Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Sosnowsky.
Hi Matt, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I spent most of my 20s working in finance after studying business at Penn State, but I knew early on it wasn’t the right long-term fit. Volunteering with a suicide & crisis hotline changed the course of my life. They taught us the art of active listening and empathy, which runs counter to the instinct to jump in with advice when someone is in pain. That experience pointed me toward a career as a psychotherapist.
I went on to complete two graduate programs at the University of Pennsylvania: the Master of Applied Positive Psychology—the only program of its kind about the science of well-being—and the Master of Social Work. The MAPP program was a pursuit of passion; I’ve always been drawn to questions about happiness and what makes a good life. My MSW taught me about clinical psychology and treatment, while providing me with the credentials to practice as a licensed clinician.
For the next 15 years I practiced therapy across agencies and group practices. In 2020, I opened my private practice Philadelphia Talk Therapy, where I work with adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s navigating anxiety, burnout, the stressors of adult life (career, relationships, parenting, money), and acute issues like depression, OCD, and grief.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Transitioning out of finance meant starting over—my first role was as a case manager working with the severely mentally ill, which was both emotionally demanding and came with a significant pay cut. Graduate school was expensive, adding financial pressure that was compounded by being out of the workforce. And the first several years after school were also tough, as therapists need to gain 2000 hours of supervised clinical hours—again, challenging work at low pay. That said, I love what I do and this path made me the professional I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of Philadelphia Talk Therapy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Philadelphia Talk Therapy is a boutique private practice based in Center City Philadelphia. I work with adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s — people who are often outwardly successful but struggling internally with anxiety, burnout, depression, career stress, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. I also have a particular focus on men’s mental health, working with professional men who may be coming to therapy for the first time.
What sets my practice apart is the combination of clinical training and a background in positive psychology. Most therapy focuses on reducing symptoms — and that matters — but I’m equally interested in helping clients build toward something: more meaning, more confidence, better relationships, a life that actually feels like theirs.
I’m also proud of the profile the practice has built. Philadelphia Talk Therapy has been featured in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Oprah Daily, Self Magazine, HuffPost, and VeryWell Mind—recognition that reflects a commitment to being a credible, thoughtful voice in the mental health space.
I see clients in person in Philadelphia and virtually throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Washington State.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
The author Daniel Pink identified three criteria for career satisfaction—mastery, autonomy and purpose. I think about these a lot and often measure my success in these terms. Am I constantly getting better at my craft? Am I charting my own course? And is what I’m doing meaningful—is it helping people? If I can answer yes to most of these questions, most of the time, I consider myself successful
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.philatalktherapy.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556700942725
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-sosnowsky-689baa82/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odhKgQYiOTk
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/matt-sosnowsky-philadelphia-pa/181814
