Martha Hughes
Hi there! Welcome to my profile. I’m Martha (Marti) Hughes, and I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I’ve been helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges and transitions for over 30 years. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy, combining different techniques like Internal Family Systems, Inner Relationship Focusing, Neuro-affective Touch, Somatic Experiencing, Psychodynamic, Mindfulness, CBT, and DBT. I also value the power of humor and open, sensitive communication. My goal is to help you heal from symptoms of anxiety, trauma, depression, grief, chronic illness, relationship issues, attachment problems, and women’s issues, among other things. I create a safe and non-judgmental space where you can feel comfortable expressing yourself and experiencing validation. I believe that our inner world, both as a therapist and as a client, plays a crucial role in our healing journey. Even when external factors seem to be causing your distress, understanding and addressing your inner world can lead to significant change. I’m excited to meet you and join you on your path to mental and emotional well-being.
First session
First sessions can be a bit nerve-wracking for everyone. You’re stepping into the unknown at a time when you might feel vulnerable. The main focus of the first few sessions is building a connection and creating a safe space where you can feel comfortable sharing your feelings. You’re the expert in your own life, and I’m here to listen, ask questions, and reflect back what you’ve said. I’ll always check in with you to make sure you’re feeling comfortable. Together, we’ll work on identifying any problem areas and exploring how they’re affecting your life. We’ll also brainstorm some goals and pathways for the future. If you’re open to it, I can gently challenge your thinking patterns and help you discover alternative outcomes that align with your goals.
Strengths
As a provider, my greatest strengths lie in empathetic listening, generating insightful questions, and effectively eliciting curiosity and inquiry into relationships, behaviors, and life patterns that may indicate underlying issues and problem areas. I collaborate with clients to enhance their functioning and quality of life, develop new coping skills, and explore relevant information to gain insights into their mental health diagnosis and symptoms. I firmly believe in the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit and continuously educate myself in this field to provide additional treatment options to my clients. My experience working with all adults, coupled with my maturity, extensive life experience, and training, enables me to offer valuable perspectives to clients of various ages, from young to older.
Ideal clients
I excel in working with clients who seek to enhance understanding of their relationship with thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. My role is to provide support and guidance as you cultivate curiosity about what aspects of your life are functioning effectively and which are not. I will collaborate with you to identify goals, potential solutions, develop new patterns, and achieve personal growth. Whether you are navigating a challenging life transition, experiencing stagnation, grappling with intense emotions, or simply seeking self-improvement, I am honored to partner with you on your journey of self-discovery and healing.
Treatment methods
Eclectic
I have studied numerous treatment methods for the past fifteen years and have found benefit in all. I prefer to tailor the method to client needs, goals and the amount of time the client wants to spend on the therapeutic process. I am client centered and utilize mindfulness, insight, collaboration, psycho-education and inquiry in my work with clients.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I am currently IFS Level 1 certified and enjoy working with clients to support their recognition and acceptance of all of their parts, even the most disturbing and difficult ones. IFS therapy supports the development of self-awareness which leads us to become familiar with our internal family and the dynamics between different "parts" of ourselves. IFS therapy is paced to engender safety and trust so that our past wounds naturally surface and heal creating a more integrated and harmonious inner world leading to improvements in quality of life with more joy, ease and happiness.
Grief Therapy
Guidance and understanding of the grief process and making meaning of your loss is important in learning how to move forward in your life while carrying your loss in your heart.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
This is a structured, goal oriented approach that aims to change negative or unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. When we track and document our thoughts and the ensuing emotions and behaviors we bring into awareness their interconnectedness and then through mindful attention we can change negative thought patterns resulting in improvement in our emotional well being and overall quality of life.
Somatic
This treatment method utilizes internalized focus, sensation tracking, grounding, breath awareness, body scanning to source information to treat stress, developmental and attachment wounding. I utilize somatic experiencing, neuroaffective awareness and inner relationship focusing to track sensations, thoughts, images, emotions in the body so as to bring awareness to and release holding and bracing patterns resulting from past experiences of overwhelm.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 82508