Are you looking for therapy in Raleigh, North Carolina?
About Me
I’m Dr. Matthew Mandelbaum. With over 20 years of experience in helping others and as a licensed psychologist, I’ve dedicated my career to supporting highly sensitive and intelligent individuals. My work spans 43 states, helping professionals, students, and families navigate complex emotional landscapes to find clarity and strength.
My mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy that empowers you to overcome personal challenges and build a more authentic, fulfilling life. I believe that with the right support, past struggles can become sources of wisdom. Through my virtual practice, I am able to offer clients in Raleigh, NC, the same depth of care and personalized attention that they would receive in person, right from the comfort of their own space.
Why Raleigh’s Growth Is Changing Mental Health Needs
Raleigh is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, known for its vibrant culture, booming tech scene, and expanding opportunities. But with this rapid growth come unique pressures. Career transitions, housing changes, academic demands, and community shifts can create a sense of instability and stress. These challenges often lead people to seek therapy as a way to find their footing and regain a sense of balance. For busy professionals, students, and families juggling the demands of modern life in a thriving city, virtual therapy sessions offer a practical and powerful solution. It provides the support you need without adding another commute to your already packed schedule.
Photo by Higgins Spooner on Unsplash
Therapy in Raleigh: What People Are Struggling With Right Now
In a dynamic environment like Raleigh, it’s common to feel the weight of expectation and change. My role is to help you navigate these challenges with tools grounded in empathy and evidence-based practice.
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- Managing Anxiety & Mood Disorders: The fast pace of city life can heighten feelings of anxiety or contribute to mood fluctuations. My DBT-informed approach provides concrete skills for regulating emotions and finding calm amidst the noise.
- Relationship Issues & Family Conflict: Stress and transition can amplify friction at home. I help individuals and families improve communication, set healthy boundaries, and reconnect in meaningful ways.
- Identity Exploration & Personal Growth: For young adults, newcomers, and anyone at a crossroads, Raleigh offers a fresh start. Therapy provides a confidential space to explore who you are and who you want to become.
- Workplace Pressure & Burnout: Raleigh’s thriving tech, healthcare, law, and education sectors demand high performance, often leading to burnout. I support professionals in managing stress, redefining success, and creating a sustainable work-life balance.
- Trauma, Depression, and Old Patterns: New stressors can cause old wounds, depressive symptoms, or unhelpful patterns to resurface. My trauma-informed care is designed to help you process these experiences safely and build resilience.
- Behavioral Issues and Emotional Regulation: When emotions feel overwhelming, it can be difficult to respond to situations constructively. We work together to understand your triggers and develop effective strategies for managing your reactions.
- Eating Disorder & Body Image Concerns: In a culture that often emphasizes performance and appearance, it’s easy to develop a difficult relationship with food and your body. I offer compassionate support to help you heal and find peace.
Why Virtual Therapy Works So Well for Raleigh Residents
Behavioral Health Support Without the Commute
Navigating Raleigh’s traffic, finding parking, and managing an unpredictable schedule can be significant barriers to consistent therapy. Online sessions remove these obstacles, making it easier to prioritize your mental health without adding more stress to your day. You can attend your appointment from your office, home, or any private space with an internet connection.
A Supportive Space Wherever You Are
Many people find they can open up more freely from the comfort and privacy of their own environment. A familiar setting can help reduce the anxiety that sometimes comes with starting therapy. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, we can create a stable, confidential space for the deep, transformative work you’re ready to do.
Virtual Therapy vs. In-Person Therapy
While in-person therapy has its benefits, virtual sessions offer unmatched privacy, flexibility, and accessibility. Modern telepsychology platforms are secure and designed to foster a strong therapeutic connection. This format allows us to focus deeply on your emotions, thoughts, and patterns, ensuring you receive high-quality, personalized care that fits your life.
My Therapeutic Approach and How It Helps You Grow
My work is rooted in personalized, trauma-informed clinical mental health counseling. I draw from years in the mental health field to offer mental health services that feel both practical and deeply supportive. By integrating Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into online therapy sessions, I help you build skills you can use in daily life, no matter what challenges you’re facing. This approach allows me to provide therapy that honors your personal experience, your life experiences, and the goals you bring into our work together.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy at Groundbreaker Therapy is a true one-on-one space where you can slow down, breathe, and be fully heard. Using DBT and other evidence-based tools, I help you regulate intense emotions, eliminate anxiety, and better manage symptoms tied to trauma, depression, or other forms of mental illness.
As a licensed mental health professional, I focus on creating a plan that fits your needs—not a generic template. Every session is tailored to your background, values, and pace. This is private practice care grounded in a deep understanding of who you are and where you want to go.
Whether you’re a new client seeking therapy for the first time or returning to counseling after past experiences, we’ll work together to identify what’s standing in your way and find solutions that support real progress.
Family Therapy
Family therapy gives you a supportive structure to address conflict, rebuild trust, and strengthen the relationships that matter most. Families often reach out during stressful transitions or when communication begins to break down. I help you understand the emotional patterns underneath those moments so you can work together more effectively.
My background in the mental health field allows me to guide families through complex dynamics with clarity and care. We’ll focus on building healthier ways to express needs, navigate tension, and create a more stable environment at home. This form of counseling provides support not only for the immediate issue but also for long-term connection and resilience.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is a chance to reconnect, repair, and grow—whether you’re seeking more clarity, more emotional safety, or simply a better way to talk to each other. I help partners reduce reactivity, enhance communication, and rebuild trust through intentional, guided conversations.
Virtual sessions make it easier for busy couples to show up consistently, and many find that online therapy helps them open up in a more relaxed setting. My goal is to provide therapy that helps each person feel understood while also strengthening the relationship as a whole. Step by step, we work toward healthier patterns and a more secure partnership.
Additional Therapeutic Support When Needed
Although many clients start with individual, couples, or family counseling, I also offer support in areas such as group therapy, sex therapy, and play therapy for age-appropriate cases. As a private practice that works with a wide range of mental health needs, I collaborate with therapists across the field—including licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) colleagues and LCAS-A providers—when multidisciplinary support is beneficial.
I accept both in network and out of network insurance plans, making care more accessible for people ready to begin.
I also offer specialized support for:
- Trauma and C-PTSD
- Depression
- Eating disorder recovery
- Women’s issues
- Life transitions
- Anger management
- Identity exploration
- Behavioral issues
Raleigh Mental Health Care Resources
Raleigh has a growing network of organizations that support mental health from many different angles. Not everyone is ready for counseling right away, and some people simply need information, a place to talk, or immediate crisis support. Others may be looking for practical help with housing, finances, or recovery programs that connect to their emotional well-being.
These resources can complement online therapy, offer guidance between sessions, or serve as a starting point if you’re not sure where to begin. Here are ten trusted, non-therapist options available to Raleigh residents:
Resource |
Type of Support |
What They Offer |
How It Helps Raleigh Residents |
Website / Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NAMI North Carolina |
Education, peer support, advocacy |
Free support groups, classes, statewide helpline |
Helps individuals and families understand mental illness and find community support |
|
|
Monarch Behavioral Health Urgent Care – Raleigh |
Crisis/urgent care |
Walk-in stabilization, crisis assessment, referrals |
A safe option for immediate behavioral health needs without going to the ER |
|
|
Alliance Health (Wake County) |
Managed care organization (MCO) |
Assistance accessing Medicaid-based mental health, IDD, and substance use resources |
Helps residents understand coverage, benefits, and available community services |
|
|
HopeLine NC |
Emotional-support hotline |
Confidential listening line staffed by trained volunteers |
A supportive option for people needing someone to talk to without committing to therapy |
https://hopeline-nc.org • 919-231-4525 |
|
North Carolina 988 Crisis Line |
Crisis intervention |
Suicide prevention, de-escalation, mobile crisis referral |
Quickly connects people experiencing intense distress with trained crisis counselors |
Call/text 988 |
|
Triangle Family Services (TFS) |
Community support & stabilization |
Housing assistance, financial counseling, domestic violence support |
Helps individuals and families in crisis stabilize their life circumstances |
|
|
Wake County Crisis and Assessment Services |
Local county crisis support |
Crisis assessments, referrals, mobile response |
Offers county-level support for urgent mental health needs |
https://www.wakemed.org/care-and-services/mental-health-well-being |
|
Healing Transitions (Raleigh) |
Addiction recovery support |
Long-term peer-led recovery programs, detox support |
Helps people experiencing addiction find structure, community, and a path forward |
|
|
The Hope Center at Pullen |
Youth & young adult support |
Housing support, life skills, mentoring for ages 13–26 |
Helps young people facing homelessness or instability build a foundation for well-being |
How Virtual Therapy Saves You Time, Money, and Stress
Understanding Therapy Cost and Insurance Plan Options
My practice is a private-pay service, which ensures the highest level of confidentiality and flexibility, free from the constraints of insurance networks. Many clients receive significant reimbursement (often 50-80%) from their insurance providers for out-of-network services. I provide all the necessary documentation to make this process simple for you.
Creating Real Progress Without Rearranging Your Entire Day
Virtual sessions allow you to schedule therapy around your life—not the other way around. Whether it’s during a lunch break, between classes, or after the kids are in bed, this flexibility makes it easier to stay consistent. Consistency is key to making meaningful and lasting progress in therapy.
What Your First Appointment Looks Like
Your first session is a warm, non-judgmental space for us to get to know one another. We will gently explore what brought you to therapy, discuss your goals, and begin identifying your emotional needs. It’s an opportunity for you to ask questions and for us to start building the trust that is essential for our work together. My aim is to create a supportive environment from the very first moment, so you feel safe and understood.
How I Help People Break Old Patterns and Move Forward
The heart of my work is guiding you toward your authentic self. Together, we identify and dismantle the internal barriers and old patterns that hold you back. By healing emotional wounds and developing new coping skills, you can manage daily life with greater ease and create meaningful, lasting change. My goal is to help you move from a place of struggle to one of confidence, clarity, and genuine well-being.
Who I Work With in Raleigh and Across NC
Virtual therapy allows me to connect with and support a diverse range of individuals exactly where they are. I frequently work with:
- Professionals in tech, law, business, healthcare, and education facing burnout and stress.
- University students and emerging adults navigating academic pressures and life transitions.
- Creatives and artists exploring their identity and purpose.
- Parents balancing family needs with their own personal growth.
- Individuals working through relationship issues, trauma, and emotional challenges.
When You Should Consider Reaching Out
It’s time to consider therapy if you find yourself:
- Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or stuck.
- Struggling to regulate your emotions.
- Recognizing that old, unhelpful patterns are repeating.
- Experiencing persistent feelings of depression or anxiety.
- Navigating a significant life transition.
- Facing behavioral issues that disrupt your daily life.
- Needing a supportive space to explore your identity or emotions.
- Wanting to make real progress, not just find surface-level fixes.
Reaching out is a sign of strength and self-awareness.
How to Get Started With Virtual Therapy at Groundbreaker Therapy
Taking the first step is simple. You can begin your journey by filling out the consultation form on my website. I will personally reach out to you to discuss your needs and find a time that works for your schedule. While I am an out-of-network provider, I can guide you on how to check your insurance plan for reimbursement benefits.
You don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. When you’re ready, I’m here to offer the support and guidance you need to move forward with confidence.