Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Martinez.
Erika, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
There are probably multiple starting points for me, but these are two that stand out for me. I suppose I was intuitive about people from a young age. My father’s backseat was littered with his books and notes from his graduate psychology program.
I’ve always been a bookworm, so I opened up one of the books and started reading while in traffic. At some point during the drive, I told him I thought a family member had Borderline Personality Disorder. I must have been nine or ten, so it really freaked him out.
Somehow I understood what I’d said was correct, and very unexpected from a child. That further peaked my curiosity. Then during high school, I realized that most of the topics I enjoyed studying in English, History, science, etc. all shared a thread: psychology.
Once again, my curiosity got the better of me, and I followed the thread right down the rabbit hole. I took some sidetracks, though. I worked graphic design and human resources for a bit. After that, I worked with special education children in inner-city public schools.
From there, I became an AP teacher at a dual-enrollment high school in Homestead, FL, and left after eight years to start practicing psychology full-time. Actually, it was four years ago today that I walked out of my classroom for the last time and started Envision Wellness, my private practice.
Has it been a smooth road?
No way. The road has definitely been a bumpy one, personally and professionally.
I can probably fill a dozen digital pages with examples, but I’d say the common struggle across all of them is having to conform to expectations or suck it up in situations I thought were bullsh*t. There’s a fair amount of that in academia, and I butted up against it often. I did it, but I was miserable every minute of it.
That’s what I appreciate most about having my own business. I don’t have anyone imposing arbitrary rules on me, and I don’t have to play office politics.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Envision Wellness – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m a licensed psychologist, and I love helping young professionals, entrepreneurs, and others in helping professions get unstuck in love, work, and life. Most of my clients struggle with anxiety/stress, burnout, work dissatisfaction, self-esteem, difficulties dating, recovering from breakups, codependency, perfectionism, people pleasing, trauma, and childhood emotional neglect.
Often my clients have previously been in therapy with limited to no success, and coming to see me is usually their last ditch effort. What sets my work apart from what others are doing is that I combine life coaching techniques and psychological testing into therapy. This makes sessions deeply insightful and engaging for clients.
I’m really proud of how Envision Wellness has expanded into a well-rounded mental health practice over the last year. The office now boasts three licensed psychologists with a range of specialties which means we’re better able to meet the needs of the community.
Besides me, there’s Dr. Joyce Szentpaly who specializes in treating brief therapy for anxiety, depression, social anxiety, and OCD. And recently, my father, Dr. Frank Martinez-Mesa joined us, providing neuropsychological assessments and therapy for individuals with chronic disease and their caregivers.
I’m also excited about offering Daring Way™ workshops based on the research and curriculums developed by Dr. Brené Brown starting in early 2019.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Spending lazy summer days in the Florida Keys.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1900 SW 57th Avenue Suite 2 Miami, FL 33155
- Website: www.envisionwellness.co
- Phone: (305) 501-0133
- Email: info@envisionwellness.co
- Instagram: @envisionwellnessco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/envisionwellnessco
- Twitter: @envisionwellnes
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
