- LGBT concerns
- Trauma and abuse
- Life purpose
About Anuja
Anuja Martinez is an Illinois licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 25 years of experience. She works with adults and young adults facing trauma, grief, relationships, identity questions, and major life transitions. She also helps people who are navigating the challenge of being themselves in environments with strong expectations about who they should be.
Her practice includes focused work with LGBT concerns, including transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-expansive identities. She also addresses intimacy-related issues and trauma and abuse. Additional areas of attention include kink and BDSM culture, body image, caregiver stress, domestic violence, immigration issues, and questions about life purpose.
Martinez describes her style as straightforward, curious, and human. She listens and asks direct questions. She will challenge where it could help and point out strengths as they appear.
Sessions are conversational and practical. She avoids long silent stretches and prefers an engaged back-and-forth. Humor appears when it fits because she sees healing and laughter as sometimes connected.
Her approach respects each person's experience of identity without requiring explanation or education from the client. Work in the room can involve naming what feels limiting, practicing different ways of relating, and finding clearer next steps for daily life and relationships.
Therapeutic approaches and how they fit online
Evidence-based techniques often used in work like this include trauma-informed approaches that help people process past harm and reduce its impact on current relationships. These methods focus on grounding, naming the effects of trauma, and building practical coping skills to handle triggers and emotional flashpoints.Another common set of approaches addresses identity, relationships, and intimacy through skills-based work. This can include communication practice, boundary-setting, and exercises to increase comfort with sexual or gender identity topics. These methods aim to make everyday interactions easier and more straightforward.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which techniques fit best given the person's needs, goals, and preferences. That may mean trying something for a few sessions and adjusting based on what helps.
Confirm current session options before booking since formats are not listed in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a workday, allow for shorter check-in visits when needed, and remove travel time. They also let people connect from different parts of Illinois without needing to commute, which can help sustain consistent work on life purpose and relationship concerns.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with adults and young adults on trauma, grief, relationship struggles, identity questions, and major life transitions. Additional focus areas include intimacy issues, sexual culture and kink, body image, caregiver stress, and life purpose.
How would she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
Her style is straightforward and curious; sessions are conversational and practical. She listens, asks direct questions, and will sometimes challenge unhelpful patterns to help clarify next steps.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 25 years of experience as a therapist working with adults and young adults across a range of concerns including trauma and identity-related work.
What credential and location does she hold?
She is an Illinois LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and her practice is based in Illinois.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time and cost varies with location. Confirm specific pricing during the sign-up process.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.