Patricia Martinez

I began my career in mental health back in 2003, working in a behavioral health inpatient facility. I then earned my Master's degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family counseling. In practice, I quickly noticed how much attachment wounds, trauma, judgment, and stress played a part in relationship and functional challenges. In response, I learned as much as I could in working with trauma, complex trauma, chronic pain, self-harm/suicidal behaviors, addictions, conduct and mood disorders, and many more "diagnoses."

I believe therapy should offer an integration of approaches that can be built into a very individualized treatment. Approaches I believe are necessary are:

• Holistic
• Humanistic
• Experiential
• Person-centered, and
• Trauma-informed

Many domains and factors influence our overall health, including needs, self-value, experience, validation of experiences, and a safe connection that allows for reflection and growth.

I chose the route of neuroscience, learning about mind-body connections in response to "triggers." So, in my work, I utilize neuroscience as part of education, emotion-focused, somatic-focused, non-jugdmental, compassion-focused approaches to developing safety, regulation, and while rewiring pathways that are no longer useful.

I want to acknowledge first that I am a stranger and never expect anyone to fully trust me on our first meeting. That being said, I honor and respect where everyone is in their journey and prefer to model earning trust. During the first session, we engage in a biopsychosocial assessment. We explore biological, psychological, and social functioning impacted by the concerns and collaborate on priorities and treatment together.