Meet Matt Roberts of OCD, etc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Roberts.

Hi Matt, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I worked in the music industry for 15 years, in basically every area: production, distribution, sales, and performance. In my mid-30s I was feeling a bit aimless and craving something more meaningful, so I began the long, slow process of entering the mental health field.
In my early 40s, I was working in substance use treatment, assuming this would continue to be my area of focus, but at some point I randomly started working with a client struggling with OCD and tics. Being the diligent therapy nerd that I am, I did my research and found that Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) was the correct course of treatment and I hit the books! I found ERP (and behavioral therapy approaches in general) to be so effective and satisfying that I never went back.
Following a ton of training in ERP, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and general Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT), I felt confident enough to open up my own private practice three years ago and it’s still going strong.
Currently I see clients in person in Los Feliz and via video from my nearby home. About 75% of my clients struggle with OCD or other related disorders (mainly generalized anxiety and social anxiety), but I continue to work with people dealing with other issues like depression, anger management, and relationship struggles.
I’m committed to my connection with the OCD treatment community and I love learning more and getting better at what I do!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, it has been a fairly smooth road. It’s been the first time running my own business, so learning how to do all the business admin alongside staying up on clinical learning has challenged my time management skills! It’s certainly been a long road to get where I am, but I’ve finally found my niche, and I’m really enjoying the independence and the freedom that comes from being my own boss.

As you know, we’re big fans of OCD, etc.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I named my company OCD, etc. because I specialize in treating OCD, but I also wanted to allow for some flexibility in my treatment areas and to have a company name that was a little different than most other therapists’ company names. Frankly, many therapists/therapy companies have pretty bland names and branding, so I am hoping to stand out!
Having worked in music and the arts for years, I know that in addition to my clinical expertise, I have a unique sense of aesthetics, and I hope to bring a new angle on representing myself—through my company name, branding, and the look of my website.
I want to present myself in a way that feels authentic to who I am rather than the usual generic rivers, rocks, and buddhas that flood 90% of therapists’ websites. Along with my practical approach to therapy, my sense of aesthetics, design, and humor are important to me, and I hope that shows through in my website and branding (though the “b word” gives me the ick!)
I have put in many years of training and experience to get where I am in helping people who are struggling with OCD & anxiety. I am really proud of the successes I’ve had working with people and I feel very confident in what I do. But I also feel equally proud of my ability to do this work with a comfortable, conversational style that feels authentic to who I am both in and out of the therapy room.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned along my journey is something I tell many clients about: Sometimes your career path finds you along the way! I felt lost in my 30s, pivoted to a different career, struggled at the beginning to find my niche as a therapist, but as I kept working with different types of people and remained open, at some point it came to me!
Many clients come to me feeling lost in a period of transition in their lives, judging themselves for not finding their ‘thing’—whether it be a career, hobby, or some other life goal. Sure, some people know they want to be a doctor, lawyer, or parent when they’re 13 years old, but many of us discover it along our journey! I want to encourage people to approach life with a sense of curiosity—try many things and see what strikes your fancy. It’s never too late to switch gears, and changing your career, social groups, relationships in your 30s or 40s does not mean you’re a failure. It means you are flexible and able to change.

Pricing:

• $240/50 minute hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ocd-etc.com
• Instagram: @ocdetc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-roberts-lmft-7448051a0
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/matt-roberts-los-angeles-ca/941666

Image Credits
Headshot by Allie Learn
Drawings by Spencer Hicks