Martha is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been counseling since 1992. She received her master’s degree in Counselor Education from The University of North Texas and completed her undergraduate degree at Baylor University.

After graduating from Baylor, Martha was a volunteer leader with the Young Life ministry. It’s there, her passion for counseling was ignited through her work with this high school ministry.

While pursuing her counseling degree, Martha interned at Minirth- Meier Clinic, where she provided counseling in the Adolescent and Adult Day Program. She continued counseling at Meier Clinics for 16 years.

Martha joined Nikao in 2008 and considers it a privilege to walk alongside individuals and couples as they navigate through trials and difficulties in life. She finds joy in helping others find hope in the midst of pain and believes that healing happens within the context of relationships and vulnerability.

Martha desires to create a safe place where individuals can be authentic with their struggles and to work through any hurt or challenge they are experiencing. Martha provides counseling in-person as well as through telehealth. She offers individual, couple and family counseling and specializes in:

• Trauma
• Abuse
• Grief and Loss
• Anxiety and Depression
• Marriage and Relationship Issues
• Parenting
• Premarital
• Mother/Daughter Relationship Issues
• Life Transitions
• Codependency/Boundaries
• Postpartum depression
• Addictions
• Level 1 Gottman Method Couples Therapy

While life can be difficult and sometimes overwhelming, Martha believes that there is hope and change is possible where individuals can experience freedom and and victory. Through the counseling process, she meets individuals where they are and assists them in reaching their goals. Martha seeks to encourage and equip others to overcome longstanding fear, harmful patterns and emotional pain.Martha helps individuals as they identify their beliefs that may be negatively affecting their lives. She believes it is important to reframe unhealthy beliefs that can impact their view of God, self and others.

She counsels with attention to the whole person: body, mind and spirit. Martha believes that change is possible by God’s grace.

Martha, a Dallas native, and her husband, Pat, have been married since 1992 and have two adult daughters and a son in law. They are members at a local evangelical church where Martha serves in leadership for the women’s Bible Study and they serve in the marriage ministry as well.

In her free time, Martha enjoys spending time with family and friends, being at the lake, reading, traveling and exercise.

Martha loves the quote by Dan Allendar that says, “The work of restoration cannot begin until a problem is fully faced.”