Cheryl Martin

Collaborative, experienced therapist for life transitions

LMFT California

Experience: 15 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English, Tagalog

About Cheryl

Cheryl Martin is a California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 15 years of clinical experience and a long history in community mental health.

Background and approach

She supports people navigating stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and life transitions, as well as relationship and family concerns such as communication problems, divorce and separation, parenting challenges, and intimacy-related issues. She also addresses compassion fatigue, self-esteem, isolation and questions of life purpose.

Her work emphasizes a collaborative, client-centered stance that helps clients feel heard while exploring practical strategies and deeper emotional patterns. Cheryl draws on cognitive behavioral tools to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, emotion-focused methods to strengthen relational bonds and emotional processing, and EMDR when trauma processing is needed.

She integrates psychodynamic and solution-focused perspectives to tailor treatment to each person’s situation and goals. Cheryl offers services in English and Tagalog and practices in California, bringing a compassionate and experienced approach to people seeking support for both immediate coping and longer-term growth.

Therapeutic approaches and flexible online care

Cheryl uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, which can be useful for problems like anxiety, depression, and stress. She also draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy to explore emotional experiences and improve connection in relationships, supporting work on intimacy, communication problems, and family dynamics. When trauma is a central concern, she may integrate EMDR techniques to assist with processing distressing memories and reducing their impact on daily functioning.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Cheryl works with each person to identify goals and preferences, adjusting methods over time so therapy aligns with what feels most helpful and achievable for the client. This lets practical skills and deeper emotional work be blended as appropriate.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats can make it easier to access continuous care during life changes or busy periods, while allowing therapists to use structured CBT exercises, emotion-focused interventions, and trauma-informed practices effectively through remote sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, self-esteem struggles, relationship and family issues, parenting and career concerns, as well as isolation, life purpose, and compassion fatigue.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

The approach is collaborative and client-centered, combining practical cognitive behavioral tools with emotion-focused and psychodynamic techniques to match each person’s needs.

What is her clinical background and experience?

She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 15 years of clinical experience and additional years working in community mental health settings.

Where is she licensed and what credential does she hold?

She holds a California LMFT license, CA LMFT 107673, and practices in California.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English and Tagalog to accommodate bilingual clients.

What session formats are offered for online care?

She conducts video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexible options for engagement.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session based on the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Coping with life changes

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesCareer difficultiesDepression Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentCommunication problemsDivorce and separationIsolation / lonelinessLife purposePost-traumatic stressSelf-love

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Psychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English, Tagalog