Family therapy and counseling in Ypsilanti, MI

I’m Derrick Martinez, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker passionate about helping men, teen boys, and couples build stronger connections, confidence, and clarity in their lives. I know how difficult it can feel to carry the weight of expectations, whether it’s navigating identity, balancing relationships, or facing challenges with communication and intimacy. My goal is to create a safe, supportive space where you can be yourself and explore what matters most.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, where I specialized in integrated mental health and substance use. Over the past seven years, I’ve worked in schools, universities, community mental health agencies, and federally qualified health centers, supporting adolescents, young adults, and adults from diverse backgrounds.

I specialize in helping men and teen boys develop emotional insight, self-esteem, and purpose, and I work closely with couples to strengthen intimacy, improve communication, and rebuild trust. Currently, I am advancing my training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy to deepen my work with relationships.

For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals, couples, and families as they work toward healing, growth, and change. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor, and Substance Abuse Professional, I bring both deep clinical knowledge and a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to therapy.

I specialize in helping clients navigate life’s most personal challenges—including relationship and intimacy concerns, life transitions, grief and loss, trauma, and mental health struggles. I also provide substance abuse treatment, DOT/SAP evaluations, and recovery support using evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, the Duluth Model, and the Matrix Model.

I have a special commitment to serving Black communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people living with HIV, re-entry populations, sex workers, and youth facing challenges. I understand how personal, cultural, and systemic factors shape each person’s story, and I create a safe, affirming space where clients feel truly seen and heard.

In our sessions, you can expect a respectful, judgment-free environment where your voice matters. I believe therapy works best as a partnership—we’ll set goals together, explore what’s holding you back, and develop practical strategies you can use in daily life a more fulfilling life. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific issue or simply want to invest in your personal growth, I’m here to help you take that next step.

I have over 20 years of working with diverse populations. I enjoy building relationships with my clients that focuses on your strengths, identify barriers to your goals and help you navigate ways to get to where you want to be. I use an evidence based holistic approach that is client-centered. Whether you’re wanting to focus on your sexual health, addictions, sexual assault, domestic violence, grief, loss, raising children, you name it! I have successfully supported hundreds of folks who want to live their best life on their terms! Give me a call today and you’ll see why clients say, “I'm the BEST at helping you get there!”

In my approach to counseling, I use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focus Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy as the main approaches to counseling. It is important that each client's needs are met through their counseling experience, therefore, counseling is not limited to the above approaches. Biblical principles are also used as an approach to counseling. Counseling will be provided to a diverse population of individuals. Optimum health and healing is possible if you are willing to do the work! Be Willing!

I have been doing this work since 2009 — which means I have sat with a lot of people through a lot of different kinds of hard. I hold a Master's degree in Counseling with a dual focus in professional counseling and marriage and family therapy, and my career has moved through two distinct chapters that have shaped how I practice. The first half was spent in the world of substance use — working with individuals and families where the stakes were high and the complexity was real. The last several years have been in private practice, where I've worked with the full range of human struggle: depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, substance use disorders, parenting stress, and the disorienting moments when life shifts beneath your feet. I work with individuals, couples, and groups. Very few things surprise me at this point — and that's exactly what makes this work feel safe.