Ava Martinez

I was drawn to the field partly because of my experience with mental health issues as a teenager and young adult. I've been in therapy since I was 14 years old, but I didn't see my first good therapist until I was 21 years old and a senior in college. This taught me that not every therapist is a match for every client. I had felt repeatedly unseen, unheard, and misunderstood by therapists who lacked experience treating members of the LGBT+ and BIPOC communities. I want to be the therapist I wish I had when I was younger.

My primary goal as a therapist is to provide support, advocacy, and recovery for individuals who have historically been misunderstood by popular models of therapy. OCD is one of the most widely misunderstood diagnoses by the general population and therapists. As a result, many individuals with OCD suffer from this debilitating condition longer than they should. It's extremely rewarding to help fill a major need within the mental healthcare system.

In addition to my work with NOCD and clients with OCD, I serve individuals who have experienced complex trauma/PTSD, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and self-harming behaviors. Most of my clients also identify as members of the BIPOC and/or LGBT+ communities.

Therapy is a collaborative process. Your therapist has the education and experience required to support you in your recovery, but you're the expert in your own lived experiences. Your contribution to and participation in therapy is just as important as ours. You will see great results when you fully commit to and trust the process.

I always meet my members exactly where they are and want them to feel like they have full agency. I will never force anyone to do or say anything in therapy before they feel ready. I will never judge you for your thoughts (and no matter how shameful or 'bad' you may think they are, I have probably heard—or had—ones like them). It's OK to feel afraid, and I invite you to name and process that fear in therapy.