Cindy Martinez, LCSW-S

I am a licensed clinical social worker located in Houston, TX. I received my Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. I have worked as a case manager in a non-profit for the homeless population providing services and individualized therapy. I have also worked for a psychiatric hospital providing inpatient group therapy. I have provided teletherapy for a little over four years and because of this I believe that teletherapy can be effective in connecting as much as in person therapy.
In my free time, I enjoy anything science fiction, fantasy related, meaning I like to read it, watch it, and play it! When I’m not doing these things, I’m spending time with my family and friends.

I approach therapy from a strengths-based perspective, integrating psychoeducation to empower you in your journey. As your therapist, my role is to guide you, which may involve equipping you with new tools or supporting deeper self-exploration—tailoring our sessions to meet your unique needs because therapy isn't one-size-fits-all. While therapy can be a gradual process, it is also immensely rewarding. Throughout our work together, I aim to help you reframe your progress, self-perception, and life challenges to sustain motivation and bolster self-confidence.

Central to my practice is building a trusting relationship and cultivating a safe, non-judgmental space where you can freely express yourself. I achieve this by authentically engaging with you, staying open-minded, and showing genuine curiosity about your experiences. It's crucial to me that our therapeutic relationship not only supports you in achieving your goals but also serves as a model of a healthy relationship.

Ultimately, I aspire to create a positive therapeutic experience where you can discover the strength in vulnerability firsthand, fostering empowerment and growth.
In our initial session, I aim to understand what has led you to seek therapy, your current experiences, and your expectations and goals for our work together. This conversation helps us explore how I can best support you in achieving those goals. Following this, I structure subsequent sessions to begin with a "check-in," allowing space to discuss anything that may have arisen between sessions and to process those experiences. We then move into the core of our sessions, focusing on the work aligned with your goals. Finally, we conclude by discussing self-care strategies, which we'll also address early on.

While I prefer a structured approach, I am flexible and adapt our sessions as needed to ensure they meet your evolving needs. If you're uncertain about your therapy goals or expectations, that's completely understandable, and I'm here to assist you every step of the way in your journey.

A bit about myself: I come from a family of immigrants, and I am the first generation born in America. Spanish was my first language, though I stopped speaking it regularly when I began school. While I can read, write, understand, and speak Spanish proficiently, I do not offer therapy sessions in Spanish due to language barriers. I share this to highlight my multicultural background, which adds perspective, particularly for those from Hispanic/Latinx backgrounds navigating mental health challenges. I aim to reduce the stigma of mental health within the Hispanic/Latinx community and provide a welcoming space where cultural identity is respected and embraced.

I hope you'll consider taking the next step in beginning therapy with me, and I look forward to the opportunity to connect with you and support you on your journey.