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About Natalia Smith-Martinez, AMFT
Hi, my name is Natalia and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. I work well with kids of all ages, couples, and individuals struggling with relational difficulties and disconnection. I came to the healing world to help people find connection and belonging in their surroundings and inner world. In helping my clients get in touch with their deeper self, my hope is that they will feel more whole and in alignment with what they really want out of life.
Before becoming a therapist, I was a preschool teacher and yoga/ meditation coach to kids of all ages. I believe incorporating the wisdom of the body can be beneficial to any healing journey and can lend to deeper mental and emotional wellbeing. There are many lessons that can come from listening to children, especially our own inner child, in our search for fulfillment. Through inner child work and re-engaging in play, we can foster curiosity and excitement for the world, and break free from negative self-talk and feelings of shame or isolation.
We live in a time of growing disconnection—so many people feel isolated, unseen, and burdened by expectations of self-reliance that leave little room for genuine community. In my practice, I help clients reconnect with themselves and others, fostering meaningful relationships grounded in mutual respect, care, and vulnerability.
I approach therapy through depth psychology and a Jungian lens, which studies the symbols, patterns, and stories of daily life to help uncover the root of problems and struggles. With dream work, somatic exercises, and exploring personal narratives, together we can understand what your deeper self yearns for, and how to integrate that into your reality. I also work from a trauma-informed lens, which recognizes how negative experiences can deeply shape our current patterns and self-view. By being grounded in understanding and compassion, you can more confidently explore the truths and answers already within you. I would love to help you tap into your inner strength and uncover the new possibilities around you!
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Locations: Telehealth for clients in the State of California
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Insurance: Carelon, Aetna, Optum and United Healthcare (Limited Availability)
Areas of Expertise
Trauma
Body Image
Anxiety & Depression
Self Worth and Self Esteem
Life Transitions
Relationship Issues
Sex and Sexuality
Anger Management
Education
I earned my Master’s in Counseling from Pacifica Graduate Institute. At Pacifica, I was trained in psychodynamic approaches, including Jungian theory, object-relations, dream work, sand tray, and trauma-informed therapy. I wrote a published thesis that explored healing through reciprocity, researching and learning from the philosophy of my own Tarahumara ancestors and the teachings that have been passed down in my family for generations. I come from a lineage of shamanic healers, curanderas, who have informed my approach to therapy. These teachings continue to shape my hope of bridging Western clinical training with Indigenous wisdom, offering clients a space where both psyche and soul are honored.