Lizette G. Martinez, LCSW
In-person therapy in the Bay area; virtual sessions anywhere in CA.
→ I love my 5 year-old son.
→ I love salsa dancing and dancing in general but don't do it enough.
→ I am a terrible plant owner.
→ Before becoming a therapist, I graduated from culinary school and practiced as a chef for almost a decade.
→ I could eat ice cream every day
→ I speak Spanish fluently (my first language) and I dabble in Italian and French
→ My practice is named "sana" because in Spanish it means "heal". In my Mexican culture, when a child gets hurt, we provide comfort by rubbing their "boo boo" saying sana sana, colita de rana. Si no sana hoy, sanara manana. It literally means "heal, heal, frog's butt. If it doesn't heal today, it'll heal tomorrow."
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
EMDR Trained
ASIST Certified Master Trainer
Nearly 20 years in suicide prevention, trauma work, and mental health care
Before I was a therapist, I was a chef. Nourishing people has always been my thing—but after losing my brother to suicide in 2004, I knew I wanted to help in a deeper way.
That loss changed the trajectory of my life and ultimately led me to this work.
Now I bring my full, human self into every session: humor, honesty, deep compassion, and zero therapist-y fluff.
I’ve spent nearly two decades helping people move through pain and come home to themselves.
Clients say I’m the first therapist they’ve had who actually gets it.
I’m not just nodding along—I’m in it with you. I’m calm when you need grounding and direct when you need a push.
I hold space for your whole self, mess and magic included.
My office is a place where you can exhale, take your shoes off, and start being honest with yourself in a way that feels both safe and f*cking liberating.
