Heather Martinell

I'm Heather, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience supporting people through some of the hardest chapters of their lives. My background is in child welfare and community-based work in the Inland Empire — which means I've sat with real, complex pain, not just textbook versions of it. I specialize in trauma, PTSD, anxiety, grief, domestic violence, and women's issues. I'm also a trained advocate for survivors of domestic violence. I work with adults across California via telehealth, and I accept Aetna, Cigna, Carelon Behavioral Health, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, and Providence Health Plan, as well as an $85 self-pay rate.

My approach is trauma-informed and strength-based at its core — which means I start from the belief that you're more capable than your hardest moments suggest. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT to help you understand how your past is showing up in your present, and to build practical tools for changing that. I also pay close attention to the whole picture: your relationships, your community, your culture. Healing doesn't happen in a vacuum, and I won't treat it like it does. My style is warm, direct, and culturally sensitive — I'll be real with you, and I'll always follow your lead.

Our first session is a conversation, not an interrogation. I'll ask what brought you in, a little about your history, and what you're hoping to get out of this. You don't need to have it figured out before we start — we'll figure it out together. You'll also have time to ask me anything. By the end, you'll have a clear sense of what working together looks like and whether it feels like the right fit. Most people leave that first session feeling a little lighter just from being heard.