Philosophy and Therapeutic Approach

When tough times hit, reaching out for help can be incredibly difficult. It is easy to feel like the only one going through troubled times; that no one can relate. It can feel isolating. I understand, I can relate. That was me. You are not alone.

Maybe like you, I had a friend encourage me to reach out to her counselor. Done with putting on a brave face, smiling, fighting, or faking it through my issues, I scheduled an appointment. It took a few sessions, but I could feel change happening. My counselor helped me to realize my strengths, listened, and created a safe space for me to explore my feelings without feeling judged. I was able to gain clarity, resolve my past, find my way back to myself, and heal.  That experience propelled me into this field of counseling. It’s a way for me to pay it forward.

Together we will unwrap your story, identify your strengths, and begin to lean into them as the ballast for the waters ahead. Whether it’s working through a current struggle or diving into past hurts–healing, growth, and change are possible.

What to Expect in Therapy

People seek counseling for all kinds of reasons, including grief or relief, direction or decision, healing, and restoration, or perhaps just personal growth and clarity. Your reason, whatever it may be, is the most important thing for us to focus on together. My goal will be to create a trusting and safe environment, to explore and journey together as you achieve your therapeutic goals. It might be through narrative, CBT, brainspotting, or another modality, but it will be tailored to you, to what helps you the most.

Personal Qualifications and Experience

My professional experience ranges from the vice president for a Fortune 1000 financial services company, to co-authoring a book on generation X, to university Dean. With decades of navigating the ups and downs of career and family, including three children and a marriage of over thirty years, I ground my therapeutic work in a lifetime of experience which I hope brings a depth of empathy, understanding, warmth, and even a bit of humor to my relationships with clients. I hold an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and am a certified Brainspotter.

Personal Interests

I have several passions and interests that I bring to my practice as a therapist. For years I have enjoyed mentoring and discipling young adults, (twenty and thirty-somethings), a passion ignited through research and co-authoring a book in the late 90’s on Generation X. This is an incredibly influential time in a person’s life, rich with growth and transition. It can also be a time fraught with issues, stress, decisions and challenges. With decades in leadership for both corporate and non-profit organizations, I enjoy working with executives and leaders as they hone and refine their ability to lead teams and achieve business results. This blends both my years of experience as a leader and change agent with my understanding of relationships and change management as a therapist. And I have a passion for working with women, exploring their identity in Jesus Christ, freeing them from shame and doubt, so they can fully engage all God has for them and live life to the fullest.

Counseling Blogs Written By Jo Martin

–The Difference Between Christian Counseling, Mentorship, and Professional Coaching 

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