Lourdes Martinez

LICSW 

Lourdes (she/her) is a bilingual mental health therapist originally from Mexico, with a deep commitment to serving diverse and underserved communities. She earned her master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of St. Thomas and currently provides therapy services at the Whittier Clinic through the APT program, where she works primarily with adolescents and their families.

She brings over 15 years of experience working with the Latinx community. Prior to becoming a therapist, Lourdes spent 12 years as a community health worker, where she specialized in care coordination, connecting individuals and families to essential resources, and helping them navigate the medical system. This foundation has shaped her holistic and culturally responsive approach to mental health care.

While she works with individuals from all backgrounds, she has a strong passion for supporting immigrant and Spanish-speaking communities, where there continues to be a critical need for accessible and culturally attuned mental health services. She has extensive experience working with multigenerational trauma and understands the complex cultural, social, and systemic factors that impact emotional well-being.

Her clinical approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and a strengths-based perspective. As an immigrant and a woman of color, she strives to create a safe, affirming, and empathetic space where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered in their healing journey.