ERP Therapist for OCD and Anxiety in California
Your OCD & Anxiety Specialist
I’m Matthew Baker, a California-licensed clinical social worker who works with adults, teens, and children struggling with OCD and anxiety-related conditions using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—the most well-supported treatment for these conditions.
I work with people who feel stuck in cycles of worry, checking, avoidance, or mental loops that don’t seem to resolve—no matter how much effort they put into thinking their way out of them. Anxiety can quietly take over a lot of mental space and energy, even when life looks “fine” on the outside. My role is to help you change how you respond to fear and uncertainty so they have less control over your life.
ERP is the foundation of my work, but therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. When helpful, I integrate evidence-based approaches such as Behavioral Activation (BA), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Habit Reversal Training (HRT) for body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and Prolonged Exposure (PE) for co-occurring PTSD. These tools can support momentum and follow-through when hesitation, low motivation, or overlapping conditions make change more difficult.
I aim to create a space that is grounded, respectful, and non-judgmental. I’m genuinely curious about how your mind works and how your experiences fit together. While many people with anxiety share common patterns, your experience is unique and deserves to be understood on its own terms.
My approach is collaborative and structured. ERP is active, and progress happens through practice not just insight. I’ll help you move at a thoughtful, manageable pace while also encouraging you to gently stretch outside your comfort zone. Change is uncomfortable by nature, and you don’t have to do it alone.
I don’t just offer coping strategies to get through anxious moments. I guide you through a clear, step-by-step process designed to help you face fear rather than organize your life around it, so you can spend less time managing anxiety and more time living in line with what matters to you.
Credentials, Experience, and Affiliations
- M.S.W., California State University, Long Beach
- California Licensed Clinical Social Worker #121926
- NOCD Academy — Specialized ERP Training
- Professional Member, International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
- Professional Member, Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA)
- Professional Member & Listed Clinician at Psychology Today
- Fully Insured • HIPAA-Compliant Telehealth
On a Personal Note
Outside of my work as a therapist, I’m a proud husband and father. I’ve always been an extrovert, though these days I’ve grown to appreciate a quieter, more home-centered life and time with my family. Over the years, my interests have ranged widely—video games, reading, yoga, cycling, soap making, cooking, coin collecting, gardening, publishing children’s books, and (unironically) baking.
People often tell me they feel comfortable talking with me quickly, which is one of the things I value most about this work. I’m naturally curious about people—how they think, what matters to them, and how they move through the world. I care deeply about connection, relationships, community, and simple living, and I try to bring that same sense of warmth, authenticity, and presence into the spaces I create with others.
