Trauma Focused, Relational Therapy
Get to know your therapist
My name is Maria Martinez, LMFT (she/her/ella). I’m a Mexican-American Latina, born and raised in San Diego, and I’m deeply passionate about supporting individuals through their healing journeys with care, honesty, and cultural understanding.
As the daughter of immigrant parents, my lived experiences have profoundly shaped who I am—both personally and professionally. I carry the privilege of pursuing higher education not only for myself, but in honor of my parents and the sacrifices they made. Because of this, I hold deep respect for the resilience, strength, and cultural values many individuals and families carry while navigating life’s challenges.
Con ganas reflects a sense of empowerment in our culture—believing in yourself even when the path feels heavy. It means moving forward with heart, intention, and determination. This philosophy guides both my therapeutic approach and the space I create in therapy. I believe healing happens when care is grounded in compassion, intention, and respect for lived experiences, and I’m mindful of how identity, culture, and expectations can shape emotional well-being.
When I’m Not in Therapist Mode…
Outside the therapy room, I’m a proud Disney adult who fully commits to the magic. You’ll usually find me at Disneyland or Universal Studios living my best theme-park life, rewatching Harry Potter, Star Wars, anime, or Studio Ghibli films, and on a constant quest for the perfect iced coffee or matcha (truly a connoisseur at this point). I’m also a big fan of Comic-Con and love anything that lets me lean into my inner nerd. I’m either planning my next concert, cozy movie night, or voluntarily watching horror movies for fun because apparently I enjoy being scared.
I’m big on all things creative and nostalgic—building Lego sets like a kid with adult money, singing or playing guitar, gaming, coloring, and getting lost in shows or books that bring comfort or spark imagination. I’m also a very devoted dog mom to my two fur babies, Cookie (Boston Terrier) and Pepita (pug), who absolutely believe they are the main characters and I just live in their house.
I share these little fun facts because I believe therapy works best when you’re sitting across from someone who feels human and approachable. You don’t have to be perfectly put together here—you can be awkward, nerdy, emotional, funny, or all of the above. My goal is to create a space where you can show up as your full self and move forward with heart and intention… con ganas.
Maria I. Martinez, LMFT
(She/Her/Ella)
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My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive, grounded in systems and family therapy.
I integrate evidence-based practices such as CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness, attachment-based work, and EMDR to support older children(11+), adolescents, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and cultural or generational challenges.
Therapy is collaborative, paced intentionally, and rooted in compassion, safety, and empowerment.
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Bilingual therapist offering services in English and Spanish
Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Alliant International University – San Diego, CA
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, University of Phoenix- San Diego, CA
Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Kaplan College
Extensive experience providing services to children, adolescents, adults, and families across school-based settings, in-home services, and residential/group home environments
Experience supporting individuals with behavioral, mood, and educational challenges
Facilitated daily psychoeducational groups (motivation, social skills, mindfulness, independent living skills) for the at risk youth and families population
Provided one-to-one Foster youth mentoring to support emotional and academic growth
Experience working with diverse populations across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, individuals, and families.
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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California (LMFT #147238)
Trauma-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)
Attachment Based Therapy
Family Systems Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Somatic Therapy Skills when needed
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills when needed
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR). Basic Level Trained 1 & 2
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
The CASE (Chronological Assessment of Suicidal Events) Approach
Skilled in providing crisis intervention when needed.
Mental Health First-Aid
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Taking the first step can feel hard. You’re not alone. I invite you to reach out. I offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit and to answer any questions you may have. You don’t have to have everything figured out—just a willingness to show up for yourself, con ganas.
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”