def METHOD_NAME(self, field: str, expected_type: Type[TConfigAny] = None) -> TConfigAny:
    value: TConfigAny
    value, _ = self._get_value(field, expected_type)
    if value is None:
        return None
    # cast to required type
    if expected_type:
        return deserialize_value(field, value, expected_type)
    else:
        return value