Mercedes Martinez-Hannon

Somatic Experiencing® Practioner and Somatic-EMDR Practitioner

University of California, San Diego

California State University, Los Angeles

Offering in-person and telehealth sessions

Mercedes (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#150791) and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) and certified in Somatic-EMDR. Her approach to healing focuses on a collaborative process that draws from a rich tapestry of Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), Attachment Science, Polyvagal Theory, and Mindfulness. She blends science with intuition to unlock your body’s natural wisdom and propensity towards wholeness.

Mercedes is particularly passionate about empowering adolescents, young adults, and parents in shifting patterns that are no longer serving them through a process-oriented approach. She specializes in facilitating healing and self-(re)discovery for individuals who identify as experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, loss, trauma, relational distress, chronic stress, and emotional dis-ease. Mercedes actively affirms the diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives of the individuals she works with.

As someone who believes in lifelong learning, Mercedes is dedicated to continuously evolving her practice and deepening her knowledge by attending trainings that address the science and application of traumatology, attachment dynamics, and decolonized practices.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Mercedes finds joy in the simple pleasures of life: laughing with loved ones, communing with nature, and freeing herself through dance, music, and art.

Poems that mirror Mercedes’ therapeutic perspective:

“The Guest House” by Rumi

“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver

“To Come Home to Yourself” by John O’Donohue