Maria Graciela Martinez, MSW, LCSW

(She/Her )
Preferred Name: Maria

EMDR Certified Therapist

EMDR Consultant-in-Training

Online Therapy

About Me

Thank you for being here! It takes a lot of courage to ask for help. Sometimes, all we need is five seconds of bravery… Sometimes, that’s all we have left. Healing requires a leap of faith… A belief, even if it’s small now, that your future self is better than where you are now. If you are ready to take this next step, I have some words for you… Welcome back home to yourself… a self that you faintly recall or a self that you have never known. Through the work we will do together, you will learn that you belong to yourself first. You will learn to walk away from situations that do not work for you, realize when they are not working, and be brave and vulnerable enough to break through rather than avoid… This work is not a bandaid. You will heal; this is not about learning coping skills. Our work is about getting to the root of your feelings, resolving traumas and old dysfunctions, allowing a new you to emerge. Welcome Back…

Education & Experience

After attaining my Bachelors from UC Santa Barbara in 2005, I graduated in 2008 from The University of Southern California (USC) with a Master’s in Social Work. And since then, I have not looked back! I love what I do. I am also fluent in Spanish! Hablo español, y proveo servicios terapéuticos en español también. I have received advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. My favorite therapies to use are EMDR and DBT; I combine them, and they work together beautifully to bring fast relief of symptoms and long-lasting, life-changing results. Even if you do not understand what this means… know that I am very knowledgeable in tools that will bring relief and long-term healing in your life.

Specialty Area

  • Anxiety/Panic Attacks
  • Birth Trauma/Pregnancy Loss
  • Depression
  • Dissociative Disorders
  • Domestic Violence
  • Mood Disorders
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Race, Culture, Ethnicity Issues
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Stress Management

Population Served

  • Adolescents (13-17)
  • Adults
  • Immigrants

Language

  • English
  • Spanish