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SM Portrait of Suzanne Martinez

Suzanne Martinez

Therapist helping clients build resilience and direction

About Suzanne

Suzanne Martinez focuses on clients seeking practical tools to manage stress, strengthen relationships, and build clearer life direction. With an emphasis on tapping into existing strengths, she helps people clarify goals and develop skills that support psychological growth and day-to-day functioning.

Background and approach

She brings 25 years of clinical experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) working in Illinois. Her background includes independent practice and work in university counseling settings, plus teaching and writing about personal well-being and skill development.

Suzanne pairs a strengths-based stance with evidence-informed techniques to address concerns such as depression, anxiety, relationship strains, grief, trauma, addiction, and challenges related to self-esteem, career, parenting, sleep, and eating. Clients benefit from a collaborative focus on identifying obstacles, learning coping strategies, and creating a clearer vision for life.

Suzanne integrates approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and Existential perspectives to tailor care to each person’s needs while emphasizing growth, resilience, and practical change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care That Fit Your Life

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that reflect their values, making it useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating an accepting, empathic space where people can explore feelings and find their own solutions, which supports self-esteem and relational concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns by teaching practical skills for managing mood, worry, and day-to-day stressors.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Suzanne will work with each person to identify goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, then draw from these evidence-informed approaches to shape a tailored plan. This flexible method allows adjustments over time as needs change and progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for people with busy schedules or limited local options. Video calls let therapists and clients meet face to face from different locations, while phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging provide alternatives when video is not convenient. These formats increase flexibility for scheduling and make it easier to maintain continuity of care across life changes.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Suzanne work with?
She addresses a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, self-esteem, career questions, ADHD, and many related family and life challenges.
What is Suzanne’s therapeutic style and approach?
The approach is strengths-based and collaborative, drawing on methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and existential ideas to help clients set and reach meaningful goals.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 25 years of clinical experience providing therapy, teaching, and writing about skills for personal well-being and psychological growth.
Where is Suzanne licensed and practicing?
She is licensed in Illinois as an LMFT with license number IL LMFT 166000614 and conducts practice in Illinois.
Does she work with clients in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
She offers multiple online formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexible options for engagement.
How are costs and scheduling handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and services are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How does someone begin working with her?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.