Josephine Martinez

Hi! Thank you for taking the time to read a bit about me! Finding a good fit in a counselor, to share your ups and downs with, is an essential component of feeling positive about your counseling experience. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois with over 25 years of experience. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University. I have extensive experience working with clients, experiencing a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting struggles and challenging life transitions. I also have experience working with people in areas of motivation, decision making, career changes and professional development and leadership. My counseling style is collaborative, direct and compassionate. I enjoy working with people, to provide a comfortable and safe space to talk, so that you can be authentic, feel heard, overcome challenges and discover your strengths. In my experience, the openness and trust built between counselor and client is the key to feeling like you can fully be yourself and share openly, without fear of judgement or negative impact on your personal relationships. I see the counselor/client relationship as a team, in which honest communication builds confidence and empowers you, to face difficult circumstances or feelings. There are no two people exactly alike. I believe everyone is unique, valuable and amazing, just by being you! Because of that, there is no “one size fits all” type of therapy. I apply an integrative therapy approach, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) , Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Solution Focused Therapy to help clients work through their current rough spots. I am also well versed in other therapeutic styles and I am flexible to work together to meet your unique qualities and personality. Your preferred pace, comfort level and feed back will be respected. That is the best part about therapy. It is all about you! It’s a place where you can talk about you, your thoughts, your feelings, your fears, your accomplishments and whatever comes to mind and know that you will be listened to with respect and sensitivity. It takes courage to face tough things in life and to ask for help. Starting counseling can be a big leap into the unknown. I hope that you will give yourself a chance to experience the support and positive growth that you can gain from counseling. I would be honored to work together, as you take the next step!