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Therapist for Anxiety, Relationship Stress, and Couples Therapy in Phoenix, AZ
Matthew Brace
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that keep repeating, therapy can help. I work with individuals and couples who want more than just a place to vent, they want to better understand what’s happening, improve their relationships, and create meaningful change.
My work is especially focused on helping people navigate anxiety, communication struggles, emotional disconnection, and the relationship patterns that can leave them feeling frustrated or alone.
Whether you are coming in as an individual or as a couple, therapy can be a space to better understand yourself, feel more grounded, and move toward healthier ways of relating. I help individuals and couples in Phoenix and throughout Arizona better understand their patterns, improve communication, and feel more connected in their relationships. My approach is warm, collaborative, and direct. I want therapy to feel like a place where you can be real, feel understood, and also be challenged toward meaningful growth.
LOCATIONS
Central Phoenix Office
The Fordham on Missouri Avenue
Telehealth Office
I also offer telehealth for clients located anywhere in Arizona. Online therapy makes it easier to access support from the privacy and convenience of your own space, while still receiving effective, high-quality care. Research continues to support telehealth as an effective option for many mental health concerns.
THE PROCESS
Phone Consult
We'll start with a brief phone consultation to talk about what's bringing your in, what you're hoping for, and whether working together feels like a good fit.
No Charge
Assessment
The first session is an opportunity to understand your concerns in more depth, clarify what feels most important, and begin identifying goals for therapy.
50-Minute Assessment
$175
Sessions
In ongoing therapy, we work on the patterns and stressors keeping you stuck so you can move toward more clarity, confidence and connection.
50-Minute Session
$175
Training and Approach
My background as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist shapes how I think about therapy. Even when someone comes in for individual counseling, their relationships, family experiences, and patterns of connection often play an important role in what they’re going through.
I draw from several evidence-based approaches depending on your needs. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, I tailor therapy to what will be most helpful for you. At times, our work may focus on understanding patterns and where they come from. At other times, we may focus on building practical tools you can use in your day-to-day life.
I pay close attention to what happens in your relationships, how you communicate, respond to stress, and navigate conflict, because these patterns often show up across different areas of life.
My goal is to help you not only gain insight into what’s happening, but also begin responding in ways that feel clearer and more aligned with what you want for yourself. Rather than assuming what’s helpful, we adjust along the way so that therapy feels relevant, effective, and tailored to your needs.
Education & Licensure
Masters of Advanced Studies in Marriage and Family Therapy
Bachelors of Science in Communication
Bachelors of Science in Family and Human Development
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFT 15192
AzBBHE Approved Clinical Supervisor
Therapeutic Approaches
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Family Systems
Trauma Informed Care
The MFT Approach
Marriage and Family Therapists are trained to understand how people are shaped by the relationships around them. Even when the main concern is anxiety, stress, or feeling stuck personally, those struggles often show up in patterns involving partners, family, and other important relationships.
Because of this training, I pay close attention not only to what you are feeling internally, but also to how your relationships function, what patterns keep repeating, and how change can happen in a way that feels more supported and lasting. This can include involving important people in the therapy process when helpful, or helping you build healthier ways of relating outside the therapy room.
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy sites research showing that clients are highly satisfied working with MFTs, and that MFTs are the mental health professionals they would most likely recommend to others.