MATTERS™ Approach

Multisensory Advocacy Tailored Therapeutic Emotion Regulation Support

A Meta-Approach to Human Flourishing

The MATTERS™ approach is a transdiagnostic, neuro-affirming metatheoretical framework designed to move psychotherapy beyond the limitations of the medical model. Developed by Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond, MATTERS™ was born from the lived experience of misophonia and the recognition that traditional “one-size-fits-all” interventions often fail to account for the unique neurophysiological reality of the individual.

The Philosophy: Why “MATTERS”

The name is an intentional double meaning. It acknowledges the biological matter—the chemical and neurophysiological compositions that dictate our experiences—and it serves as a radical affirmation that the individual’s subjective lived experience matters.

We believe that humans are not merely a collection of behaviors to be “corrected,” but a complex accumulation of emotions, thoughts, and physiological traits. By staying agnostic to diagnosis, the MATTERS™ approach focuses on individual expression and trait-based support rather than DSM-heavy labeling.

The Core Pillars

• Multisensory Perspective: We recognize that emotional regulation is a “bottom-up” process. We prioritize the sensory system as the foundation of mental health, acknowledging that a regulated nervous system is a prerequisite for cognitive work.
• Advocacy-First: Therapy does not exist in a vacuum. MATTERS™ incorporates advocacy as a core clinical tool, empowering individuals to reshape their environments and challenging the systemic stigmas that pathologize neurodivergence.
• Tailored Support: We reject the term “intervention” as infantilizing. Instead, we utilize collaborative, tailored strategies that respect the autonomy of the individual, treating them as the expert of their own internal world.
• Neuro-Physiological Agnosticism: While we embrace psychoeducation and academic research, we view diagnostic tools as limited maps. We focus on the “matter” of the person—their unique chemical and sensory makeup—rather than a medical chart.

Who It’s For

While rooted in the specialized understanding of Misophonia, the MATTERS™ meta-approach is designed for any individual navigating a world not built for their brain, including those experiencing:

• ADHD & Autism
• Misophonia
• OCD & Anxiety
• Trauma-related dysregulation
• Sensory Processing Differences

  https://livingwithmisophonia.substack.com/p/what-is-the-matters-approach