Matthew Baker

LCSW

One thing that is important to know about working with me is that I deeply respect autonomy, choice, and self determination. Therapy is not about forcing you to do things you are not ready or willing to do. You are the expert on your life, and you ultimately decide the direction and pace of treatment. At the same time, meaningful change often requires stepping outside of familiar comfort zones. My role is to help you do that in a way that feels manageable, purposeful, and aligned with your goals. I will encourage you to face fears, reduce avoidance, and practice new ways of responding to difficult thoughts, emotions, and situations, but we work together to determine what those steps look like. Clients often describe me as warm, supportive, and straightforward. I believe in creating a space where people feel understood while also helping them move toward lasting change. For concerns like OCD, anxiety, health anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, and specific phobias, this sometimes means I may not provide reassurance when reassurance is part of the problem. Instead, I focus on helping people build confidence in their ability to handle uncertainty, tolerate discomfort, and respond differently to fear. My goal is not to help you avoid anxiety or eliminate uncertainty. My goal is to help you develop the skills and confidence to live the life you want, even when uncertainty and discomfort are present.