Suzanne Martinez, LMFT

Suzanne Martinez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of clinical experience in Illinois. She divides her time between a private practice in Champaign and work at the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois, and she has spent decades writing and teaching about practical skills for psychological growth and personal well-being. In December 2020 she became an Illinois Supreme Court Approved Mediator for Judicial Circuit Courts, adding mediation to her range of professional services.

Suzanne practices from a strengths-based perspective, helping people identify their aspirations and create a clearer vision for their lives. She works with concerns such as depression, anxiety, and a wide range of relationship challenges involving family members, roommates, partners, and friends. Her approach emphasizes building on existing resources so clients can move past mental blocks that arise in today’s busy, competitive world. Suzanne invites individuals and families to reach out so they can begin shaping realistic goals and practical steps toward a brighter future, guided by an experienced therapist and mediator.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Suzanne integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her work to help people clarify personal values and develop practical actions that support meaningful living. ACT focuses on accepting difficult thoughts and emotions while committing to behaviors that align with what matters most, which can be helpful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT offers concrete tools for managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching skills for changing thought responses and building healthier routines.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Suzanne works collaboratively with clients to determine whether ACT, CBT, or other methods fit best with their goals, needs, and personal preferences, and she adapts interventions over time as those needs evolve.

Online therapy with Suzanne is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules and varied comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, coordinate sessions around work or family commitments, and access licensed professionals from a convenient location.