- Family of origin issues
- Cognitive behavioral work
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
About Suzanne
Suzanne Martinez is an IL Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of clinical experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, and patterns that trace back to the family they grew up in. Suzanne also supports people facing career questions, parenting strain, addiction concerns, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem.
She uses practical, skill-focused work to help clients notice repeating patterns and try different ways of responding. Sessions focus on clear goals and steps people can take between meetings. Suzanne draws on evidence-informed approaches to help people change thoughts, behavior, and emotional responses that get in the way of daily life.
Her background includes long-term clinical practice in Illinois and work teaching about personal well-being and psychological growth. She also serves as an Illinois Supreme Court Approved Mediator for Judicial Circuit Courts, which influences her interest in communication and resolving conflict.
Suzanne often addresses attachment and family of origin issues, blended family challenges, adoption and foster care concerns, and caregiver stress. She also works with first responder issues, grief, and compassion fatigue. Her experience stretches across mood disorders, ADHD, and coping with major life changes.
Therapy with Suzanne emphasizes collaborative decision-making. She helps clients try methods such as cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance and commitment strategies, and emotionally focused work to shift patterns learned early in life. To begin, she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Therapeutic approaches useful online and in sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and focus on values-based action. It can help when old family patterns keep someone stuck and they want to practice new ways of behaving. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thinking and behavior patterns that maintain anxiety or low mood, and then testing small changes that reduce symptoms and build new habits. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) concentrates on how emotions shape relationships and intimate difficulties, helping people recognize and rework interaction patterns learned in earlier family relationships.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Suzanne works collaboratively with clients to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. She checks in and adjusts the plan as people learn what helps most for their concerns and life demands.
Confirm the therapist's current session formats before booking, as these are not specified here. Many clients find that remote sessions make it easier to fit therapy into work days or caregiving schedules, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid travel time. Talk with the therapist after completing the matching questionnaire to learn how sessions can be scheduled to fit your routine and to discuss any practical details.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and a wide range of family-related issues including family of origin matters and blended family challenges.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a practical, goal-oriented approach that emphasizes skills and small experiments between sessions to change patterns and reactions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 25 years of experience working with adults in clinical and teaching roles in Illinois.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an Illinois Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (IL LMFT) practicing in Illinois.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not accepted at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what about formats?
Confirm current session formats before booking; the site asks you to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.