Monika Martynska

Psychotherapy / Counseling

  LMFT, CNC Certified Nutrition Consultant

Online and in person sessions.

Limited number of insurance appointments available.

Please inquire about specific insurance plans.

Licensed Marriage

and Family Therapist  

LMFT 104545

Biography

I grew up under a communist regime in Gdansk, Poland. In 1981 my parents emigrated to the United States in pursuit of a better life and in 1983 I was finally allowed to join them. This was a very difficult transition for me because I did not speak English and I greatly missed my family and friends left behind.  It also turned out to be a defining experience of my life because it set me on a path of discovery of what it takes to develop emotional resilience under very challenging circumstances.

My healing path then led me to the study of yoga and meditation and I spent a year as a resident of Gampo Abbey, a Buddhist monastery in Nova Scotia, Canada under the guidance of  Pema Chodron, a wonderful  Buddist teacher and author of many books on Buddhism and Eastern/ Western psychology including When Things Fall Apart.  The year I spent there was one of the most important and meaningful years of my life. It allowed me to deepen my meditation practice and develop a sense of compassion for others, along with a profound peace, joy and community connection that I was previously unaware of. At that time, I also committed myself wholeheartedly to a personal therapy dealing with my own childhood and family issues.

My path also led me to becoming a Certified Nutrition Consultant (CNC), and a graduate of  Bauman College in Santa Cruz, CA. I then worked at a fitness center where I assisted people in weight management, creating  a healthy diet and lifestyle. This work as a nutrition consultant made me aware that many of the issues related to food had psychological roots and I wanted to find more ways to overcome those issues. I had also had a life-long  interest in Buddhism and the the intersection of Western Psychology and Eastern Spirituality and how we can bring forth the best of both to help people thrive.  I therefore  set out to pursue a degree in Counseling Psychology at CIIS in San Francisco, a school that had a corriculum rooted in both Western and Eastern philosophy.

While in San Francisco I trained at the Gestalt Institute and also completed a training in Hakomi, a mindfulness based somatic therapy. In addition to private practice I spent 2 years working with people with drug addiction and severe mental illness in a hospital-like setting, and another 2 years with children and adolescents in the school system. Currently I am in private practice in Santa Cruz, CA where I see people for individual and group therapy.