Meet Matthew West | Founder & Psychologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew West and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Matthew West, Psychologist & Founder of Boom AI: Transforming College Mental Health Through AI-Powered Student Support

Licensed School Psychologist and EdTech Entrepreneur Discusses Mental Health Crisis on College Campuses and Building Retention Infrastructure for Universities

How does your work as a psychologist and founder of Boom AI help the community?

As a licensed school psychologist with over 15 years of clinical experience, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the mental health crisis on college campuses creates ripple effects throughout our entire society. The statistics are alarming: nearly 40% of college students screen positive for moderate or severe depressive symptoms, yet most won’t seek help until they’re in crisis—if they seek help at all.

The Human Cost of Inadequate Mental Health Support

As both a psychologist and founder of Boom AI, I’ve seen too many capable students lose their educational dreams not because they lack potential, but because they lack timely, accessible mental health support when it matters most. When students drop out, we lose future teachers, doctors, engineers, and community leaders. We perpetuate cycles of economic inequality and leave young people carrying student loan debt without the degree that makes it worthwhile.

How Boom AI Creates Measurable Social Impact

1. Democratizing Mental Health Support for College Students

Traditional campus counseling centers face overwhelming demand—counseling services requests have increased five times faster than student enrollment, with many institutions operating with only one or two clinicians on staff. As a psychologist, I designed Boom AI not to replace human therapists, but to triage, support, and extend their reach through AI-powered mental health tracking.

A first-generation college student experiencing anxiety at 2 AM doesn’t need to wait three weeks for an appointment. Our AI-powered wellness platform provides immediate support while seamlessly connecting students to human resources when needed.

2. Breaking Down Mental Health Stigma Through Technology

There’s still tremendous stigma around seeking mental health support, especially in underserved communities. Students feel embarrassed to ask for help or don’t want to “burden” overworked counselors. By embedding AI-powered wellness support directly into Canvas LMS—the learning management system students already use daily—we remove friction from help-seeking behavior. It’s not “going to therapy”; it’s integrated wellness infrastructure.

3. Proactive Student Retention Through Early Intervention

As a psychologist, I know early intervention is everything for student mental health outcomes. The difference between a student receiving support in week 3 versus week 10 can determine whether they graduate or drop out. Our AI identifies concerning patterns—declining engagement, assignment stress, isolation indicators—and intervenes proactively before students reach crisis levels.

4. Addressing Educational Equity and Systemic Barriers

First-generation students, students of color, and LGBTQ+ students face compounded mental health challenges and often lack support networks. They’re statistically more likely to drop out, not due to capability, but because they lack the safety nets more privileged students take for granted. Boom AI provides 24/7 AI-powered mental health support that doesn’t depend on having parents who understand higher education systems or money for private therapy.

5. Creating Generational Impact Through Student Success

When we help a student stay in school and graduate, we’re not just changing one life. That student goes on to earn more, contribute to their community, serve as a role model for younger siblings, and break generational poverty patterns. Poor retention rates negatively affect university operational budgets and alumni programs long-term—but more importantly, they represent lost human potential.

The Vision: Making Mental Health Support as Accessible as Physical Health

I believe we’re at an inflection point in college mental health. Mental wellness should be as routine and accessible as physical health. You shouldn’t need to be in crisis to receive emotional support. AI-powered platforms allow us to provide preventive, ongoing wellness support at scale.

But here’s what drives my work as both a psychologist and founder: technology alone isn’t the answer. AI is a tool that must be used ethically, thoughtfully, and in service of human connection—not as a replacement. That’s why Boom AI is designed to work alongside campus counseling centers, faculty advisors, and existing student support infrastructure. We’re force multipliers for mental health professionals, not replacements.

The Future of Student Mental Health Support

I envision a world where no student loses their educational dreams because they couldn’t access mental health help when they needed it. Where mental wellness is so normalized that seeking support carries no more stigma than going to the gym. Where universities have the data and AI-powered tools to intervene early, often, and effectively.

This isn’t just good for students—it’s good for families, communities, and society. Education remains the most powerful engine for social mobility we have. Every student we help stay enrolled and thrive is one more person equipped to solve the world’s problems.

What should people know about your journey as a psychologist building an AI-powered mental health platform?

The Unique Positioning of Boom AI

We’re the bridge between wellness and retention that higher education has been missing. Most solutions fall into two categories: expensive human-only mental health services or cold, data-driven early alert systems. Boom AI is different—we use artificial intelligence to provide proactive, empathetic wellness support and predictive student success insights, all embedded within Canvas LMS where students already spend their time.

What makes me proudest as both a psychologist and founder? We’re not replacing human connection, we’re scaling it through AI. Our platform catches students before they reach mental health crisis points, provides immediate support when campus counseling centers are closed, and seamlessly connects them to human clinicians when needed. We’re force multipliers for overwhelmed campus wellness teams.

The Journey: From Clinical Psychologist to EdTech Founder

Easy? Not even close.

I started as a clinical psychologist, watching brilliant students slip through the cracks despite our best efforts. The math was devastating: 40% of students showing depressive symptoms, counseling demand growing 5x faster than enrollment, and one or two clinicians trying to serve thousands of students. Three-week waitlists when students needed help immediately.

The breakthrough came when I stopped thinking like a traditional psychologist and started thinking like a product designer. Students weren’t avoiding mental health help because they didn’t need it—they were avoiding it because we made it too hard. The stigma. The scheduling barriers. The internal calculation of “am I struggling enough to justify this?”

Overcoming Challenges in AI-Powered Mental Health

The biggest hurdle? Convincing stakeholders that AI could handle something as sensitive as student mental health without being cold or dangerous. I spent months running pilot programs, proving our approach with real retention data. We had to earn trust from counseling center directors who’d been disappointed by edtech solutions before.

Technical challenges included building AI that could genuinely understand psychological context and nuance, not just keyword matching. Creating a system that respected student privacy and FERPA compliance while remaining effective. Figuring out Canvas LMS integration without being intrusive to the learning experience.

Honestly? Overcoming my own resistance as a psychologist. I was trained to value the therapeutic relationship above everything. Learning that technology could enhance rather than replace that relationship required unlearning years of professional training.

Key Lessons for Psychologists Entering EdTech

1. Start with the pain point, not the technology. I didn’t build Boom AI because AI was trendy—I built it because college students were suffering and existing mental health solutions weren’t scaling.
2. Data proves skeptics wrong. When campus partners saw improved retention rates and increased counseling center efficiency, philosophical objections disappeared.
3. Partner, don’t compete. We succeed by making mental health counselors more effective, not by replacing them. Once we framed it that way, university doors opened.
4. Students will tell you what they need. Our best features came from the 47 students who shared their mental health stories in early research.

What I Want the World to Know About AI-Powered Student Mental Health

Boom AI isn’t about putting therapy in an app. It’s about recognizing that mental wellness and academic success are inseparable, and giving universities the AI-powered tools to support both at scale.

We’re clinician-founded and evidence-driven. Every decision is grounded in psychological science and validated with real student outcomes. We’re not Silicon Valley entrepreneurs disrupting healthcare, we’re mental health practitioners using AI to extend our clinical reach.

Most importantly: no student should lose their educational dreams because they couldn’t access mental health help when they needed it. That’s not just our mission statement—it’s personal. As a psychologist, I’ve conducted too many exit interviews with talented students who just needed someone to notice they were struggling.

Canvas LMS reaches 30 million students. If Boom AI can help even a fraction stay enrolled, graduate, and thrive? That’s the future of college mental health support I’m building.

If you had a friend visiting Los Angeles, what would you show them as a psychologist who values wellness and mindfulness?

Day 1 – Malibu Mindfulness & Coastal Grounding

Starting at Pepperdine University’s campus, the Pacific Ocean view from Alumni Park still takes my breath away after all these years. Breakfast at Malibu Farm on the pier (the avocado toast lives up to the hype), then El Matador Beach for morning mindfulness. Lunch at Malibu Seafood—order at the counter, eat oceanside, watch surfers. Evening sunset walk along Point Dume. This is where I do my best thinking as both a psychologist and founder.

Day 2 – Wellness & Nature Immersion

Morning hike at Runyon Canyon, yes, it’s popular with tourists, but the views and people-watching are unbeatable for a psychologist observing human behavior. Post-hike recovery at Kreation in West Hollywood (their wellness shots sustained me through my dissertation). Afternoon at The Getty Center, the architecture, gardens, and art. As a psychologist, I learned here that beauty is essential to healing. Dinner at Gjelina in Venice—share everything, especially the Brussels sprouts.

Day 3 – Cultural Diversity & Community

Breakfast burritos at Cofax on Fairfax (coffee shop meets donut shop meets taco spot—very LA). Morning at Grand Central Market downtown, LA’s diversity in culinary form. Visit The Broad museum (free admission, book ahead). Late afternoon in the Arts District, murals, creative energy, breweries. Dinner at Bestia if we snag a reservation, otherwise Bavel. Both life-changing culinary experiences.

Day 4 – Beach Day & Mindful Movement

This is sacred self-care time. Full Santa Monica to Venice Beach experience. Rent bikes, hit the coastal path early. Coffee at Blue Bottle on Abbot Kinney. Lunch at Bay Cities deli (get the Godmother sandwich). Afternoon practicing presence on the sand. As the sun sets, drinks at The Bungalow in Santa Monica. Yes, it’s scene-y, but the vibe is unmatched.

Day 5 – Culture & Community Connection

Brunch at Sqirl in Silver Lake (arrive early, the sorrel rice bowl is legendary). Explore Echo Park Lake and the vibrant neighborhood. Afternoon at The Last Bookstore downtown, nstagram-famous but genuinely magical. Dinner in Koreatown, either Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong for BBQ or Sun Ha Jang for late-night comfort soup. End at a karaoke spot because it’s K-town.

Day 6 – Outdoor Adventure & Reflection

Early drive to Griffith Observatory (beat crowds, catch panoramic views). Hike down through Griffith Park. Lunch at HomeState (Texas comfort food in LA—trust the recommendation). Afternoon: if they’re outdoorsy, Wisdom Tree hike. If not, vintage shopping on Melrose. Dinner at Republique—the pastries alone justify the visit, but stay for dinner. This is where I celebrated finishing my psychology dissertation.

Day 7 – Mindful Send-Off

Slow morning with coffee at Intelligentsia in Silver Lake. Drive Mulholland Drive for breathtaking views. Lunch at Gjusta in Venice (Gjelina’s sister restaurant, equally incredible). Afternoon at Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades—less crowded than The Getty Center, stunning gardens. Farewell dinner wherever they loved most from the week, or trying Nightshade (Vietnamese fine dining that transforms expectations).

Hidden Wellness Gems I Show Fellow Psychologists:

• Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades—peaceful, spiritual, most tourists miss it
• Eaton Canyon Falls hike in Pasadena, easier than Runyon, more rewarding
• The Huntington Library gardens in San Marino, where I wrote half my thesis on student mental health
• Cha Cha Chicken in Santa Monica for Caribbean food on a hidden patio
• Sunset Beach in Malibu, locals only, far less crowded than Zuma

Coffee Shops Where This Psychologist Works:

• Blue Bottle (Arts District or Melrose)
• Go Get Em Tiger (Los Feliz)
• Verve Coffee (West Hollywood)
• Dinosaur Coffee (Silver Lake), where I sketched the first Boom AI wireframes

What Makes LA Special for a Psychologist Building AI Mental Health Solutions:

It’s the collision of cultures, creative energy, and the fact you can surf mornings and hike afternoons. As a psychologist building an AI mental health platform, LA provides access to both the wellness/mindfulness community and the startup ecosystem.

But honestly? It’s the optimism. People come here to reinvent themselves, chase ambitious dreams, and take calculated risks. That energy is contagious. It’s why Boom AI was born here.

Plus, you can’t beat having the ocean 20 minutes away when you need to clear your head and think through complex student mental health challenges.

Who deserves recognition in your journey as a psychologist and founder?

Shoutout to Dr. Prince, My High School Mentor

I want to dedicate this to Dr. Prince, who taught me something crucial that shapes everything about Boom AI’s approach to student mental health:

“The best intervention is the one that actually reaches the person who needs it.”

As a young student interested in psychology, I focused on understanding therapeutic techniques—the “right” clinical approaches, evidence-based protocols. But Dr. Prince showed me that brilliant mental health interventions mean nothing if students never access them. He was ahead of his time, running one of the first text-based crisis lines for college students back in 2012, when everyone thought it was “impersonal.”

He understood what I’m now building Boom AI around: students need mental health support where they are, when they need it, in formats that feel natural to them. Not in an office during business hours. Not after three-week waitlists. Not when they’re already in mental health crisis.

Dr. Prince also taught me to never lose sight of the human being behind the data. When I get excited about our AI’s pattern recognition or predictive accuracy for student success, I hear his voice: “But did it help that student feel less alone?”

Those conversations during my time in Pepperdine’s graduate psychology program, discussing the future of mental health care, planted the seeds for Boom AI. He saw the potential of AI technology to scale compassionate mental health support long before most clinicians were willing to consider it.

Additional Recognition:

• The 47 students who shared their mental health stories in our early research, your courage and honesty shaped everything
• Canvas/Instructure, for building an LMS ecosystem that welcomes innovation in student mental health support

Dr. Prince used to say, “We’re not saving students. We’re removing barriers so they can save themselves.”

That’s what Boom AI is about.

Connect with Matthew West, Psychologist & Boom AI Founder:

• Website: boomai.app
• Instagram: @iammattwest (719K followers)
• LinkedIn:com/in/mattwest3
• Twitter/X: @iam_mattwest