Suzanne Martinez

Compassionate therapist focused on practical growth

LMFT Illinois

Experience: 25 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Suzanne

Suzanne Martinez is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of professional experience practicing in Illinois. She works from a strengths-based perspective, helping people clarify goals, build practical skills, and move past obstacles that interfere with daily functioning and relationships.

Background and approach

Her background includes teaching and writing about personal well-being and psychological growth, and she has supported clients with concerns such as depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma, grief, and a broad range of life stressors.

In sessions she draws on evidence-informed methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), and Existential Therapy to tailor care to each person’s needs.

Suzanne’s scope also encompasses issues like addiction, parenting and family difficulties, ADHD, and intimacy-related struggles, as well as specialized topics such as adoption and foster care, attachment and blended family issues, caregiver stress, and forgiveness work.

She practices in Illinois and integrates her clinical experience with practical coaching to help clients develop a clearer vision for the future and sustainable coping strategies.

Online Approaches That Help You Build Skills and Meaning

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and habits and replacing them with practical strategies to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning; it is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating concerns, and coping with life changes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) blends acceptance strategies with values-driven action, helping people notice internal experiences while committing to meaningful behaviors, which can support work on stress, grief, and long-term change. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist follows the client's lead to foster insight and self-directed growth, useful for self-esteem, relationship, and identity work.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Suzanne collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their needs and goals, blending techniques from different models as appropriate so treatment aligns with personal preferences and practical aims.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage in this work through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to schedule sessions around work and family responsibilities, maintain continuity during life transitions, and choose the format that best supports how someone prefers to communicate while pursuing their goals with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What types of concerns can Suzanne help with?

She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, self-esteem, career concerns, ADHD, and intimacy-related issues.

What is Suzanne's therapeutic style?

Her approach is strengths-based and collaborative, using evidence-informed methods such as CBT, ACT, EFT, and client-centered techniques to help clients develop skills and clarify goals.

How much experience does she bring to therapy?

She has 25 years of experience in clinical work, teaching, and writing about personal well-being and psychological growth.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is licensed as an LMFT in Illinois with license number IL LMFT 166000614 and practices in Illinois.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Therapy is offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats does she offer?

Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Fees vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with Suzanne?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a session based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoaching

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse GriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderDepression Coping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodHypnotherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English