Today we’d like to introduce you to Amira Martin

Hi Amira, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

I struggled through college after becoming a mom at 18 and completed graduate school on time with my grad school peers, at 25 years old, by then a single mother of two. Growing up as one of 7 children, there was always so much going on at home, and so much I didn’t understand. My dad suffered from mental illness, and my mother struggled to parent us. The affordable housing (NYCHA development, a NYC-based project) I was raised in offered little inspiration to me and my siblings. Eventually, we moved with our mother to the North Bronx to a tenement apartment. And that’s where I learned a lot about social justice, the needs of my community, and learned firsthand how lack impacted my community. Lack of quality medical care, lack of high-quality education, and lack of mental health care. By the time I was 16, I imagined I might become a psychologist or a clinical social worker; I had been seeing one for my own depression and some early trauma I dealt with in my youth.

I embarked on my journey to establish an independent practice in 2011 with a clear vision: to bridge the gap in mental health care for Black and Brown individuals. Drawing from my own experiences as both a therapy client and a therapist, I understood the profound need for culturally competent and empathetic healing spaces. Despite facing initial challenges, including financial constraints and the demands of single motherhood, I persevered. Transforming my basement into a modest yet purposeful office space, I took the leap and founded my private practice.

From those humble beginnings, my practice has blossomed into a thriving community of over 50 dedicated therapists. Our mission extends beyond providing quality mental health care; we’re committed to empowering aspiring therapists from underrepresented backgrounds to establish successful private practices of their own. Through training and mentorship initiatives, we’re fostering a new generation of clinicians equipped to address the unique needs of our communities.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

As far as obstacles, early motherhood was honestly more of an inspiration than a challenge. I remember one of my sisters saying that if I had just one more child I would have gotten my doctorate. I still like to think I will. Living in NYC as a single mother of two sons was a challenge, always worrying about how I would teach my sons to strive to achieve, how I would be a good example to them, managing motherhood and my profession, both of which are demanding. I eventually got married in 2013, and that relationship became physically abusive. It was not easy to escape from; that was one of my biggest challenges to this day. The effects of being with a batterer on myself and our child were truly devastating and took years to recover from. In 2019, after I managed to get him out of my home, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. And I feared for our safety not only due to the abuse but also because he knew where we were and had broken the restraining order multiple times. We moved to the southern tier of NYS for safety, and I transitioned my business from in-person to virtual in order to continue to be able to keep it running. Today I am married to Dr. Brian Saltsman, an amazing man who is also committed to helping others through his work!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

MA Therapy, LLC is more than just a private practice; it’s a beacon of hope and healing for individuals in need of culturally competent mental health care. Our journey began in 2011 with a mission to bridge the gap in mental health services for Black and Brown communities. Drawing from personal experiences as both a therapy client and a therapist, we understand the profound need for empathetic and inclusive healing spaces.

Specializing in trauma therapy, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and relationship issues, we offer a range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients. What sets us apart is our commitment to social justice and equity. We believe everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, regardless of their background or circumstances.

We take pride in our dedication to empowering aspiring therapists from underrepresented backgrounds through training and mentorship initiatives. Our goal is not only to provide high-quality, affordable mental health care but also to ensure that more Black and Brown therapists have access to the resources they need to succeed in private practice.

What was your favorite childhood memory?

Every year on Thanksgiving, which some years fell on my birthday as I’m a late November baby, my mother would take myself and my siblings to her mother, our grandmother’s house. The house was full of food and family. It was there that my birthday would also be celebrated, and it felt incredibly special to share those times with my family. One year, everyone chipped in a dollar, and I ended up with about $30. For a young girl, about 8 years old, that was a lot of money. I felt rich and loved!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amiraforher.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amirablackbrownhealing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amiraforher
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/amiramartin
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGnl2YYfhhD5OlrdeaUnK_Q

Image Credits

Andy Cornielle of AndyCFotos