Published this month, Matt appears in health and science journalist Tessa Miller’s book What Doesn’t Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness–Lessons from a Body in Revolt. Similar to her prior New York Times article “Five Things I Wish I’d Known Before My Chronic Illness,” which also quoted Matt, the book explores Miller’s experience with Crohn’s Disease, as well as examines chronic illness in our culture with contributions by experts like Matt. In particular, Matt discusses how the mental health struggles of those with chronic illnesses can be misunderstood and the crucial role grief can play in coming to terms with chronic illness.

In addition to What Doesn’t Kill You, Matt was also featured in several publications this month, including The New York Times. In “Smokers Might Be Lighting Up More,” Matt responds to the recent plateau in the previously steady decline in smoking. Matt asserts that periods of stress, anxiety, and fear like the pandemic can drive people to revert to familiar habits such as smoking, as well as drinking and unhealthy eating. 

Speaking from his perspective as a couples therapist, Matt focuses on relationships in two articles in Brides. In “Emotional Infidelity: What It Is and How to Address It,” Matt defines emotional infidelity, as well as explains how couples can navigate emotional intimacy outside their relationships. While Matt encourages partners to have close relationships outside of their marriage or partnership, he emphasizes that couples need to decide together what constitutes breaking a boundary and continually check-in with each other about closeness.

In “Do Relationships With Big Age Gaps Actually Work? We Asked the Experts,” Matt describes the challenges of relationships with large age gaps, as well as how differences between partners of varying generations can be sustaining. Ultimately, according to Matt, couples with large age gaps should commit to having direct and honest discussions with each other about any issues that come up. 

Finally, the necessity of having tough conversations is also addressed by Matt in The Cut in regards to adult sibling relationships. Answering a reader’s question about their strained relationship with their sister over finances, Matt suggests adult siblings approach their conflicts head-on by prioritizing curiosity rather than defensiveness.