About Martha
Martha Ayala-Tannis has worked in mental health since 1997. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - with 25 years of practice and a long history of helping people through hard transitions. Martha combines practical skills with a calm, direct manner to help people facing relationship strain, trauma, parenting stress, and other life changes.
Her approach is straightforward and person-focused. Sessions aim to identify what is most pressing and then try steps that make a difference day to day.
Background and approach
She uses a mix of talk-based methods and skills training to address upsetting patterns and build coping tools. Martha draws on several clinical approaches to meet different needs. That can include looking at thoughts and behaviors, working on emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills, and talking about core relationship patterns that repeat over time.
She also brings motivational methods to support change and long-term follow-through. Clients can expect a collaborative process where goals are set together and progress is reviewed regularly. Martha also offers Christian counseling for those who want faith to be part of their conversations.
Based in Connecticut, she is comfortable working over phone, video, live chat, or text-based messaging. The focus is on practical steps and clearer day-to-day functioning rather than complicated jargon.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person in front of the therapist. It emphasizes listening, empathy, and helping people find their own solutions. This approach works well for people who want a supportive space to talk through decisions and feelings.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors affect mood. It uses practical exercises and homework to change unhelpful thinking and build new habits. CBT can help with anxiety, low mood, and managing stressful situations.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It includes techniques for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. This approach can be useful when strong emotions lead to repeated conflicts or impulsive reactions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. Together they will try strategies, check what helps, and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered by licensed professionals using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for full face-to-face conversation, while phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging offer shorter check-ins and flexibility around busy schedules. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into daily life and keep momentum between sessions.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- Coping with life changes
- Parenting issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 25 years
- Licensed
- Connecticut, New York
- Languages
- English