About Matthew Ross, LCSWA
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My Story:
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Hey there! My name is Matt, and I’m originally from Westchester County, New York, about an hour’s train ride north of New York City. Fun fact: I hold dual citizenship in the US and Canada, as both of my parents are from New Brunswick, Canada.
Growing up, hockey was a huge part of my life. I started playing ice hockey at a very young age and continued competitively through high school. In addition to hockey, I played lacrosse, baseball, ran cross country, and more. I was raised to be highly competitive in every sport, always striving to be the best and to win.
During my undergraduate years at Bates College in Maine, I walked onto a Division I athletic team without any prior experience in the sport. I trained tirelessly in squash (not the vegetable) during my freshman year, and by my sophomore year, I made the team. Our team was ranked 11th nationally, competing against top schools like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and others.
I developed an anxiety disorder at an early age, exacerbated by the events of 9/11. Despite my academic and athletic achievements, I struggled with anxiety, social anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and OCD. In my 20s, my alcohol and drug use became uncontrollable, leading me to enter rehab in early 2018. Since then, I’ve been an active member of the recovery and sobriety community and decided to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) to give back to others.
I hold a B.A. from Bates College and an MSW from the University of New England. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate in North Carolina. I moved to Raleigh in early 2020 and now live with my fiancée in North Raleigh. We have two dogs and plan to start a family after our wedding in October 2024.
My areas of specialization in psychotherapy include treating anxiety, depression, perfectionism, OCD, and substance abuse. I combine my personal experiences and professional expertise to help middle and high school students and young adults manage these challenges. I believe the human brain is incredibly powerful, and my approach leverages evidence-based practices such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, psychoeducation, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. My goal is to help clients reframe their perceived problems and develop solutions to lead happy, successful, and rewarding lives while reaching their true potential.