Matthew Rodgers, LCSW

Matthew Rodgers is a licensed clinical social worker with five years of practice in California. They focus on helping people work through addictions, LGBTQ concerns, intimacy issues, low self-esteem, and major life changes. Matthew aims to make the first step easier by offering steady support and straightforward guidance.

Matthew keeps sessions open and nonjudgmental so people can talk about difficult topics. They have spent much of their career working with veterans and supporting those coping with post-traumatic stress and substance use. This background informs how they approach recovery and daily functioning without making assumptions about anyone's experience.

Their work also addresses body image, sexuality, forgiveness, guilt and shame, and exploring life purpose. Matthew has experience with polyamory and alternative sexual cultures, including BDSM and kink, and helps clients untangle relationship and intimacy questions in ways that feel practical and manageable.

In sessions Matthew draws on Motivational Interviewing to strengthen a person’s own reasons for change, and Solution-Focused Therapy to set clear, achievable steps toward goals. They also use Trauma-Focused Therapy when past events are getting in the way of present life.

People can expect a collaborative approach that centers their values and aims. Matthew emphasizes small, realistic changes and checks in often so goals stay relevant. Before booking, confirm current session options and scheduling details.

How these approaches work for online therapy

Motivational Interviewing is a conversational method that helps people find their own reasons to change. It focuses on listening, reflecting, and building on a person's existing motivation to address behaviors like substance use or low engagement with goals.

Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes small, practical steps that move someone toward their goals. It looks for concrete changes and strengths that can be expanded week by week, which can be especially useful when coping with life transitions or improving self-esteem.

Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on addressing the impact of past traumatic events on current life. It helps people reduce symptoms that interfere with relationships, work, or daily routines and supports rebuilding a sense of control and safety in everyday life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods best match their goals, needs, and preferences, and will adapt the plan as progress is made.

Confirm available session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when that suits a person's routine. Talk with the therapist about which session arrangement best fits your day-to-day life and goals.