ERP therapy
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) addresses OCD by pairing planned exposure with practice reducing compulsions. Other anxiety disorders receive diagnosis-appropriate exposure-based care.
Online ERP and PE therapy across California
Online OCD Therapy and ERP in California
When intrusive thoughts, checking, reassurance, or avoidance take over, treatment can help you change the pattern. Whatif Therapy provides ERP for OCD and exposure-based care for anxiety in adults, teens, and children, plus Prolonged Exposure for adults with PTSD.
On the next screen, choose “Initial Consultation - No Charge” to request the free 15-minute consultation.
ERP Therapy for OCD and anxiety PE for PTSD Telehealth in CA Specialized treatment for adults, children and teens
Not typical talk therapy
Exposure based care helps you practice a new response.
The goal is not to erase fear or prove that you are safe. The goal is to help you face fear, doubt, memories, body sensations, and daily triggers while you reduce the habits that keep the cycle alive.
PE therapy
Prolonged Exposure helps with PTSD and trauma related avoidance. You work with memories, places, feelings, and reminders so they take up less space in daily life.
Clear structure
Sessions focus on patterns, goals, practice, review, and next steps. You should know what you are working on and why it matters.
Real life practice
Treatment moves beyond insight. You practice new responses during sessions and between sessions, at a pace that is direct and workable.
Your exposure based therapist in California
Matthew Baker, LCSW
I am Matthew Baker, LCSW, owner of Whatif Therapy and a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (#121926). I specialize in ERP for OCD, exposure-based therapy for anxiety in adults, teens, and children, and Prolonged Exposure for adult PTSD.
My work is structured and hands on. We focus on reducing unhelpful responses, facing hard thoughts and memories, and helping you move toward the life you want.
Serving California
Online therapy from Lakewood to the whole state.
Whatif Therapy is based in Lakewood and provides secure telehealth throughout California, including online OCD and ERP therapy in Los Angeles. Sessions take place while you are physically in California. Explore the California service areas.
What treatment looks like
A clear plan, not open ended guessing.
Treatment starts with assessment and a shared plan. OCD care uses ERP; anxiety care uses tailored exposure-based methods; adult PTSD care may use Prolonged Exposure. Practice and pacing follow your symptoms and goals.
1
Identify the cycle
We look at triggers, intrusive thoughts, memories, feelings, body sensations, avoidance, compulsions, and reassurance seeking. This shows what keeps the problem going.
2
Build the plan
We create a hierarchy, also called a fear ladder. The plan may include exposure, response prevention, SUDS ratings, and practice between sessions.
3
Practice new responses
You face what you have been avoiding and change what you do next. Over time, the urge to escape, check, fix, or seek certainty can weaken.
Conditions treated
Focused care for fear, doubt, panic, and trauma.
Treatment is tailored to the symptoms that keep you stuck. The work is practical, direct, and based on what you want to be able to do again.
OCDERP for intrusive thoughts, rituals, doubt, compulsions, reassurance seeking, and avoidance.
Anxiety disordersExplore treatment for social anxiety, panic, agoraphobia, health anxiety, worry, and phobias.
PTSDLearn about trauma symptoms and structured PTSD treatment with Prolonged Exposure.
View all conditionsUse the complete directory to find the condition or symptom page most relevant to you.
The Goal of Treatment
Less Life Organized Around Avoiding Distress
Treatment is not about eliminating anxiety, uncertainty, intrusive thoughts, difficult emotions, or uncomfortable physical sensations. The goal is to help those experiences take up less space in your life so you can spend more time doing what matters.
Before Treatment
- ✕ Avoiding situations, places, people, or activities that trigger distress
- ✕ Spending hours checking, researching, analyzing, or seeking reassurance
- ✕ Waiting to feel certain, comfortable, or ready before moving forward
- ✕ Letting anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or uncertainty determine your choices
- ✕ Organizing life around avoiding distress
→
Treatment goals
- ✓ Taking action even when anxiety, doubt, or discomfort show up
- ✓ Spending less time checking, researching, and seeking reassurance
- ✓ Making decisions based on what matters rather than what feels safest
- ✓ Trusting your ability to handle uncertainty and difficult emotions
- ✓ Building a life that is less organized around avoiding distress and more organized around what matters
Fees and Insurance
Focused Treatment With Clear Pricing
Therapy appointments are 53-minute sessions. Whatif Therapy offers private pay and is in network with Aetna for eligible plans. Review current rates and benefit-verification steps before scheduling an intake.
Services
Free consultation: 15 minutes
Initial intake: 53-minute session
Individual therapy: 53-minute session
Booster sessions: 53-minute session when clinically appropriate
Treatment is available online for clients located in California.
When related concerns need a different approach
For fear of judgment or avoidance of conversations, explore social anxiety therapy. If tasks never feel good enough to finish, read about perfectionism treatment.
FAQ
Common questions
These answers are brief so you can decide whether to schedule a consultation.
Do you offer online therapy?
Yes. Whatif Therapy provides secure telehealth therapy across California.
What is ERP?
ERP stands for Exposure and Response Prevention. It helps you face triggers while reducing compulsions, avoidance, checking, and reassurance seeking.
What is Prolonged Exposure?
Prolonged Exposure is a structured treatment for PTSD. It helps you process trauma memories and reduce avoidance of reminders, places, feelings, and situations.
Can I screen myself for OCD before reaching out?
Yes. You can use the OCD self-screener to organize symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, compulsions, checking, reassurance seeking, avoidance, and doubt before scheduling a consultation.
Who do you work with?
Matthew treats OCD and anxiety in adults, teens, and children in California. PTSD treatment is offered to adults only.
How do I start?
You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation through the consult button on this page.
Ask about current appointment availability during your consultation.
Ready to take the next step?
Start with a free 15-minute consultation. We will look at fit, goals, and whether this type of treatment makes sense for you.
