01 · Who Matthew works with

Matthew works with stress, Anxiety, relationship issues and parenting issues

Matthew lists 13 specialisms and 26 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Matthew chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Matthew's own words

What Matthew says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

Are you struggling with anxiety, autistic burnout, depression, dysregulation, or self-criticism? Over a decade, I've worked with hundreds of children, teens, adults, and couples across Arizona and California. As one of the few therapists who holds both an LMFT license and a BCBA certification, I bring a uniquely integrated perspective: I understand both the emotional and behavioral dimensions of challenges like ADHD, autism, burnout, and family conflict. Whether you're a parent navigating a child's diagnosis, an adult managing anxiety or life transitions, or a couple working to rebuild communication - I can help.

As a dual-licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) and Behavior Analyst (BCBA), I provide a rare blend of systemic therapy and behavioral science to help you navigate Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety through online therapy across Arizona and California - including the Phoenix metro area, the Bay Area, and beyond. I specialize in anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum support, trauma, relationship and family therapy, depression, parenting stress, and men's mental health.

My therapeutic approach draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing. I tailor my style to you - warm, direct, and collaborative - because what works for one person doesn't work for everyone. My goal is to meet you where you are and build a path forward together.

Over my 11+ years of clinical experience, I've worked in private practice, nonprofit mental health clinics, and crisis response settings. I've supported individuals, families, and couples dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, anger management, substance use, caregiver stress, and at-risk adolescent behavior. I also have specialized experience working with first responders navigating the unique pressures of their work. Wondering what to expect? We'll start with a collaborative conversation to understand your goals and what's brought you here.

There's no rigid agenda, just honest, focused work at a pace that feels right for you. Many clients tell me they appreciate that I actually listen, adapt, and don't just follow a script. I hold a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and a B.S. in Psychology from San Jose State University. I am licensed as an LMFT in Arizona (AZ LMFT 15945) and California (CA LMFT 131725), and certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BCBA) and licensed as a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Arizona. You can verify my licenses through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

If you're looking for an online therapist in Arizona or California who combines clinical depth with a genuine, human approach - I'd love to work with you.

Matthew Tapia, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · How Matthew works

The 6 approaches Matthew lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Matthew lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Matthew's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Matthew runs a session.

Acceptance and Commitment TherapyACT

Rather than trying to argue a painful thought away, ACT works on loosening its grip and getting on with what matters to you anyway. Sessions spend real time naming your values, then building action around them while difficult feelings are still present.

Client-Centred TherapyPerson-centred · Rogerian

The therapist does not steer toward a technique or a diagnosis. They offer sustained, non-judgemental attention and reflect back what they hear, on the premise that people find their own direction when they are genuinely listened to. Often what people mean by “someone who just gets it”.

Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT

Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.

Dialectical Behaviour TherapyDBT

A structured skills-led adaptation of CBT built around holding two things at once: accepting yourself as you are and working to change. Teaches concrete skills for distress tolerance, emotion regulation and relationships. Developed for people whose feelings arrive at overwhelming intensity, and strongest-evidenced there.

Mindfulness-Based TherapyMBCT

Trains attention on what is happening right now - body, breath, the thought as it arrives - so distress can be observed rather than automatically acted on. Strongest evidence is in preventing depression from recurring, and it is usually taught as a practice you keep doing outside the session.

Motivational InterviewingMI

A way of talking about change with somebody who is genuinely in two minds about it. The therapist does not argue for the change; they help you say your own reasons out loud, which is the part that predicts whether it happens. Common around substance use and health behaviour.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Matthew practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Matthew's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Matthew at this point.

2. Naming Matthew specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Matthew is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Matthew.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

3 questions worth asking Matthew

Built from what Matthew actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Matthew's - Matthew has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “You list both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. Which do you lean on with someone like me?”

  Those two point in different directions - one structured and led by the therapist, the other led by you. The answer tells you what the sessions will actually feel like.

• “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

  Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LMFT

Licensed in

Arizona

Licence

CA LMFT 131725, AZ LMFT 15945

Licence number

131725

Licence expires

31 Mar 2028

NPI

1649794116

Years in practice

11

Gender

Male

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

9 Jun 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Matthew's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Matthew. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.