Hi, I am Dr. Erica Martinez! I am a first-generation Latina, raised on the West Side of San Antonio who had an opportunity to become a licensed clinical social worker with a PhD in Social Work. I believe in the power of therapy and walk alongside individuals as they navigate their unique situations and find lasting solutions, and more importantly, healing. Therapy with me is real, relational, and rooted in truth. I bring what I call a homie check-in into the space—a mix of honesty, reflection, and support where you can be called in (not called out), challenged with care, and supported as you grow into the version of yourself you’re becoming. You’ve been holding it together for a long time. Showing up for everyone. Pushing through. Carrying things that people don’t always see. And at the same time... something feels off. You’re overwhelmed, burned out, or reacting in ways that don’t fully feel like you. That’s where our work begins. I work with women navigating anxiety, trauma, burnout, and life transitions, especially those who are used to being “the strong one.” Together, we make sense of your patterns, your reactions, and the parts of you that learned how to survive.
During the first session, we will explore what lead you to find a therapist. Then we will get to know a bit about each other to determine if we are a good match. If we are, we will explore what you would like to get out of therapy and create a plan to do that. My approach to therapy is rooted in Healería—a model I developed through both my professional work as a therapist and my lived experience as a woman navigating many of these same realities. Healería integrates traditional talk therapy with body-based work and cultural practices, allowing us to understand not just what you think, but how your experiences live in your body, your reactions, and your patterns. In this work, we name your parts: Your Inner Chola—the one who protects and reacts quickly. Your Sensitive Gangsta—the one who feels deeply but keeps going. Your Soft Mujer—the part of you that wants peace and rest. Your Intentional Chola—the version of you who moves with clarity, boundaries, and choice. These parts aren’t random. They were shaped through la lucha—your life experiences, your environment, your culture, and the roles you’ve had to carry. Instead of trying to get rid of these parts, we work to understand them. Through that awareness, you begin to shift from reacting automatically to responding with intention. This is how change happens, not by forcing yourself to be different, but by learning how to show up in ways that feel more aligned, grounded, and true to you.
My greatest strengths as a therapist are my ability to create a space where clients feel deeply seen, understood, and safe to be their full selves. I bring both clinical expertise and lived experience into the room, which allows me to connect in ways that feel real, not surface-level. I’m skilled at helping clients make sense of what they’re carrying, whether that’s anxiety, relationship patterns, or the impact of family and cultural experiences, while also supporting them in building practical tools for change. My approach is both reflective and direct, offering insight while also helping clients move forward with intention.
Clients that have naturally gravitated to me are teenage girls who have found "cutting" as a coping method and are wanting to explore healthier ways to cope, mothers who are ever striving for "balance", women who are wanting to be more confident in themselves, at work, in their friendships and relationships, individuals who have faced oppressions, racism, and discrimination, especially in the workplace, men who find themselves exhausted from playing the part of "machismo", and children who have experienced something that scared them or made them question their confidence.
Eclectic
My therapeutic style is eclectic, drawing on multiple evidenced based practices and techniques, tailored to meet each client's specific needs. I embed learning opportunities, coping skills and mindfulness practices to build upon personal strengths and assets. I have experience working with children, teens and adults.