Online therapy for gay men navigating anxiety and body image and eating disorders
Individual and group therapy across MA, NY, ME, and FL.
You’re tired of fighting what you see in the mirror.
Life was supposed to get easier by your thirties, and on paper it has: the career, the friends, maybe a partner. But the voice criticizing your body has been there for as long as you can remember, and nothing you've tried has quieted it.
Maybe it was last night, watching your partner's face a half-second too long after you took your shirt off, trying to read whether he was disappointed. Maybe it's the math you run before every meal (calories, macros, whether you've "earned" it) while everyone else at the table just eats.
Being a gay man doesn't just add to this. It's where a lot of it was built. Years of being sized up taught you to see yourself the way you imagined other men would, and you've never fully stopped.
And it spills into everything. You give all you have to the people in your life and still lie awake wondering if it was enough. Even in your most intimate moments, you can't get out of your head long enough to actually be there.
You're not failing at life. You're exhausted from holding it all together, and you know there has to be more than this.
Maybe you’re here because…
You work hard on your body because it feels like the only way to be noticed and wanted.
You show up for everyone else while your own needs keep getting pushed aside.
You reread texts, scanning for signs that someone's pulling away.
You binge in private, then promise yourself you'll "get back on track" tomorrow.
You're surrounded by people and still drive home feeling completely alone.
Your food rules and workout routine are taking over your life.
Hey. I’m Dr. Matt Richardson.
You've spent years trying to change your body. Let's work on why it's felt so necessary.
Body image and eating disorders in gay and bisexual men are rarely talked about, and even more rarely treated as a specialty. I know from personal experience how isolating that can be. It's why I built my practice around this work, and why my doctoral research focused on how gay and bisexual men cope with appearance pressures.
Many of the men I work with look confident and put-together, but inside they're constantly sizing themselves up against other guys. What starts as a focus on health gradually becomes a measure of worth and belonging.
You won't be the first person I've heard describe any of this. Wherever you are in the process, I'm glad you're here.
Specializing in:
If food, your body, and how you look in gay spaces take up more mental space than you'd like, this is where we start.
For gay and bisexual men ready to stop editing themselves to feel safe in relationships, in dating, in everyday life.
For gay and bisexual men navigating anxiety, perfectionism, and the exhaustion of never feeling like they're enough.
Articles on Body Image, Eating Disorders & Gay Men's Mental Health
How to get started
01 - Reach Out
When you're ready, book a free consultation with me. We’ll talk about what you're looking for, I’ll answer your questions, and we’ll get a sense of whether we're a good fit for each other. If it doesn't feel right, I'll share referrals so you can find the right support.
02 - Jump In
Once your intake is scheduled, I’ll send you simple instructions to set up your Sessions Health client portal. You’ll fill out a few forms ahead of time so that when we meet, we can focus on your experiences, the challenges you’ve been carrying, and the future you want to build.
03 - Feel Better
Over time, the constant noise about food, your body, and whether you’re attractive enough starts to quiet down. You compare yourself to other guys less often, and meals or workouts no longer carry so much pressure or guilt. You start to feel more at home in your own skin, more open in relationships, and less burdened by shame.