Derrick Martinez, LLMSW

Welcome to a space where your well-being takes center stage. I’m all about providing genuine care and top-notch mental health services. Therapy can be a rollercoaster, but the twists and turns often lead to amazing growth. My mission is to stand by your side through those challenges and celebrate the incredible progress you make.

A bit about my background – I earned my Bachelor’s in Social Work from the esteemed University of Texas at Austin and later pursued my Master’s in Social Work from the renowned University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Over the past five years, I’ve worked with various children, adolescents, young adults, and adults in schools, universities, community mental health settings, and federally qualified health centers. This experience has solidified my belief in the potential for growth and transformation. I’m confident in my ability to impact your mental health journey positively.

As a Certified Anxiety-Informed Professional (CAIP), I bring specialized expertise to our sessions, offering effective strategies to manage and overcome anxiety-related challenges. Regarding therapy, I believe in a holistic approach that combines evidence-based techniques tailored to your specific situation. You can expect a blend of strategies such as exposure therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness practices, and somatic interventions. One approach doesn’t fit all – it’s about finding what resonates with you. Together, we’ll work on building the skills to face challenges head-on, whether managing anxiety, dealing with depression, navigating life transitions, or addressing issues related to trauma and identity.

As your therapist, I aim to be approachable, dependable, and deeply empathetic. I strive to provide a comfortable, safe environment where you feel free to express yourself, understand what holds you back and causes distress, and take the steps necessary to move forward.

My Unique Approach to Therapy

What makes my approach unique? I am regularly asking for feedback from my patients. How is the treatment going? Are we addressing issues you care about? Do you feel you are making measurable progress? At Start My Wellness, we help people actively engage in making therapy as useful and user friendly as possible. We use this feedback to improve treatment methods, guide therapist training and improve overall customer satisfaction. We believe this patient-centered approach makes Start My Wellness world-class.

Specialized & Extended Training

What makes Derrick Martinez stand out is his high level of education and experience. He, along with all Start My Wellness therapists, attends at least 120 hours of extensive ongoing training and personal development per year in treating anxiety, depression, work stress, and relationship problems. This rigorous instruction differentiates Derrick from others in the field and allows him to provide the highest quality of service to patients.