Small practice. Highly experienced. Real attention.
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Still Water Therapy opened in June 2024 with the goal of creating a practice rooted in social work values: client centered, holistic, and genuinely ethical.
For us, holistic means therapy is the starting point, not the whole story. That might mean coordinating with your primary care doctor or psychiatrist, walking through a budget together, or helping you find a resource you didn't know existed. Whatever the need is, we want to be useful in real life, not just in session.
We have chosen to stay small on purpose. It lets us know our clients well, grow thoughtfully, and take good care of our clinicians. When our team is supported and treated well, they bring their best to the people they work with.
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We believe your mental health deserves the same attention and care as your physical health. That belief shapes everything we do, from the quality of care we provide to the way we walk alongside you.
Therapy is one part of a much bigger life journey. Our goal is not to keep you in the therapy room, but to help you build real confidence and practical tools you can carry with you. Over time, that means feeling steady enough to navigate life on your own terms.
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People — The whole reason we exist. Our clients and our clinicians are the priority, always.
Respect — The foundation of good therapy. Safety, trust, honesty, and doing right by you, including in the decisions you never see.
Equity & Whole-Person Care — You are more than one struggle. We look at the full picture of your life and shape support around your circumstances, not a template.
Empowerment — Building your confidence and your own tools, so change is something you carry, not something you borrow.
Growth — Whatever forward looks like for you, whether that is self-understanding or finally moving through something stuck.
Meet Our Clinical Director
Cindy Martinez, LCSW-S
Clinical Director, Board Approved Supervisor & Psychotherapist
License: TX (64958), LA (19197), FL (5157)
I'm a first-generation Houstonian from a father who migrated from Colombia, and mother from Mexico, both seeking the American dream. Growing up, Spanish was my first language before English took over in elementary school. Life between two cultures held both beauty and difficulty, and I've lived every part of it. This city is where those two worlds met, and where I learned to live in both at once.
My path into this work started in 2015, when I earned my bachelor's in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Houston. That same year, I took a job at an adoption agency. Two years later, I completed my Master of Social Work at the University of Southern California, ready to move into clinical work. Earning my LMSW is what truly launched my career. From there, I moved through case management with people experiencing homelessness, hospital inpatient settings, pilot programs, and private practice. When someone is in a shelter or a hospital bed, there's no time for pretense, you either build trust quickly or you don't build it at all. Those years taught me how to meet people where they are, without needing them to explain or justify themselves first.
Within three years, I earned my Texas Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential, and in 2024 that milestone led me to open Still Water Therapy.
A little bit about me, I’ve been married to my husband Freddy for nearly a decade. Freddy has been by my side along this journey and I’m very proud of the military services he did in his tenure with the US Army. Together we share a blended family with four kids, a cat, and a dog, so our house is rarely quiet. Aside from being a caregiver to my family, I enjoy playing video games, getting a good workout at the gym, spending time with family and friends, reading and watching science fiction, anime, and anything supernatural.
I hold real respect for all faiths and spiritual paths, and I welcome people of every belief, gender, and sexual orientation with open arms.
Wherever you come from, whatever you carry, my hope is that you find in this space what Houston gave me, room to be all of who you are, all at once.
“Growth isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about becoming more of who you are at your best and at your own pace.”
My Approach
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CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is based on the idea that our thoughts can affect how we feel emotionally and physically, and how we behave. CBT is structured, goal-oriented, and typically involves identifying and challenging negative or unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. The goal is to replace them with more realistic and constructive ways of thinking and behaving, thereby improving emotional regulation and overall well-being. CBT is widely used to treat various mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance use disorders, among others.
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Strength-based therapy is a positive psychotherapeutic approach that directs attention to a client's strengths and resources rather than their weaknesses. This method is beneficial for a wide range of individuals, including those struggling with low self-esteem, emotional challenges, significant mental health issues, or resistance to therapy itself. The primary objective of strength-based therapy is to support clients in cultivating a more positive mindset, fostering a constructive worldview, and recognizing themselves as resilient and capable.
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Psychodynamic therapy is a form of talk therapy that focuses on exploring how unconscious thoughts and past experiences influence current behavior, emotions, and relationships. It is based on the idea that our early childhood experiences shape our personalities and that unresolved conflicts from the past can lead to difficulties in the present.
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy designed to help people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and cope with stress. It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices, helping individuals change unhelpful behaviors and thoughts while accepting and understanding their emotions. DBT is often used to treat conditions like borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, and self-harming behaviors.
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Mindfulness CBT aims to help individuals develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and adaptive coping strategies by integrating mindfulness practices with the structured techniques of CBT. This can include enhancing awareness of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations as they arise in the present moment. In addition, clients learn to accept their experiences without judgment, allowing them to respond to challenges more effectively rather than reacting automatically.
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Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling technique that aims to help people explore and resolve ambivalence about behavior change. Developed by psychologists William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick, MI is a collaborative, person-centered approach that empowers individuals to find their own motivation for change.
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ACT therapy operates by emphasizing the acceptance of life experiences as they occur, without judgment or attempts to alter them. This skill is honed through mindfulness practices that promote the cultivation of a compassionate relationship with challenging experiences. Engaging in this process can liberate individuals from persistent negative thoughts, enabling peace of mind and fostering healing.
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Walk and talk therapy is a form of therapy where the session takes place outdoors while the therapist and client walk together. It blends traditional talk therapy with physical activity and exposure to nature. Here are some key aspects of walk and talk therapy:
Movement: The act of walking during therapy sessions can promote physical activity, which is known to have positive effects on mental well-being. Movement can also help clients feel more energized and less constrained compared to sitting in an office.
Nature and Environment: Being outdoors in a natural setting can have calming and therapeutic benefits. It can provide a change of scenery from traditional therapy settings and offer a more relaxed atmosphere for open conversation.
Informal Atmosphere: The informal setting of walk and talk therapy can sometimes make clients feel more comfortable and open to discussing personal issues.
Integration with Therapy Techniques: Therapists can integrate various therapeutic techniques into walk and talk therapy sessions, similar to what would be used in traditional office-based therapy. This might include cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, or psychoeducation.
Benefits: Advocates of walk and talk therapy suggest that it can reduce stress, improve mood, boost creativity, and enhance overall well-being. It may also be particularly appealing to individuals who find traditional therapy settings intimidating or uncomfortable.
Logistics: Sessions typically take place in parks, nature trails, or other outdoor locations conducive to walking and talking. Clients and therapists may walk side by side or in a less structured manner compared to sitting face-to-face in an office.Overall, walk and talk therapy offers a unique approach to traditional therapy that leverages physical activity and natural environments to support mental health and emotional well-being.
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Humanistic therapy is the person-centered approach, where the therapist acts as a facilitator rather than an authority figure. Instead of providing direct advice or solutions, the therapist empowers the individual to explore their own feelings and thoughts independently. This process helps clients tap into their inner resources and develop greater self-awareness and personal insights. Humanistic therapy is particularly effective in fostering a sense of empowerment and self-actualization in clients, encouraging them to take charge of their own growth and well-being.
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Somatic therapy is a holistic approach that integrates the connection between mind and body, utilizing both psychotherapeutic and physical techniques for healing. Alongside traditional talk therapy, somatic therapy practitioners employ mind-body exercises and other physical methods to address and release accumulated tension that can adversely impact a patient's physical and emotional health. This comprehensive approach aims to promote overall well-being by addressing the interplay between psychological experiences and bodily sensations, fostering greater integration and healing across both domains.
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Trauma therapy provides a safe environment for individuals to acknowledge and process traumatic experiences, even if they initially do not identify their life events as traumatic. Many stressful situations can contribute to trauma, and some may be more readily apparent than others. Despite a person's belief that they have not experienced trauma, unhealthy coping mechanisms often reflect the lingering effects of such experiences. Trauma-focused treatment aims to increase awareness of these underlying traumas by establishing a secure space where individuals can effectively address and navigate their mental health challenges.
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Carl Jung, renowned as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, theorized that individuals are shaped significantly by their life experiences. His theory revolves around the interplay between the conscious and unconscious mind, the presence of universal archetypes, the process of individuation, and the categorization of psychological types. Carl Jung theorized that the symbols on Tarot cards could help us understand these different parts of ourselves as individuals and the stages of life that we are in.
Meet the Staff
Adan Morales, MSHRD
Operations Manager
Adan Morales is a Houston native and a graduate of the University of Houston, where he earned his Master of Science in Human Resource Development. He works behind the scenes to keep the practice running smoothly so clinicians can stay focused on client care. His work sits at the intersection of organizational growth and personal growth, helping not just organizations, but the people inside them, navigate change with clarity and confidence. Great service is at the heart of everything he does.
Outside of work, Adan is a traveler at heart, with the islands of the Caribbean topping his list of favorite destinations. He never passes up the chance to try a new cuisine, but nothing compares to time at home with his 6 nephews and 5 nieces, family is what matters most to him.
Ready to take the first step?
Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation, or send us a message and we'll reach out.
Want to get started right away? Click Send Message and let us know you'd like to schedule your initial 60-minute intake session. A member of our team will reach out within one business day to walk you through scheduling your first intake, including the forms and assessments to get started.