A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Matt Burden

Matt-BurdenHaving grown up in the city of La Porte, and graduating from La Porte High School, Matt Burden never imagined he would be able to return to the area to live and work. After graduating from Ball State University, Burden completed his MA/PhD in Developmental Psychology at Loyola University Chicago, and soon after moved to Michigan to do research at the University of Michigan and Wayne State School of Medicine on brain-behavior outcomes in kids who were exposed to adverse impacts in utero.

"It was this kind of work in early development that sparked my interest in just how much the brain could adapt and heal after a tough start in life," Burden said. "And it also brought to light how hard it is to break cycles of poverty and abuse, particularly when addiction is involved. My research there made me want to be more involved in practical applications of shaping policy and systems that support treatment for those with addictions and mental health problems."

Currently, Burden is the CEO of The Swanson Center, which offers a secure, confidential place for people to get counseling for problems they are facing. For more than 40 years, their dedicated mental and behavioral health staff have been serving La Porte County and helping people work through various life stresses. The Board of Directors at the Swanson Center had been looking for a permanent CEO for some years before Burden came along. Searching for a candidate with the right kind of education and experience, Burden was found to be a great fit.

"I never imagined that I'd actually get to come back and live and work in La Porte County after growing up here," Burden said. "I always hoped to eventually find some work closer to home, and have a family where my children could grow up with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles, like I did. When I found out about the position at the Swanson Center, it just seemed like a perfect fit in every way, and I couldn't be happier where I am."

At the moment, Burden and his co-workers are preparing for the moving of their Michigan City office. As of December 8, 2014, the Michigan City office will move from Marquette Mall, where it's been located for the past thirty-five years, to a new facility at 7224 West 400 North. With newly renovated offices and a floor plan designed to meet the needs of a modern community mental health center, they are all looking forward to continuing to serve their community in a new location.

The Swanson Center serves close to 4,000 people per year in La Porte County. Their clinicians work to build treatment plans around each individual's specific problems and goals, and then help to see it though at every front – therapy, counseling, medications, case management, skills training, etc.

"It's often surprising to learn just how prevalent mental health and substance use issues are," Burden said, "But roughly 1 in 4 people experiences a diagnosable disorder in a year's time. I'm glad to see that the stigma associated with seeking treatment is finally being reduced in our society, especially as mental health benefits increasingly become part of standard health coverage."
In his free time, Burden enjoys playing the trumpet and singing with the Tom Milo Big Band. He also likes to play tennis and golf when he can, but mostly enjoys any activity indoors or out with his wife and two children, as well as the rest of his family.