Find a Therapist near Sandy Hook, CT

My approach in therapy is collaborative, supportive, and goal oriented.

I specialize in work with gay men. Are you worried that most therapists will not truly understand you, or that you will have to censor yourself in therapy because you are a gay man? I had these same concerns, and they motivated me to become a psychotherapist who could help others like me. We will work together in a safe and relaxing environment to discover and actualize the solutions you need in order to live a more fulfilling life. With 20 years of clinical experience, I have honed a comprehensive approach that ensures each session addresses your specific needs and goals, helping you achieve meaningful and lasting change. To achieve this, I integrate a variety of therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), internal family systems, and Zen therapy. I am also a certified sex therapist. The foundation of our work together is the strong therapeutic relationship we build.

Embarking on the journey of self-discovery and healing is a courageous step, and I am honored to accompany you along this path. As a dedicated therapist, I am committed to providing a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. With a solid foundation in social work, including a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Southern Connecticut State University, I bring a wealth of academic knowledge and practical expertise to our therapeutic journey. As a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Connecticut, I adhere to the highest ethical standards and continuously engage in professional development to ensure the best possible care for my clients. Throughout my ten years of experience in the field of human services, I have had the privilege of working with individuals ranging from 5 years old to 75 years old, spanning a wide spectrum of life experiences and developmental stages. I have extensive experience in addressing various mental health challenges including but not limited to Depression, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, trauma and anger management. Moreover, as a bilingual therapist, fluent in Spanish, and culturally competent, I recognize the importance of providing therapy in a language and cultural context that feels comfortable and relatable for you. Whether you prefer sessions conducted in English or Spanish, my goal remains the same: to support you in finding clarity, resilience, and empowerment. My approach to therapy is integrative, drawing from various modalities such as Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based techniques, and Narrative Therapy, tailored to suit your unique needs and strengths. Above all, I believe in the inherent strength and resilience within each individual. Together, we will explore your inner resources, build coping strategies, and cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself, ultimately empowering you to lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life. I look forward to the opportunity to support you on your journey towards healing and growth. Warm regards, Cynthia Martinez, LCSW

*Currently accepting new clients* Are you ready for a lasting change in your life? I am here to help you overcome challenges such as anxiety, depression, anger management, low self-esteem, and negative attitudes. If you find it hard to maintain healthy relationships or are struggling to move past trauma and adjust to life transitions, you don't have to face it alone. Together, we can work towards achieving your therapy goals. Let's embark on this journey to a healthier, happier you, where you can embrace positive change. With my extensive clinical experience, I can help you overcome emotional and behavioral challenges by providing strategies tailored to your unique needs. My expertise in gold-standard therapies, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), ensures that you acquire essential coping skills for lasting success. I am here to help you bridge the gap between your current situation and your desired future. I assist families in moving from discord to harmony. My support extends to children, teens, and adults in finding emotional balance, enhancing relationships, and embracing purpose and inner peace.

It is my sacred honor to help people with their deepest and most personal issues: their ancient wounds, in their lives within and without; their deepest hopes and fears, dreams and longings, and the blocks that interfere with creating their lives and finding and birthing their Selves. It saddens me deeply to see our world being offered "quick fixes," "bandaids," and "get over it" or "transcend it" philosophies for dealing with life's deepest wounds and traumas. It saddens me to see people being offered symptom "management" instead of real healing -- managing thoughts, feelings, and more -- leaving the real wound beneath the symptom, beneath the surface to continue to haunt them in their lives. It saddens me to see our world encouraging people to repeat as adults what they did as children - repress their feelings and find defenses to keep them away. For children, this is sanity- and life-saving. For adults, this is society degrading feeling and keeping us emotionally stuck, emotionally unmatured. For adults, this is society working against our healing, our growing, our transforming, our becoming all we can be. It saddens me to see us go 'round and 'round the vicious cycle of cause and effect when we leave our own individual wounds unhealed -- deeply affecting the state of our world and our country -- and then when the state of our world and country, in turn, triggers those same unhealed wounds within us. I bring to clients a message of lasting healing, healing to the root. I help people find and claim their own wounds, commit themselves to the real work of healing inside and out, work at their organic rhythm and pace to build their capacity to feel, and more. I also help people recognize the link between their individual healing and the healing of our planet. With a passion for safety and for healing to the root, I am committed to helping heal and transform our world one-by-one and on a global scale.

Do you need help with managing your stress, a transition, help practicing self care, processing trauma, navigating relationship challenges or taking the next step towards your purpose? Maybe you’ve tried many ways to cope and you need a different prospective, a listening ear, someone to help you create a plan that will yield a change relief so you can live a better life… You’re in the right place. We utilize evidence based, trauma informed, strength based, cognitive behavioral and person-focused approaches to help you learn coping strategies for these areas of your life. We also help you learn how to set boundaries and learn how to better care for yourself. This practice was founded with the belief that there is power and courage in telling your story. We are passionate about providing you with the space to be heard and understood so that you can live the life you believe you were meant to live. “No matter what you have experienced in life, there is a way to cope and to heal.”

If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or substance use, feel free to contact me via a phone call, a text, or an email. I’ll respond back within 2 hours, Monday – Sunday. My office hours are 8am EST to 5pm EST. Struggling through serious relationship problems? I’ve helped dozens of couples and perhaps I can help you. Is your teen son or daughter having difficulties adjusting to COVID and feeling down? Call me anytime and we can schedule a free consultation to discuss your individual needs.

Sometimes life can be very stressful due to a variety of barriers. Anxiety, depression, or stress can interrupt our lives and lead to despair. Sometimes we have the feeling that we are alone in this despair and that nothing can help us improve. Negative thinking and difficult emotions can lead to poor self-esteem and isolation from those we love, as well as difficulties attending to responsibilities or striving towards our goals in life. I believe all humans have the capacity to change and achieve our goals to transform into the best version of ourselves, and therapy can be the first step to achieving these goals. I am a licensed mental health counselor with a specialization in treating anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsion (OCD), trauma, substance abuse, interpersonal issues, men's issues, and child-adolescent issues. I have completed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) training to help clients with negative thinking, achieve behavior change, and improve emotion-regulation skills. Life can appear stressful and scary at times, but it does not have to overwhelm you any longer. Taking the first step to begin therapy can be the path to recovery and gaining control of your life once again. I provide a warm and inviting environment for clients to feel listened to, understood, and respected. You are in control of your future, which starts now.

My training (Yale University Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology; four-year postdoctoral Certificate in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy) is broad and varied. I currently practice individual therapy and group therapy, both online. My approach to working with you will depend in large part on what you are seeking. Some people benefit from brief treatment; others seek and benefit from a deeper and longer exploration. I believe the combination of individual and group therapy can be particularly beneficial for many people. People usually enter therapy with mixed emotions of hope and doubt. I try to provide a warm, responsive space conducive to authentic communication. My work is guided as much by my own years of personal therapy and psychoanalysis as by my formal education.

There are times in life when we struggle and feel hopeless. We try our best to be resilient, but sometimes we need help in finding our inner strengths and developing strategies to move forward. I am here to help encourage and support you to break general patterns to move you towards your goals. You deserve to live a life full of meaning and joy. We will work together to help you achieve your desired goals! I specialize in engaging and motivating individuals by identifying thoughts and behaviors that interfere with achieving their desired outcomes. This collaborative solution-focused therapy is motivational and focuses on building strength and resourceful ways to deal with life’s situations in the present and future. Your comfort and trust are most important in my practice. I understand the difficulties of seeking help and will provide a non-judgmental space to help you discover your own abilities to heal.

A Center for Integrative Therapies Achieve Wellness, LLC is a group of integrative, solution focused clinicians supporting clients in the process of positive change. It is our goal to treat each individual with a holistic approach. We are passionate about our services and believe that everyone deserves to live their lives to their fullest potential. We provide individual counseling, couples counseling, family therapy, life coaching, business consulting. At Achieve Wellness, it is our goal to create a safe and supportive environment while providing a collaborative, holistic and integrative approach to treatment. We believe that everyone deserves access to the care they need and is worthy of feeling well. It is our mission that clients feel empowered and inspired to realize that wellness is possible.

Do you carry more than you show? You might be a therapist, caregiver, or capable professional who’s always holding it together, while feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck inside. You’ve done the work. You’re self-aware. But something still isn’t shifting. There’s nothing wrong with you; your nervous system may need a different kind of support. That’s where I come in. I offer emotionally intelligent care that helps your system regulate and reset so healing doesn’t depend on willpower alone. My approach blends trauma-informed therapy with two powerful tools: neurofeedback brain training and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). These methods support the brain and body directly. They help you access clarity, calm, and relief, especially when talk therapy hasn't been enough. Some clients work with me as their primary therapist. Others already have a trusted therapist, and we collaborate—your therapist holds the foundation, and I support movement when things feel stuck. Together, we go at your pace. We honor your sensitivity and your strength. This is care for deep feelers and high-achieving adults who are ready to feel more like themselves again, without being rushed, fixed, or re-traumatized.