Every day is a fresh start. 

Meet your therapist.

Headshot of Matthew Phillips, a tall white man with short brown hair, a short beard, and clear glasses. He is wearing a dark gray shirt and standing with his arms folded in front of a reflective wall.

Matthew K. Phillips, LCSW, MEd (he/him/his)

Every client comes to therapy for a different reason, but they all share one thing in common: a desire to disrupt a problem and move toward healing. Let’s get started on that path. I empower adults and adolescents as they grow in response to sexual concerns, depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, and oppression.

I specialize in working with adolescent and adult members of the LGBTQ+ community and those who love them. The coming out process is often lifelong. With advanced training and years of experience, I am well-positioned to support that growth and development. Living as your authentic self means having a sense of integrity and pride in all aspects of your identity. Let’s figure out what that looks like for you.

Career History

I spent over fifteen years working as a therapist and manager in a psychiatric hospital and not for profit residential child welfare settings, including three years as the director of a large partial hospitalization program in New York that served children, adolescents, and adults. Throughout this time, issues related to sexuality were always on the edge of my work and far too often were neglected by other treatment providers. I now bring sexuality to the center by providing therapy that emphasizes sexual identity and functioning as critical components of a balanced life. In addition to seeing clients privately, I work on an interdisciplinary treatment team at a men’s sexual and reproductive health practice.

My Perspective

I practice from a social justice lens because different forms of cultural oppressions often hinder experience of relationships, sexual and gender identities, and their expression. I provide space to honor all parts of you in a world that doesn’t always offer the same.

I welcome and actively affirm people of diverse identities, including all races, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, gender presentations, and consensual relationship models.

My approach to therapy is person-centered and integrative, rooted in cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral therapies. In addition to providing unconditional support, I teach clients skills that enable growth and change to happen now.

Education, Research, and Associations

I am a licensed clinical social worker in New York (LCSW #084542) and Connecticut (LCSW #008843). I completed a bachelor’s degree in music therapy at Elizabethtown College and masters’ degrees in social work and human sexuality (clinical sex therapy) at Widener University. My connection to Widener continues as I am presently a PhD student in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies and adjunct faculty in the Center for Social Work Education. My dissertation focuses on the discussions parents have with their queer adolescent sons regarding the use of geosocial networking apps. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

Etc.

I live in Stamford, CT with my husband and our pandemic puppy, Ruby. When I’m not working, you’ll find me in the audience of a Broadway show or walking Ruby in local parks. Ruby is available for virtual consultation upon request!

Photo of a shiny black dog lying on a blue chair with an orange pillow. She looks very relaxed and is starting straight into the camera.