Abel Martinez
LMFT #153210
abel@mcaft.com
(650) 297-3400 x 4
Locations: Los Altos & San Jose
Fee: $200
Specialties:
Child, Teen & Transitional Age: Depression, Anxiety, Perfectionism, Emotional Dysregulation, Tantrums, Defiance, Maladaptive Behaviors, Peer Challenges, Bullying, Self-Esteem, Isolation, Autism, ADHD, Existential / Transition to Adulthood Fears, Acculturation. Chronic Pain, Chronic Illness, Mind-Body Issues.
Adult: Individual, Couples, Parenting. Depression, Anxiety, Trauma / PTSD, Autism, ADHD, Anger Management, Acculturation Challenges, Male Identity Issues, Chronic Pain, OCD, Challenging Behaviors around Alcohol and other Substance-Related Issues
Modalities:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma Informed, Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed, Play Therapy, Music Therapy Puppet Play, Family of Origin, Art Therapy, and Psychodrama
Background:
For more than 26 years, my work has centered around helping children, teens, and their parents feel seen, understood, and supported through some of their most tender moments. Although my career has included important work with adults and families from all walks of life, the heart of my practice — and the place where I feel most alive — is in my work with young people and the parents who love them. I know how deeply parents care and how overwhelming it can feel when a child is hurting, and I approach each family with warmth, respect, and a commitment to helping everyone feel steadier and more connected.
As a father of three healthy, thriving young adult sons, I have lived the full arc of raising boys in a fast-paced, high-expectation world. I understand not only the pressures our kids hold inside, but also the quiet, invisible load parents carry as they try to support them. These lived experiences shape the patience, compassion, and collaboration I bring to my work with both children and their caregivers. I love partnering with parents — helping them understand what their child is feeling, strengthening communication at home, and offering tools that bring more calm, clarity, and connection into family life.
Whether I’m sitting cross-legged on the floor with a worried child or collaborating with a stressed teen who feels overwhelmed by school, friendships, or their own emotions, I approach each young person with genuine respect and curiosity. I lean into creativity — weaving art, music, metaphor, and movement into sessions — because kids and teens often express themselves best when they’re not limited to words alone. Over the years, I’ve found that these creative pathways open doors to connection and insight that traditional talk therapy can’t always reach.
I’ve supported children and adolescents in a wide range of settings: schools, community mental-health programs, crisis environments, group homes, and psychiatric hospitals. Across all of these experiences, one thing has remained constant: young people respond when they feel respected, safe, and understood. I don’t shy away from big feelings — anger, fear, frustration, perfectionism, isolation — and I have a long history of helping kids and teens translate those feelings into clarity, confidence, and healthier ways of coping.
Parents often tell me they feel immediate relief knowing their child is with someone who truly gets kids — and who also shows up as a steady, thoughtful partner to them. It is an honor to support not just young people, but their parents as well, helping the whole family move toward more resilience, ease, and connection. I consider it sacred work to walk alongside families as they navigate challenges and rediscover the strengths, courage, and light within themselves and each other.
Parent Collaboration and Family Therapy:
Supporting children and teens is always a team effort, and I believe parents deserve just as much care, clarity, and support as their kids. When a young person begins therapy with me, I place great importance on building a strong, respectful partnership with their caregivers. Parents are the experts on their child’s history, temperament, and daily world, and I see our collaboration as essential to creating lasting change.
I meet regularly with parents to help them understand what their child may be feeling, to offer practical tools that bring more ease to everyday routines, and to strengthen connection during emotionally charged moments. My intention is never to judge or critique, but to walk alongside you with warmth, empathy, and real-world strategies that fit the unique dynamics of your family.
Because I’ve raised three boys myself, I know firsthand how vulnerable it can feel when your child is struggling — and how grounding it can be to have a therapist who listens deeply, communicates clearly, and genuinely cares about your child’s well-being. My role is to support your child while also giving you insight, encouragement, and guidance, so you feel empowered and connected throughout the therapeutic process. Together, we create a steady foundation that helps your child feel safe, supported, and ready to thrive.
Education and Training:
- University of California Santa Cruz, 1995, BA Psychology, Specialized in Adolescent Psychology
- Research Assistant, 1994 – 95, Margarita Azmitia,
- MA in Counseling Psychology; John F. Kennedy University
- CA AMFT #113157
- Professional Assault Response Training, 1997 (for behavioral programs and psychiatric hospitals)
- Crisis Prevention Intervention, 2019 & 2020, San Jose Behavioral Health/Fremont Psychiatric Hospital
Therapeutic Philosophy:
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” -Victor Frankl
There is a light that shines brightly in us since birth. In it is goodness, strength, peace, love, and dignity. Sometimes challenging times make us forget that the light is still there. When we find the strength to allow it to shine in us, we find personal fulfillment and love.
I believe I bring a supportive and relational style to my practice, working toward client goals, recognizing negative thought patterns, and supporting clients in achieving emotional harmony. I work to help people find their inner resiliency and to build healthy coping skills. I provide a supportive presence and a calm approach to therapy, helping people to recognize the light inside of them.
I am a strong advocate for Social Justice and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. I provide a safe and supportive environment to help clients recognize the dignity of self. I believe that everyone should have a choice to be who they want to be, and who they want to identify themselves as.
What is most important to me is the client’s experience. A client’s life – the struggles, good times, successes, and failures – all are meaningful. The patterned emotions that have caused us to be stuck and the emotions that liberate us. These elements make up the intricate story of their lives. It is beautiful to witness internal acceptance and respect as I help guide them to their goals and help them lead a healthy and fulfilled life.
About Me:
My work is an integral part of my own self care plan. I also love to take road trips, meditate, pray, and practice inner body and mind work. I love to spend time with my wife and three teenage boys, and I enjoy the calmness of working with tools and creating things. I love to play and record music (percussion and guitar) and to read and write poetry.