Hi Dr. Martinez, we are excited to have you as part of our Executive Contributors. Can you tell our readers a little more about yourself?
Hi, I am Dr. Francis Martinez, a first-generation Guatemalan, a Naturopathic Doctor, counselor, and healer. My passion includes integrating a mind, body and spirit approach to healing and wellness, at a clinical level. I love to understand the intricacies of the human body, especially around trauma. Since the complexity of trauma requires a complex response.
I currently have my own telemedicine practice based in Seattle, WA. I work with first-generation Latinas to provide holistic counseling by using a number of healing modalities – such as meditation, breathwork, nervous system regulation, somatic integrative therapy, botanical medicine and nutrition.
Outside of the healing space, my favorite things are spending time with friends, family and my fiancé. You can always count on me to be reading a new book, planning the next event or finding the best food around Seattle.
Can you share with us what the key driving force behind your practice was?
Like many healing practitioners, my story in the trauma space began with my own personal journey. My path to healing has given me the compassion of understanding the imprints of trauma both for myself and others. I have struggled my whole life with anxiety and it really started to show up and intervene in my life during medical school. It started manifesting as physical pain, it also showed up as insecurities, unworthiness, feeling incompetent and as imposter syndrome. I started to deep dive into my own healing journey and what was causing me to feel this way physically, emotionally, and mentally. When I finally learned about the mind-body connection is when I finally felt heard. Understanding the mind and body connection showed me how to listen to my body and address all the trauma I had stored for years. I have gone through childhood trauma myself, as my parents have, as our ancestors have. There are so many women that are going through exactly what I have gone through. This led me to open up my own practice, to help educate, empower, and hold sacred space for other first gen Latinas. I’m now helping heal other first gen Latinas while simultaneously healing my inner niña (child) every day.
Share with us your most effective methods are to motivate your clients for outstanding results?
I am answering this with the perspective of patients that I work with, which are first-generation Latinas. Being a first-generation Latina there are many common themes that arise in our life and one of them for many of us, is it’s hard to prioritize ourselves. Seeking mental health services is prioritizing ourselves, but there is resistance with it. So I remind my patients that there has been a lineage of generations before them that were not able to seek out mental health services. Generations before them that weren’t able to truly feel their emotions and heal their own past pain and trauma in order for them to survive. It has taken generations, so that they can finally be here in this moment and get the opportunity to heal themselves, heal their ancestors, and break generational cycles. It’s bigger than just them, and with that perspective, that’s the only motivation you need.
In Today’s wellness world, how would you highlight your company’s competitive advantages? What makes you stand out from the crowd?
My perspective, knowledge and education on health and wellbeing are what make me stand out and is my competitive advantage. I don’t just focus on the complaint, symptom or diagnosis. I assess the whole body and person. I am a Naturopathic Doctor that understands on a clinical level the body’s physiology, biology, and neurology. In addition to also understanding on a trauma informed lens how your body works emotionally and how it is linked to your nervous system. As well as being a Latina understanding the cultural nuances, the language and having a personal level of understanding that I have gone through the same experiences as my patient creates a sacred safe container for healing immediately.
If you could describe your business in 3 words what would they be and why?
Paz (means peace), Poder (means strength/power), Vida (means life)
These 3 words are actually the name of my 3 services I provide in my practice that convey the transformation my patients seek for each service and feel that they embody my business. Paz represents my 1:1 counseling session, it comes from living in Paz with your authentic self as you navigate being a first-generation Latina and everything that comes with it. My goal is for them to feel seen, to feel validated, for them to not feel alone, I understand them, I see them, I am one of them. Poder is my signature program where I want you to understand the Poder that is inside of you. It starts with healing the relationship with yourself and finally understanding the innate wisdom and healing that your body already has. I invite you to understand your nervous system physiologically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It’s not about changing who you are or fixing you, it’s about connecting with yourself. Vida represents my Naturopathic sessions, entails the use of non-invasive holistic therapies to address the underlying root cause of disease and to help you feel better from the inside out. Educate and empower you to create and cultivate a sustainable and long-lasting friendship with your health, so you can vivir tu vida (live your life).
What is your winning formula for living a healthy and fulfilled life?
Living intentionally, which to me means doing lifestyle choices that align with me and my values. I choose food that is intentionally going to nourish me, give me nutrients and energy throughout the day. I intentionally do practices that I know will benefit me throughout my day, such as journaling, sauna, meditation, or just having a great conversation with a loved one. I intentionally have a great social circle and partner that supports me, elevates me and make each other grow. I intentionally have a good work-balance and understand that rest is needed. I intentionally seek out therapy for myself to also take care of my own mental health wellbeing, to be able to provide my best self to my patients. Living with intention and meaning every day.
Before you leave, please share with our ReEnergized Community your favorite book or quote and Why you love it?
A quote from one of my favorite books More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth, is “Sometimes just being yourself is the radical act. When you occupy space in systems that weren’t built for you, your authenticity is your activism.” That quote gives me goosebumps every time I read it, and it lights a fire under me. Being yourself and owning the different identities that make you “you”, especially in places where you don’t often see yourself represented is the most powerful example you can set for your community.
Dr. Francis Martinez
Dr. Francis Martinez is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor, specializing in the mind and body connection. She has a Bachelor's degree from University of Washington in Public health and Geography and a Doctorate degree in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University. As well as a certification in integrative somatic trauma therapy, and a certification in integrative pelvic therapy with a focus on somatic dialogue and trauma informed care.
She is a first generation Latina, a creator, a spiritual coach and a healer. She mostly works with first generation Latinas to get to the root of their unhealed intergenerational traumas on a spiritual, emotional and physical level. Some of the symptoms of these traumas on an emotional/spiritual level are anxiety, negative self-talk, self-doubt, unhappiness, perfectionism and unhealthy relationships. On a clinical level some symptoms can look like fatigue, chronic stress, anxiety, hormonal imbalance, digestive issues and nervous system dysregulation.
