Meet Your California ERP Telehealth Therapist
Matt Baker, MSW, LCSW # 121926
Matt Baker is a California-licensed Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) specialist for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobias, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Illness Anxiety.
I help people who feel trapped by intrusive thoughts, fear, avoidance, and “what if?” cycles finally find clarity, confidence, and acceptance.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based care. I don’t just teach coping skills — I guide you through a structured process designed to help you change your relationship with fear, build resilience, and regain control of your life. ERP is active, empowering, and measurable, and I tailor each step to your specific goals, values, and daily challenges.
If you’re ready to stop letting OCD or Anxiety Disorders dictate your choices, I’d be honored to walk that journey with you.
Clinical Background
Education and Experience
I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from California State University, Fullerton, where I developed a foundation in social services, case management, and community mental health. I then completed my Master of Social Work (MSW) at California State University, Long Beach, graduating in 2020 with an emphasis in Integrated Health—a program focused on the intersection of mental health, primary care, and evidence-based clinical practice.
I have experience across multiple levels of care, including community and outpatient mental health, and school-based services. My clinical background includes working with youth, transitional-age youth, students, adults and individuals experiencing homelessness, giving me a strong, practical understanding of how mental health challenges show up across diverse populations and life circumstances.
Most recently, I worked for NOCD, a national leader in OCD treatment. There, I completed their intensive ERP Training Academy, receiving specialized education in assessment, treatment planning, and exposure-based interventions for OCD and related disorders. I provided high-frequency telehealth treatment to clients across California, helping them reduce symptoms, decrease compulsions, and build long-term resilience.
Today, I run Whatif, a private-pay telehealth practice dedicated exclusively to evidence-based treatment for OCD, Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Illness Anxiety, Panic Disorder and Specific Phobias. My approach is structured, transparent, and focused on real behavioral change—not passive talk therapy. Clients can expect clear goals, active collaboration, and consistent progress rooted in well-established clinical research.
If you’re looking for therapy that is direct, practical, and grounded in an evidence-based path to lasting improvement, I’m here to help.
On a Personal Note
I’m a cishet Caucasian male who enjoys simple, grounding things outside of work—yoga, hosting dinners, and creating welcoming spaces for people to slow down, connect, and have real conversations. One of my biggest values is fostering community, whether that’s through shared meals, meaningful dialogue, or supporting the people in my life.
My wife Mary Claire and I recently welcomed our daughter into the world. We share our home with our dog, Theo, and our two cats, Layla and Ringo, all of whom keep our days busy, loud, and full of personality.
I genuinely enjoy meeting new people and learning how they navigate their lives—what motivates them, what challenges them, and how they make sense of their experiences. That curiosity guides both my personal relationships and my work as a therapist; I’m drawn to understanding perspectives rather than judging them.
Outside of therapy, I try to live in a way that reflects the values I care about most—community, connection, movement, openness, and staying engaged with the things that make life meaningful.