Matthew Tapia

I’m Matthew “Matt” Tapia, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) offering online therapy in Arizona and California. I specialize in neurodivergent-affirming care for autistic people and people with ADHD. I also help clients navigate anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, relationship concerns, and caregiver stress.

If daily demands leave you overwhelmed, misunderstood, or unsure where to begin, we can start with what matters most to you. My style is warm, practical, and collaborative, with room to explore your experiences and develop skills you can use in everyday life.

I work with children, teens, adults, and families. I hold a Master of Arts from Santa Clara University and am also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). My background in family therapy and behavioral science helps me understand how emotions, relationships, daily routines, and your environment influence one another.

Together, we can work on managing strong emotions, communicating your needs, strengthening relationships, and creating routines that fit your life. Therapy respects your communication preferences, sensory needs, strengths, and personal goals.

All sessions take place through secure telehealth. I accept insurance through Headway, where you can check your coverage and view available appointments.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, practical, and grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). We’ll explore how you respond to difficult thoughts and feelings, clarify what matters to you, and practice manageable steps toward your goals.

I also draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing. Depending on your needs, we might work on anxious thought patterns, coping with strong emotions, setting boundaries, improving communication, or building sustainable daily routines.

My training as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst adds another perspective: understanding what contributes to recurring patterns and how changes in your environment can support you. We choose strategies together and regularly review whether they are helping.

For autistic clients and clients with ADHD, I adapt therapy to communication preferences, sensory needs, and executive functioning differences, such as difficulty starting tasks or organizing daily demands. With children, teens, and families, we consider developmental needs and caregiver involvement.

Your priorities guide our work. I welcome feedback so we can adjust our approach as your needs change.

Your first therapy session is an opportunity to get to know each other, discuss what brings you to therapy, and consider whether we’re a good fit. You don’t need perfect words or a complete understanding of what’s wrong to begin.

We’ll talk about your current concerns, relevant background, strengths, and what you hope will change. I’ll ask about your needs and preferences, including anything that could make online therapy more comfortable or accessible.

I’ll explain how I work and review informed consent, confidentiality and its limits, and what to expect from telehealth sessions. You’ll have time to ask questions, and we can approach sensitive topics at a manageable pace.

For children and teens, we’ll discuss caregiver participation and age-appropriate privacy. Together, we’ll identify initial goals, discuss next steps, and decide how we’ll assess progress.

My aim is for you to leave with a clearer understanding of our work together and a starting point that feels relevant to your life.