Martha Ayala-Tannis, LCSW

Martha Ayala-Tannis is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years in the mental health field. She uses straightforward, practical skills to help people manage relationship strain, parenting stress, trauma, and major life changes. Martha offers Christian counseling as an option for those who want faith to be part of their care.

She blends several approaches to fit each person's needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Client-centered work focuses on listening and building a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing provide tools for managing emotions and moving toward goals.

Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented. Martha asks about what matters most to the client and then sets small, practical steps to try between visits. She prefers clear language and simple techniques that are easy to practice at home.

Martha draws on long experience across settings and populations to tailor her approach. She pays attention to the stresses of parenting and family dynamics while addressing the aftereffects of trauma and abuse. Her work is paced to match each person's readiness for change.

People who meet with Martha often want hands-on strategies and steady support. She uses the mix of approaches above to help people cope better, repair strained relationships, and move forward after difficult events.

How Martha’s Approaches Work Online

Many of Martha's methods translate well to remote care. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors, which works well in video or phone sessions when people can review real-life examples and homework together. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and empathy, helping clients feel heard during chat, text, or live sessions without a pushy agenda. Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers concrete skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance that can be taught and practiced between sessions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Martha collaborates with each person to identify goals and preferences, then mixes techniques to match their needs. She checks in and adjusts plans as progress is made, so the work stays practical and focused on what the client wants to change.

Online formats provide flexibility for busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when nuance matters. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can fit into a quieter break during the day. Live chat and text messaging make brief check-ins, skill coaching, and between-session support easier to schedule. Together these options help people access steady, ongoing care without extra travel.