Martika Ybarra, MFT-I

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Hawaii

Master of Science in Counseling Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy, Chaminade University

Bio and Experience:

My journey in child and family therapy has deepened through hands-on work with children, teens, families, and parents. Early on, I was drawn to the crucial influence of family systems for a child’s development, which led me to study psychology and specialize in counseling psychology with an emphasis on family dynamics. 

Throughout my career, I have learned to hold space for deep, vulnerable work. I believe that transformative healing arises from a strong, trusting relationship between therapist and child. The rapport I cultivate with each client centers on safety, empathy, and authenticity that enables them to share painful or difficult experiences and to access resilience and growth. This relationship-based approach recognizes that meaningful change often unfolds within a supportive alliance where clients feel seen, valued, and understood.

Beliefs and Core Principles:

The client is the true expert of their own life, and my role is to guide, support, and co-create pathways to well-being. In line with play therapy principles, safety, authenticity, and genuine connection are integral to the healing process, with the child’s lead guiding the pace and topics of exploration. Family dynamics and systemic context are central to understanding challenges and crafting effective interventions, and I view collaboration with parents as essential to support across settings. With the right approach, individuals can develop lasting skills to adapt to life’s challenges, and play-based strategies are used to reinforce resilience, regulation, and social skills. Therapy is most effective when it is inclusive, culturally sensitive, and affirming of diverse identities and experiences, with interventions that honor the child’s expression through play, art, and other developmentally appropriate modalities.

Approach:

I believe play is the natural language of children and that therapy should be child-led within a warm, collaborative relationship. The safe, nonjudgmental space invites symbolic and role-play exploration to process emotions and build coping skills, with the clinician attuned to the child's lead and using reflective listening to foster self-awareness and regulation. The therapeutic relationship is central to healing, while the family system is important and addressed through collaborative goals. Interventions leverage the child’s strengths, using play to build resilience and social skills, all within a culturally sensitive framework that respects each child’s background. In addition, I incorporate art therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed approaches to tailor supports to each child’s needs and promote holistic healing.

Clients: Children age 3+, adolescents, families and parents

Languages: English (fluent); basic Spanish comprehension

Fees: $75 per session, sliding scale upon request. I do not accept insurance at this time.