Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matthew Bishop. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Matthew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?

I’ve worked with teenagers as a therapist in San Diego for over 10 years. I didn’t set out with the intention of specializing in this age group, but a decade later, here I am. It’s a tough time to be a teenager. Between the influence of social media, a fractured and divided society, parents stretched thin from full-time work, and hyper-competitive academic environments, today’s teens face pressures that can easily leave them feeling overwhelmed and unsteady.

That’s why it has become one of the greatest privileges of my career to walk alongside teens during this critical season of life. Helping a young person find their footing, grow more stable and grounded, and eventually launch into college with pride is an experience that never gets old. I’m not a parent myself yet, but I can honestly say I feel a kind of parental pride when I see my clients graduate, find their voice, and step into adulthood. I’ve even sat in the back row of a few high school graduation ceremonies, cheering quietly as some of “my kids” walked across the stage.

What makes it even more meaningful is when they come back. During Thanksgiving, winter, or summer breaks, many of these students reach out to schedule a session—sometimes just to catch me up on the latest happenings of their college year. Those return visits are pure joy. They’re reminders that therapy isn’t only about getting through hard times; it’s about building relationships and creating a safe place they want to return to, even when things are going well.

At Sonder Therapy Group, we’re proud to offer teen counseling in San Diego that focuses not only on crisis support, but also on long-term growth, resilience, and connection. Watching these young people move forward in life, and knowing I played even a small role in their journey, is one of the most rewarding parts of this work.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve been a therapist for over a decade, working with individuals, couples, and families across a wide range of challenges. Alongside my clinical practice, I’ve led therapy groups, facilitated staff trainings, conducted workshops, and hosted therapeutic retreats. In recent years, I’ve also served as a faculty member, teaching graduate and doctoral students in clinical psychology.

But before any of that, I was a client. In my early 20s, I was really struggling with depression and low self-worth. At the advice of a friend, I sought out therapy—both individual and group—and it changed my life. In the group therapy setting, I found myself giving feedback and insights to others that they found genuinely helpful. Encouraged by my fellow group members and my therapist, I began to imagine that maybe I could do this work too. Fifteen years later, here I am, still deeply grateful to be in a profession that has given me purpose and the chance to help others experience their own transformation.

Today, I’m the founder of Sonder Therapy Group in San Diego, where my team and I provide psychotherapy for children, teens, adults, and couples. Our services include individual counseling, play therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and workshops. We specialize in helping people navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, identity questions, and the overwhelming pressures of modern life.

What sets us apart is our balance of professionalism and relatability. We’re not a sterile, overly clinical practice where people feel like just another chart. We’re a team of therapists in our 30s who blend relevance, warmth, and holistic care. We look at mental health in the bigger picture—relationships, physical health, purpose, and meaning. Clients often tell us they appreciate that we’re down-to-earth, approachable, and genuinely invested in walking alongside them.

What I’m most proud of are the long-term relationships we’ve built. It’s an incredible feeling when a client who started with me as a teenager reaches back out from college or adulthood, sometimes years later, to share an update or schedule a session while they’re back in town. That ongoing trust is the clearest sign to me that therapy can be not just a support in crisis, but a grounding presence across life’s different seasons.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about me and about Sonder Therapy Group, it’s this: therapy doesn’t have to feel intimidating or like a last resort. It can be a safe, grounded, and even inspiring space where people grow, heal, and rediscover what they’re capable of. That’s the work we’re honored to do every day.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

For me, the most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been simple but powerful: relationships. This is a relationship-driven field, and no marketing strategy can replace being a quality clinician that people actually want to talk about. Most of my new clients come through direct referrals—either from former or current clients who recommend me to their friends and family, or from other clinicians and psychiatrists who know and trust my work. If you can combine strong clinical skills with a personable presence that makes people feel safe and understood, your name will naturally spread.

The second key has been being willing to show up in the community. Public speaking is an underrated way for therapists to connect with people who may not otherwise seek out mental health services. I’ve spoken in schools, religious institutions, corporate trainings, employee wellness days, and community organizations. Whether the topic is healthy communication skills, conflict management, or strategies for managing anxiety and stress, people are hungry for practical tools they can apply to their daily lives. Speaking engagements not only build credibility, but they also allow people to experience my style and personality before ever stepping into the therapy room.

At Sonder Therapy Group, that combination—deep trust built through relationships, and a willingness to engage the community through education—has been the backbone of our growth.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What’s helped me build my reputation in San Diego’s therapy market is the non-clinical, very genuine way I show up as both a therapist and a person. Let’s be honest, the therapy world sometimes leans into a soft, overly coddling vibe: furrowed brows, drawn-out “mmhmms,” and lots of handholding. That works for some people, but it’s not my style. I bring a more grounded, masculine presence into the room—blending compassion with accountability and encouragement.

I grew up playing sports and I’ve got three brothers, so I learned early on how to be direct, competitive, and supportive all at the same time. I like who I am, and I’m not afraid to bring that authentic self into the therapy office. Clients pick up on that quickly. For a lot of teenage boys and men who might otherwise feel uncomfortable stepping into therapy, that authenticity lowers the guardrails. The awareness that they’re “in therapy” fades quickly, and it just becomes two people having a real conversation, one of whom happens to know a thing or two about healthy living and how to ask the right questions.

That mix of relatability, authenticity, and a straightforward presence has made me one of the first names people think of when they’re looking for a therapist in San Diego for teens or men who might hesitate with more traditional approaches. At Sonder Therapy Group, we take pride in creating a space where people can be themselves without pretense, and I think that reputation is what keeps our clients coming back and spreading the word.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sondertherapysd.com
• Instagram: matt.shows.up
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bishop-lmft/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sonder-therapy-group-san-diego