Matthew Spector (he/him)

Accepting Clients

I'm a gay male therapist and fellow human being committed to helping others recognize their own strength.

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in California

Services
  • Individual
  • Couples
  • Adolescent/Teen

About My Clients

There are countless reasons why you may be seeking therapy. You may be living in a state of anxiety, depression, or shame and are in search of relief or a greater sense of well-being. You may be looking to navigate challenges within your relationship. You may have experienced trauma that is causing pain and blocking you from accessing your authentic self. You may be facing oppression based on your identity. Whatever your reason may be, there is never a “wrong” one!

My Background and Approach

I specialize in issues regarding self-esteem, identity, self-worth, sexuality, and oppression. I completed my graduate training at APLA Health where I provided both individual and group psychotherapy to individuals presenting with a wide range of goals and objectives. I’ve also worked at the Los Angeles LGBT Center as a Mental Health Clinician. Additional professional training of mine includes trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and mindful self-compassion (MSC). Through our work together, whether you’re searching for a greater sense of well-being, looking to navigate challenges within a relationship, or ways to fight back against oppressive social forces, I can help you find adaptive ways to cope with uncomfortable emotions, self-defeating thoughts, and life’s inevitable stressors. We all hold the ability to help ourselves manage the complexities of life: the pain, the joy, the suffering, the uncertainty, etc. All we need is the space and a supportive guide.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

As an LGBTQIA+ Affirmative psychotherapist, I believe it is important to consider how growing up and living in the world as a queer individual affects one’s emotional and psychological development. I strive to bring that understanding into the therapeutic work with queer folx and emphasize my belief that a person's queer identity is part of what makes them singular, strong, and whole. An affirmative stance is active rather than passive, empowering rather than merely accepting, and curious rather than all-knowing. I believe you are the expert of your own life and I aim to help you define and express your unique identity. With that said, in addition to queer folx, I often work with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, transgender/gender non-binary community, folx in an ethically non-monogamous relationship, and the rest of us who are disproportionately affected by the White supremacist, heteronormative, patriarchal, capitalist society in which we live.

Techniques I Use

Specialties
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Relational Therapy Trauma Therapy
Other Techniques
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Attachment Theory
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Couples Counseling
  • Culturally Sensitive Therapy
  • Depth Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Eclectic Therapy
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Existential Therapy
  • Family Systems
  • Feminist Therapy
  • Harm Reduction Therapy
  • Humanistic Therapy
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy: Body-Based Healing for Emotional Trauma
  • Person-Centered (Rogerian)
  • Internal Family Systems
  • Trauma Therapy

Issues I Treat

Specialties
Anxiety LGBTQ-Friendly Therapists Self-Esteem
Other Issues
  • ADHD Therapists
  • Aging Concerns
  • Anger Issues
  • Anxiety
  • Attachment
  • Body Image Issues
  • Burnout
  • Codependency
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Gender Identity Therapy
  • Grief or Loss
  • Historical/ Intergenerational Trauma
  • LGBTQ-Friendly Therapists
  • Marriage Counseling
  • Men's Issues
  • Polyamorous and Open Relationships
  • Racial Identity
  • Self-Esteem
  • Self-Harm
  • Suicidal Thoughts
  • Systemic Oppression Therapy
  • Teen Issues
I offer online counseling in the following states:

At A Glance

  • Experience: 7 years of practice
  • Languages: English
  • Rate: $175/session

Reach out to Matthew