About Matone Counseling & Testing
Matt and Kim Matone were high school sweethearts who met in a psychology class and the cross country team at East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC in 1985. It seems as if it were destined for them to start a counseling and psychology practice someday! They were married in 1993 and started their family.
Matt spent 19 years in banking and Kim had various jobs such as preschool teacher, substance abuse prevention consultant, and community organizer. When their two children got older, Kim decided to pursue a lifetime dream of becoming a mental health counselor. Matt had always dreamt of owning and operating his own business. In 2015, the stars aligned and the two decided to start a counseling practice, putting their talents together.
Why did the Matones decide to open their own therapy & counseling practice in North Carolina?
Along with both their dreams, Kim and Matt recognized a need for more accessible mental health care in Charlotte. The two had their own personal struggles in the past and had participated in various types of counseling. However, they found that it was difficult to make appointments in a timely manner and to use their insurance to obtain quality care. Matt and Kim wanted to change this for others in their community!
Their emphasis has been to help diverse populations by making behavioral health available to all segments of the community. Unlike many other private counseling practices, they accept almost every insurance plan on the market. They partner with dozens of primary care doctors, treatment centers, and specialists across the city to make quality mental health care accessible to the entire community.
Therapy, Testing, & Counseling Locations
South Charlotte | Cotswold | Asheville | Hickory
Charlotte currently has two locations in the Cotswold and South Charlotte areas. In 2020, the Matones opened their third location in Asheville, NC, inspired by their family connections and love for the mountains. It felt like the perfect place to extend their commitment to quality mental health care. Then, in 2023, they expanded further with a second location in Central Asheville and a fifth location in Hickory in 2024.
Leadership
Dr. Blair Hamel, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Hamel joined Matone Counseling in 2016 as an independent contractor, working nights and weekends while building her clinical practice. Her leadership and dedication quickly stood out. She became Matone’s first Clinical Director, then advanced to Chief Clinical Officer in 2022, and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in 2024 — taking on responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the organization.
Under Dr. Hamel’s leadership, Matone Counseling continues to expand access to mental health services across North Carolina while maintaining a strong culture of clinician empowerment and client care. She lives in the Asheville area with her husband and children.
