Monica Martinez, LMFT

In my 17 years of experience as a Marriage and Family Therapist, I have had the opportunity to work with underserved families impacted by interpersonal trauma. Through my various positions in community mental health agencies, I witnessed first-hand how challenging it can be for clients to access and navigate mental health services. I became quickly aware of the importance of advocacy in ensuring my client’s needs were met and most importantly that they felt seen, heard and understood. With the belief that there are many paths towards healing, I also managed a retreat research project at Joyful Heart Foundation with the guidance of Dr. Mary Ann Dutton, lead researcher in trauma at Georgetown University. The research evaluated the effectiveness of a survivor retreat program in reducing stress-related trauma and improving well-being utilizing holistic practices as a secondary response to healing in comparison to mainstream mental health practices. These experiences enriched my therapeutic practice leading me to adopt a whole-person centered approach. In partnering with clients to achieve wellness it is important to keep their body, mind, and spirit at the forefront of the therapeutic work as they each person is unique in their lived experience.