Connect
To Top

Meet Lupita Martínez of Therapy of the Sun in Gardena

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lupita Martínez.

Lupita, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
So I actually have been interested in being a therapist since I was in high school. I didn’t really know what therapy was or what a therapist did but I took an intro to Psychology course and an AP Psychology course at Leuzinger High School (Leu-house!) and was immediately intrigued. In college, I actually struggled to get into the Psychology major because it was an “impacted major.” I wasn’t really prepared to succeed at UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) coming from a low-income community, being first-gen, not having the greatest study skills, lacking time management skills, working two part-time jobs, and attending school full-time; it was tough! I got rejected from the major the first time around but was fortunate enough to get in the second attempt.

I have worked in various settings as a therapist and have also worked with different populations. When I first started out, I worked with Older Adults and Adults, then later transitioned to another company where I worked with 0-3 year old children, school-aged children, and parents. I loved the work but was burned out from the expectations of billing, paperwork, and intense traveling since I was an in-home therapist; I also noticed that being a bilingual therapist meant I was expected to drive to various locations outside of my spa area (the general geographical location where clients are located). I was SO burned out!… I ended up taking three months off work after getting a gentle nudge from my own therapist, thankfully! (yes therapists go to therapy too – this wasn’t my first time in therapy either).

After taking the time off and recognizing how the expectations were affecting me, I decided to not go back to work and instead figure out other ways I can be a therapist without putting my needs aside. The opportunity to open Therapy of the Sun, currently a solo practice, sort of fell from the sky. I had been working with someone (Dr. George Meza) as a contracted clinician after I took the three months off; I was making enough to get by with paying my bills but definitely knew this wasn’t a realistic way to live. Luckily, Dr. Meza had outgrown his office and put in a good word with the office manager so that I can secure that office. It happened from one day to another; he had called me on a Wednesday and I had to make a decision by Friday!

To be honest, I hadn’t considered opening a practice so soon. I had such a whirlwind of a year and I felt I needed to slow down. But the universe had other plans for me because there was no better time than that time to truly start. I had no ties to a company, I had the time to research and create, and I had the opportunity placed right on my lap. So I talked to my girlfriends, my partner, my brothers, and my parents (yup! I used ALL my resources) and they helped me solidify my decision by giving me their pros and their cons. Ultimately, I made the decision that was right for me during that time and I have no regrets.

Fortunately, my family, my friends, and my partner have been a huge support during this time. My dad was there when I needed someone to help me go to Lowe’s countless times, paint the office and hang stuff up; my mom was there when I needed help with cleaning, also painting, and finding deals for furniture and decor at the thrift store/salvation army; my partner was there after he got out of work and still made time to help create a realistic budget to furnish the place and also helped move some heavy furniture; one of my brothers was there at 7:30 am to help me drive a moving van (during weekday traffic hours) to Beverly Hills to get the couch that I found on OfferUp; even the kind neighbor in my office was there to help my brother move the couch through a narrow hallway. I had a close friend who helped take my professional picture, and another close friend created an AMAZING excel sheet that helps me track my expenses and income as well. There are so many other ways other people have also helped. I’ve had individuals refer clients to me, message/text me encouraging words, and others who will offer their assistance with my business pro-bono simply because they want to see me succeed.

I didn’t get to where I am today on my own. Yes, I’m the therapist, but I can’t take all the credit!

Has it been a smooth road?
I struggled with being a therapist because I thought that the only way to give back to my community was working at a non-profit. I questioned whether being a therapist was right for me only because paperwork, driving, and billing expectations were my arch nemesis during these times. It was tough! It has definitely not been a smooth road.

Even now, I am googling questions, asking people (some amazing friends), and taking leaps of faith when it comes to owning a business. It definitely feels like a collective experience, which naturally I thrive in! Right now, I am embracing the act of networking by attending events, tabling at conferences, and simply having lunch with other clinicians to pick their brains and share my own entrepreneurial knowledge thus far.

I wasn’t taught how to be a business person in graduate school, so I’m figuring it out as the issue presents itself – something that was very out of my comfort zone before…Therapy of the Sun has been open for almost a year and I finally feel like I’m owning the fact that I don’t know it all. What I do know is that I am lucky to have those hardworking/resourceful genes that come directly from my parents and my roots.

Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about your work?
Currently, I work at my office part-time where I specialize in working with college-age students and young professionals struggling with anxiety, depression, and/or others who are struggling with adjusting to these new transitions as a minority. I love working with college students and young professionals because not only am I able to relate to the hardships, I am able to teach them the coping skills I wish I knew when I was their age. I also specialize in working with imposter syndrome which is the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or legitimate. You have no idea how many times I’ve been told by a client “I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m just winging it” or “I don’t belong there, That place isn’t for me.” I too had these thoughts when I was in school and I sometimes still have them now!… My goal as a clinician is to normalize imposter syndrome (70% of individuals will experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lives) and help individuals overcome that self-doubt in order for them to be their best selves as students and professionals.

I also provide additional mental health services too. I complete immigration evaluations for folx currently submitting hardship waivers, cancellation of removal cases, VAWA, U-visas, and asylum cases. I really enjoy doing these evaluations because I get to use my clinical evaluation skills and create an extensive psychosocial report, something that excites my inner nerd. The work is tedious and takes me hours to complete, however, it is worth it when I hear from attorneys how the objective work I do can help families stay together. Lastly, I create and facilitate interactive workshops, take part in panels, and other additional speaking engagements to speak about stress management, imposter syndrome, emotional intelligence, Latinx mental health disparities, along with various other topics. To me, these last two types of services complete my goal as a clinician. I feel much more fulfilled when I get to do more than just face-to-face direct services; I enjoy outreach and I enjoy research. These services that I offer via Therapy of the Sun are my way of being fulfilled as a clinician.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I can see how mental health is going through a huge transformation and I am excited for it. I can see how people are starting to talk about it more in the media and how mental health has become more than just a “trend.” Simply from the time I was an intern until now, I can see how my own community of Inglewood/Hawthorne/Gardena area has been more open about mental health. I’ve seen buses with the Suicide Prevention Lifeline listed on their sides, I’ve gone to the movie theaters and notice short clips providing resources for those struggling with depression, murals with inspiring messages, along with other things. Even just this week, one of my colleagues spoke on a Spanish radio special on Maternal Mental Health, my mom and Abuelita listened!

I can see the big shifts happening now; I can see how people are feeling more comfortable with sharing their truth. Even within my family, I can see how they’re speaking about their struggles with grief, anxiety, and depression as well. It’s beautiful to see this transition and I’m grateful to be living in it. I look forward to more shifts and changes, I’m here for it.

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in