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LCSW · CCPT TRAINED · CCTP-II · LICENSED IN TEXAS
Welcome! I'm
Elizabeth Martinez
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of Embodied Resilience Therapy, specializing in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) for children ages 3–10 and support for the parents and caregivers who love them. I believe every child already knows how to heal, they just need the right space to do it.
Trauma-Informed
Every session is guided by an understanding of how trauma shapes the whole person.
Culturally Responsive
I honor the cultural context and lived experience each person brings into the room.
Whole-Person Care
Mind, body, and spirit I believe healing is interconnected and deeply personal.
Relational & Warm
I bring genuine care, humor, and warmth because healing happens in safe relationships.
MY STORY
Where Children
Heal, Play,
& Grow.
"In Child-Centered Play Therapy, the child is the expert. My job is simply to create a space safe enough for their healing to unfold."
I'm Elizabeth Martinez, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of Embodied Resilience Therapy. I specialize in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) for children ages 3–10, and I chose this modality intentionally, because I believe it is one of the most powerful, developmentally appropriate ways to support a young child's healing.
CCPT is grounded in the understanding that play is a child's natural language. Before children have the words to name what they're carrying, the fear, the confusion, the grief, the big feelings that don't fit neatly into sentences, they have play. In a CCPT session, the child leads. They choose what to explore, what to create, and what to work through. My role is not to direct or fix, but to be fully present with them to follow their lead, reflect their experience, and create a relationship safe enough for healing to happen naturally.
"
Play is not a break from healing; it is how children heal. And I get to witness that every single day.
I chose CCPT because I've seen what it does. I've watched children who came in shut down, dysregulated, or acting out begin to soften. To trust. To play freely. The change doesn't always look dramatic from the outside, but inside that playroom, something real is shifting.
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I also work closely with the parents and caregivers who love these children, because a child's well-being is inseparable from the adults around them. When caregivers feel supported, seen, and equipped, children thrive. That's why dedicated caregiver support is woven into the work, not added on as an afterthought.
As a child of immigrants, I bring a personal understanding of the unique pressures facing immigrant and Latinx families — including the fear, grief, and uncertainty that can come with navigating life in a new country. I also offer immigration mental health evaluations and free counseling for those impacted by ICE enforcement, because access to care should never depend on documentation status or ability to pay.
My approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and grounded in warmth. I'm licensed in Texas and hold advanced training in trauma-focused care and dialectical behavior therapy.
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— Elizabeth Martinez, LCSW
HOW I WORK
My Therapeutic Approach
01
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
In CCPT, the child leads. I provide a safe, non-directive space for children ages 3–10 to express, explore, and process through play — their most natural language. My role is to be fully present, follow their lead, and trust in their innate capacity to heal.
04
Trauma-Informed Care
Every aspect of my practice is shaped by an understanding of how trauma affects the nervous system, behavior, and relationships, and how to create genuine safety within the therapeutic space.
02
Parent & Caregiver Support
Supporting your child starts with supporting yourself. I offer a compassionate space for caregivers to build tools, strengthen connections, and navigate the challenges of raising children, especially through difficult transitions.
05
Culturally Responsive Practice
I recognize that identity, culture, and lived experience are inseparable from mental health. As a child of immigrants, I bring both professional training and personal understanding to every session.
03
Family Systems Thinking
I view every child within the context of their family and community. When one part of a system shifts, the whole family benefits. This is why I work with caregivers alongside children — because lasting change happens in relationship, not in isolation.
06
Immigration Evaluations
I specialize in psychological evaluations for asylum, VAWA, U-Visa, and hardship waiver cases written with empathy and precision, meeting both legal and clinical standards while reflecting your full humanity.
Immigration Evaluations
Education & Licensure
Training &
Credentials
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
State of Texas
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) trained
Specialized training in non-directive play therapy for children ages 3–10
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional II (CCTP-II)
Advanced trauma-focused care
Master of Social Work (MSW)
University of Texas at Arlington
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
University of Texas at San Antonio
Areas of Credentials
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
Parent & Caregiver Support
Immigration Evaluations
Child & Adolescent Trauma
Latinx Communities
Adoption & Foster Care
POPULATIONS I SERVE
Children ages 3–10
Parents & caregivers
Immigrant & mixed-status families
ICE & detention-affected individuals
Latinx & Spanish-speaking communities
Asylum seekers & VAWA survivors
A Note to
Anyone Considering Therapy
Whether you're bringing your child in for play therapy, looking for support as a caregiver, or navigating the complexities of immigration, I want you to know there's no "right" way to start. You don't need to have the perfect words or know exactly what you need.
​
You just have to show up. I'll meet you and your child there.
My door is open for children, families, and anyone in our community who needs support, regardless of immigration status, income, or background. Every person who walks through this door deserves warmth, dignity, and care.
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-Elizabeth Martinez, LCSW
MY BELIEF
"Play is not a break from healing; it is how children heal."
MY COMMITMENT
"When caregivers feel supported and seen, children thrive. I hold space for the whole family."
MY PROMISE
"Every child who walks through my door is met with warmth, safety, and the freedom to just be a kid."