Ali Mattu, M.A., is a Clinical Psychology Intern at the NYU Child Study Center. Mr. Mattu specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders and body-focused repetitive behaviors such as trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) and skin-picking. He has specialized training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. Mr. Mattu's research focuses on trichotillomania. His dissertation studied the developmental course of trichotillomania. Currently, he is evaluating the efficacy of a comprehensive behavioral treatment for trichotillomania.

Mr. Mattu received his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles where he majored in psychology and minored in Asian American studies. He is a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at The Catholic University of American in Washington, D.C. and is expected to graduate in June 2012.

Prior to beginning his internship Mr. Mattu worked as a therapist providing individual and group therapy at various other treatment facilities including the Columbia University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington, Georgetown University Counseling and Psychiatric Service, and the Semel Institute for Neuroscience at UCLA.

Mr. Mattu has presented at several professional organizations including the American Psychological Association, the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation, the National Conference on Trichotillomania and Skin Picking, and the Eastern Psychological Association. Mr. Mattu serves as the Chair of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students and is a 2012 member of the Board of Directors of the American Psychological Association. Mr. Mattu is also a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, the Trichotillomania Learning Center, and the International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Foundation.