Susan Martin Therapy and Wellness | Trauma Therapy for Women in Boise, ID and Virtually Throughout ID and CA | Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Issues | Brainspotting, EMDR

Susan Martin

Meet Susan Martin, MA, LMFT
Licensed marriage and family therapist
#8352 Idaho | #131140 California
Board approved CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

Trauma therapy and counseling for women in Boise, Idaho and Virtually Across Idaho and California

It’s time to enjoy emotional health, to say good-bye to energy-zapping coping, to be hopeful about the future, and to live your authentic life.

My desire for you is for you
to get to
know and love you.

The relationship you are in with yourself is one of the most important relationships you’ll ever be in. And so much of what you hold is informed by your opinions and expectations of yourself and the world - which is often rooted in your trauma.

You deserve regard, to be seen, and to be heard. You are worthy. You get to have desires, opinions, feelings, and to make choices with confidence.

And you deserve safety, exploration, and support without feeling guilty about it.

You deserve to be the leading lady of your life.

Susan Martin Therapy and Wellness | Trauma Therapy for Women in Boise, ID and Virtually Throughout ID and CA | Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Issues | Brainspotting, EMDR

How I am uniquely equipped to help you

I came to this field later in life, so I bring a lot of lived experiences to my work with clients, which include years in the corporate world, being a business owner, 27 years of marriage, my own complex trauma, my mental health healing and extensive therapy experiences, and raising two adult daughters. And as an adopted person I feel deeply. There is a way through the discomfort, challenges, and overwhelm. There is hope. There is a way to create a life you can love again. I know this because I have endured and survived challenges I would never have thought possible, and I am thriving in a life that seemed, for a very long time, to be out of reach.

Along with my life-based skills, clinical experience, specialized training, education, and certifications, I provide a warm, supportive, and productive healing space for you. I swiftly embrace a "root cause approach" and give your nervous system the opportunity to heal itself through the vital brain-body connection. Remember, it's not about reliving or revisiting traumatic experiences, it's about touching and processing the associated emotions and desensitizing your body against future triggers.

. . . Ah, freedom and growth!

Susan Martin Therapy and Wellness | Trauma Therapy for Women in Boise, ID and Virtually Throughout ID and CA | Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Issues | Brainspotting, EMDR

Am I the right therapist for you?

There is so much more awareness today about the effects of trauma on humans and there are many ideas out there about what healing from trauma looks like. Therapy with me is not just sitting & verbally processing. You may have tried talk therapy in the past, read self-help books, or followed the latest podcasters and influencers on social media and you’re still feeling stuck. Healing from trauma does not happen solely from the neck up.

You can think about your thoughts and past experiences, but you’re not actually processing the associated emotions using your body. And that’s what we do here! My whole body approach honors the ENTIRE person - physiologically, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. Trauma can have an effect on emotions, memory, and physical health. The brain/body methodologies I use activate the body’s innate ability to heal itself from the anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and other lingering effects of trauma.

Clients describe me as . . .

. . . . focused, caring, dependable, professional, non-judgmental, encouraging, hopeful, and they feel as though they are my only client - one of the most important goals I have for my work.

Click below to schedule your no charge 20-minute consultation so we can chat and decide together if we’re going to be a good fit.

My Core Values

Today’s high-functioning, driven women come in all shapes, sizes, and diversities, as do our trauma experiences. Flexibility and considering the unique needs and preferences of each individual client is essential in my work with you.

Additionally, as a life-learner and avid reader, ongoing professional development and consultation are vital for me to continually enhance my cultural competence and trauma-informed practices.

  • Empathy & Compassion

    Understanding and sharing your feelings; connecting with you on an emotional level, fostering trust and a sense of understanding; validation of feelings and experiences.

  • Connection

    Emphasis is always on establishing a genuine and authentic connection with you, integrating active listening to truly understand your experiences and to encourage open and honest communication, creating a space for vulnerability at your pace.

  • Trust

    I strive to demonstrate consistency and reliability in my judgment-free therapeutic approach. I highly respect your confidentiality, reinforcing that necessary sense of trust and privacy. And we’ll collaboratively set realistic and achievable therapy goals to help in building a sense of trust in this important process.

  • Safety

    Physical and emotional safety within the therapy environment are vital. Clear communication about the therapeutic process and boundaries, as well as ensuring you have a sense of control and autonomy in the therapeutic relationship are also very important. I am attuned to difficult emotions and triggers and foster a strengths-based approach that zeros in on your resilience.

Listen to a recent podcast interview I did for Valeria Koopman at Fit For Joy - it is about who I am, how I work, and Brainspotting as an effective intervention for trauma.

My Background & Training

Education & Licensure

  • Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
    School of Behavioral Sciences
    Northcentral University

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
    #8352 ID | #131140 CA

  • Certified Psychotraumatologist #49901052
    The International Psychotraumatology Association

  • Clinical Certified Complex Trauma Professional I/II, #49868194

  • Bachelor of Arts
    Communications Major, Psychology Minor
    California State University, Sacramento

Trainings & certifications

  • Brainspotting (Certified)

  • EMDR; Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy I/II

  • EFT; Emotionally focused therapy

  • TF-CBT; Trauma focused cognititve behavioral therapy

  • CBT; Cognitive behavioral therapy

  • ACT; Acceptance and commitment therapy

  • Mindfulness therapy

  • Expansion Brainspotting

  • Trauma Focused HeartMath

  • Healing Shame / Center for Healing Shame

  • Trauma-Focused CBT

  • Neuroscience for Psychotherapists

  • The Effects of Trauma on Relationships and Intimacy

  • Process of Change in Evidence-Based Psychotherapy

  • Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

  • Associate, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

  • Member, Idaho Counseling Association

  • Member, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

  • Board Member, AAMFT (Local District), 2014-2016

  • Achievement Award for Programs
    SVC-CAMFT, 2016/2017

  • Outstanding Chapter Leader
    CAMFT, 2018

  • Delta Kappa International
    Marriage and Family Therapy Honor Society
    Iota Chapter

Ready to prioritize you?