Therapist profile
Matthew Tapia, LMFT
Licensed MFT - Relationships and Parenting
Continue with MatthewAbout
- ACT informed
- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness practice
About Matthew
Matthew Tapia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensed in Arizona and California with 11 years of clinical experience. He focuses on concerns often tied to home life, including stress, parenting, relationship strains, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma and abuse. Matthew works with adults who want clearer communication, better coping skills, or relief from ongoing tension at home.
He prefers a straightforward, collaborative approach in sessions. Clients can expect practical skills drawn from cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness to manage distressing thoughts and emotions. Matthew also uses strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help people respond differently to intense feelings.
His background includes direct counseling work across private practice and nonprofit mental health settings. That work exposed him to a wide range of issues such as blended family challenges, fatherhood concerns, caregiver stress, and disruptions following divorce or separation. He has experience supporting people dealing with autism, Asperger syndrome, substance use concerns, and at-risk adolescent behavior through his clinical roles.
Matthew holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Jose State University. He also has Board Certified Behavior Analyst credentials and worked as a licensed behavior analyst in Arizona earlier in his career.
In sessions he focuses on concrete goals: improving communication, reducing reactivity, and building routines that fit day-to-day life. He aims to work together with clients to identify small changes that can ease family tension and improve functioning over time.
How sessions work
How Matthew’s approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings and choose actions that align with what matters to them. It can be useful for ongoing stress, parenting strain, and when values feel unclear. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT often helps with anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Mindfulness therapy builds simple attention and grounding skills to reduce reactivity and increase present-moment noticing during tense family interactions.Finding the right mix of these methods is part of the work. Matthew approaches this collaboratively, discussing goals and preferences and adjusting techniques over time. Clients and therapist decide together whether to emphasize skill practice, values-based action, or emotion regulation skills based on immediate needs.
The therapist's profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm the available online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and remove the need to travel. They also let people practice new communication or parenting skills in the context of their daily routines. Ask about the current session formats when you schedule so the approach matches your practical needs.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
California, Arizona
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with at home?
He helps with stress, parenting challenges, relationship conflict, anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma and related family issues.
How would you describe his therapy style?
He uses a collaborative, practical approach that combines behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and acceptance-based strategies to address daily problems.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 11 years of experience working in private practice and nonprofit mental health settings supporting a broad range of concerns.
What credentials and location does he hold?
He is an LMFT licensed in Arizona and California and practices from Arizona.
Does he offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and he is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not list specific session formats; confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.