Crystal Mathews

Crystal Mathews, LCSW, currently serves as an outpatient therapist for Military Veterans at Veterans Affairs, with a focus on addressing moral injuries. Crystal has experience providing individual and group therapy in State Prisons, which inspired her publication: Acknowledging Soul Loss from an Indigenous Perspective to Promote Healing in Prison. Crystal previously held various positions at Cape Counseling Services, including ICMS, PACT, IIC, and Screening, and she served as Director of their Adolescent Psychiatric Community Home. Crystal founded the Middle Township Teen Center, a 501c3 nonprofit organization for the youth in her community. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Stockton with a BSW and Summa Cum Laude from Rutgers with an MSW. Crystal is certified in TF-CBT, ARC, EFT, NHA, and EMDR. Crystal's guiding principle in her service to others is to be genuinely present while compassionately holding space. 

Moral Injury is a profound emotional distress that arises following an immoral infliction of harm, and is a risk factor for suicide among combat Veterans. Social Workers can provide safe spaces for Veterans to talk about their combat-related moral injuries for adaptive coping. When Social Workers listen with open hearts and minds, we can instill hope that even if an act was unequivocally “wrong” it is nonetheless possible for a Veteran to move forward and create a life worth living. We can help Veterans reconnect with themselves and others by separating their morally injurious events from the totality of who they truly are.  

• Mathews, C. (2022). Acknowledging Soul Loss from an Indigenous Perspective to Promote Healing in Prison. Clinical Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-022-00858-8