Chris Martinez

Hi! I’m Chris, and I’m proud to say I’m a therapist at Colors of Austin Counseling (they did not make me write this, honest). 

If I had to put one word to describe my approach, it would be “adaptable.” I have an educational background with a few modalities (motivational interviewing, family systems, CBT) but my main training and practice stems from Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). In short, I put the therapeutic relationship first. Connection before intervention.

I connect by adapting to however my clients feel most comfortable. Do you like sitting and talking for an hour? Do you like to move around, maybe stretch or go out for a walk? Do you like to play basketball or soccer? Do you want to bring something to session, maybe your favorite blanket or a guitar? Do you want to talk about the past, the present, or the future? Do you want to dive straight into your greatest fears, or something that made you proud this week, or even something external to you? Whatever makes my clients feel welcome, I will meet them there.

Keep in mind that the purpose of therapy is to create some sort of change in a person’s life, so there will be times when I challenge my clients. I feel, considering all my experience, that I have a good sense of when/how much to challenge my clients. When it comes to challenging, I like to get creative. The therapy office is a wonderful place, but it is not always the most effective place to do “the work” and find solutions.

Throughout this process, my goal is to make sure my clients feel supported. In mental health, therapists often refer to ourselves as “passengers” alongside our clients, which fits very well with how I view my role in my clients’ lives. I will be a supporter, a guide, a listening ear, essentially the person who lifts up my clients so that they can confidently walk their own path.