Today we’d like to introduce you to Gilza Fort Martinez.
Hi Gilza, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a child of political refugees from the Cuban Revolution, education was very important in my family. My parents were both formally educated, my father an attorney and my mother an artist.. I was supposed to be a lawyer .. to follow my father’s passions and fulfill his legacy. When I chose to help people in a different way .. through psychology, marriage and family therapy to be exact, it was a blow for him! Despite that, my parents were my biggest supporters. This first challenge to my voice – having to define it clearly and set a boundary around it with my parents – was how my framework of working with women and their families started. I started working with a pain & rehab center in Miami. It was a truly collaborative environment that required that all the treating team members had input into patient care. Then I moved to an outpatient mental health center. Working community mental health is not for the faint of heart nor for those wanting to make money. It is for those that are passionate and devoted about helping people. When I decided to go on my own, it was scary and exciting! I had many naysayers … how can you make a living? Doing private practice is too hard. I preservered because I wanted to create a practice and a place that reflected my values. I created Resolution Counseling Center in 1998. Here I have worked with women and their families, helping them navigate the various life transitions. I have also worked with community groups and corporations encouraging them to focus on mental health and wellness. It has been an important focus for me that mental health be as important as physical health. The Pandemic helped me in that regard! 30 years later I continue to feel excited and willing to help other create a roadmap that is unique to them and their circumstances.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Any challenge worth doing has its potholes along the road! In graduate school, we are taught how to distinguish between therapeutic models and how to use them effectively to help people. We are Not taught how to create, run and grow a business. And a therapy practice is a business! It needs infrastructutre and I have had to learn this as I go. I had some early mentors that helped me to create & hone my entrepreneur voice, as well as my husband who has been an entrepreneur most of his life. His constant rallying cry to keep on learning and stay on my own path because “what’s the worse that can happen? .. you get a job! … has helped me stay focused on they Why I own my own business. I have also struggled to keep my voice my own as people who questioned my dreams and goals could be very loud at times. Some did it from love and concern, like friends and family, who worried that owning my own business would be too much .. for me, for my family… too much time, too much money. Some did it from a place of envy. Those were the most hurtful. So aside from the usual struggles for any new business: money, location, getting clients, there was also those that were not as aligned with me as I had thought. I created RCC to be a community; one that we worked together towards a similar goal. I had to learn the hard way that not everyone sees the vision in the same way.
We’ve been impressed with Resolution Counseling Center, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Resolution Counseling Center is the private practice I created in 1998. I started with several colleagues, working together. Over the years, it has transitioned to more of a solo practice. I have other clinicians who share the space with me so we have some community, though independently. I am a Marriage & Family therapist, trained in Family systems with a solution focus, meaning that I work with women and their families to navigate the various life’s transitions. I help them create a roadmap of options that best suits them. While I have worked with various mental health concerns over the years, including substance abuse, parenting, adolescents, I have become more focused on working with women who are overcoming betrayal. Whether that betrayal is in romantic, friendships or work relationships. The devastation & loss that comes from betrayal can be overwhelming & paralyzing.
I am known for my toughlove approach (as my IG handle is Toughlovehealer :)) in which I guide people through a loving and firm approach to managing their situations. As my clients will tell you, I am compassionate and caring, AND also can give you a no nonsense approach. I believe this approach is what sets me apart from other clinicians. I believe in open & transperant conversations that help redirect behaviors and encourages reflection & intentional decision making.
I am most proud of my resetting about 5 years ago … new brand & logo which you can see on my website. The focus on my talents, vs. the group (RCC) has helped me to be more available to clients. The navigational map technique and my framework of the 4 R’s are what I often use to help my clients reset after loss. The 4 R’s framework is: Rest. Reflect. Reset. Re-engage. This is a circular rather than linear process that can help with “cleaning up” our pasts so that we can pivot to the present and future. You can read more about this through my blogs, my recent adventure of participating in a bestselling coauthored book called: Give Me A Boost which is now available on Amazon or in my own upcoming book which I hope to launch by end of this year! One of the photos below shows the cover of Give Me A Boost!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe that my direct and loving approach is my superpower. I create rapport with clients by guiding them to share their story and then create a safe space for them to explore the ‘bumps in their road” and design a revised or new roadmap that now includes their lessons learned.
Pricing:
- see my website for individual & group packgage
Contact Info:
- Website: gilzafort.com
- Instagram: @Toughlovehealer
- Facebook: Gilza Fort Martinez, LMFT
- Linkedin: Gilza Fort Martinez, LMFT
