Matthew Rodgers, LCSW

Matthew Rodgers is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California with five years of clinical experience. They bring focused expertise in addictions, LGBT-related concerns, intimacy challenges, self-esteem work, and supporting clients through major life changes. Their background includes a Master of Arts in Gerontology and specialized training in LGBTQIA+ culture and sex therapy, which informs a nuanced approach to sexual health, kink, polyamory, and alternative relationship structures.

Matthew has spent much of their professional career working with veterans, offering support for post-traumatic stress, substance use issues, and the practical goals that help people move toward independence and improved daily functioning. They draw on experience with traumatic brain injury, grief, guilt and shame, and questions of life purpose when helping clients clarify what matters most to them.

In session, Matthew cultivates an open, nonjudgmental atmosphere where thoughts and feelings can be explored honestly. They combine practical, goal-oriented methods with trauma-informed care and motivational strategies to help clients build confidence, strengthen coping skills, and pursue more fulfilling relationships and healthier patterns of living. Matthew aims to partner with each person to create realistic steps toward growth and greater well-being.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Matthew Rodgers integrates evidence-informed approaches to meet each client where they are. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, strengths-based method that helps people explore their own reasons for change and build internal motivation - it is often useful for substance use, ambivalence about relationships, and habit change. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on identifying practical steps and existing strengths to move toward desired outcomes - it works well for clients seeking concrete progress on issues like confidence, coping with life transitions, and relationship goals. Trauma-Focused Therapy addresses the effects of traumatic experiences with strategies to reduce distress and support recovery, and it can be especially relevant for veterans, survivors of interpersonal trauma, and those dealing with post-traumatic stress.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Matthew will collaborate with each client to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the focus as progress unfolds. This collaborative stance helps tailor care to individual priorities and life circumstances.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can be scheduled as video calls, by phone, via live chat, or through text-based messaging. These options make it easier to access consistent support around work, caregiving, or geographic constraints, while allowing therapists and clients to choose the format that best supports progress and engagement.