Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Martinez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Laura, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
There is not too much that can fully prepare you for the transition into adulthood and entering your career path- in my case the mental health industry. Rigid academics can help with structure and preparation of the mind. Attainment of knowledge can give you methods on how to work with certain patients. Networking with other professionals can help give you a sense of belonging in the field and connection to other professionals. However; one of the greatest acts of kindness ever received was mentorship and guidance from Dr. Frank Lawlis.
I met Dr. Lawlis when I was 23 years old- I had no idea about the endless amount of lessons and pearls of wisdom I would encounter at the time. Dr. Lawlis is not only a clinical psychologist with years of experience under his belt, but also a shaman and author of about 20 books (not to mention a NY Times Best Seller author). By the general public, he is well known for his vast contribution to the Dr. Phil Show. To me, he is a beacon of truth, brilliance, compassion and wisdom in the mental health field. I am completely honored to call Dr. Lawlis my mentor. We would sit together in between seeing clients and talk about the mental health field. He was patient with my limited understanding of the industry at the time. At that point in my career, all the knowledge I knew was from textbooks and academic settings with practice patients. He would tell me stories that were rich in lessons, that guide so much of the work that I currently do in private practice.
I remember once, I was having difficulty with a client who was very much working against her own healing. It seemed she wanted to stay in a place of suffering and I was frustrated with that as a young clinician. I called him for advice and he said lovingly: “Laura, no amount of methods will help people in these cases, but one will- the action of compassion. If she knows you are authentically compassionate toward her suffering, the healing can begin.” He was right- as soon as I tapped into my own compassion toward her suffering, she sensed that someone cared and this helped her tap into her own internal healer. She transformed immensely after that. My hope is to be a seasoned therapist that can offer wisdom to a young therapist/healer because I know how much of an impact it had on me at the time. Dr. Lawlis and I still meet monthly and he still gives me endless wisdom. For that gift I am forever grateful.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My therapy private practice is called The Sacred Life. In my private practice, I blend neuroscience techniques, clinical therapy approaches/interventions, and shamanistic healing practices into the session based on the client’s needs. What enthuses me most is the ability to use three very different angles to help a client transform. Common feedback I hear in session is that the client has never healed on the level of mind, body, and spirit and this has made a world of difference for them. Talk therapy can only get the client so far, at some point the client will have to engage in practices that can help them cope and become an expanded version of themselves when they are on their own without a therapist or healer in the room. In addition, sometimes traditional therapy can only reach a client’s conscious mind while the blend of techniques in shamanism can reach the subconscious mind or psyche. The subconscious mind and body is where many of our emotional wounds are located. Sometimes we are completely unaware that they even exist until we start doing the work. The neuroscience perspective and interventions help a client rewire their brain and discover brain-based coping strategies. The traditional therapy techniques, neuroscience, blended with shamanism gives new life to sitting with a therapist in sacred space. Blending these pathways of healing gives the client a sacred transformational experience that they can attribute as their own. The ability to effectively blend these perspectives is what makes me most proud to be a contributor in this holistic field. I meet with clients individually and also provide workshops, ceremonies and healing retreats once per month in group format. I also host local and international intensive retreats that are so powerful to witness.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
The healer/therapist needs to be connected to their own heart, and most importantly their own inner work in order to be successful in this field. Knowledge and training, of course, are important but if a clinician cannot connect to their own suffering and be open to healing themselves, this could be harmful to the client. Parallel to this is a therapist who is not connected to their compassionate heart in the work. Once the shared space between client and therapist becomes a formality instead of a passion or heart-centered endeavor, the healing becomes lost in method and rigidity. I am a huge advocate that therapists and healers must have their own therapists and healers so connection to their heart with professional boundaries can happen in the therapeutic setting.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing clientele has been word of mouth. When a client recommends me to others, it is one of the highest forms of compliments. To me it means that the person trusts me to guide the person to do the inner work- which can be a very vulnerable and difficult process. Instead of spending money on advertising, I trust that the universe/God will send the right people that I need to work with and that level of faith has contributed greatly to my private practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dfw-spirituality.com/about
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfwspirituality/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dfwspirituality/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dfw-spirtuality-the-sacred-life-fort-worth
- Other: Psychoneuroplasticity Protocols: https://www.amazon.com/Psychoneuroplasticity-Protocols-Addictions-Clinical-Companion/dp/1442241977 Animal and Nature Rituals: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Nature-Rituals-Frank-Lawlis/dp/0997534567 Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/lauramartinez Picking Strawberries Podcast: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-picking-strawberries-with-105545410/episode/therapy-with-miss-laura-lpc-a-109016134/ Mind Body Solutions: https://mindbodybylawlis.com/About_Us.html
Image Credits
Carlos Garcia