Meet Gilza Fort-Martinez | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with licensed marriage and family therapist Gilza Fort-Martinez, MS, LMFT and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gilza, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am a child of political refugees from the Cuban revolution. My parents were middle-class but educated, and they were quite progressive for the late 1950s early 1960s, especially regarding education for all. This was something that they highly valued and encouraged since they had to start their lives over upon arriving in the United States, including their careers.

My father had been a practicing lawyer in Cuba and was very driven to make a difference for others in society. In Miami, he started by getting a master’s degree in library science, something completely different from his law degree, but he felt he had to start somewhere. Later, in the late 1970s, the University of Miami created a program for Cuban doctors and lawyers to help them revalidate their degrees and licenses. My father took advantage of that and was soon able to practice law again in the United States.

My mother was a university graduate in graphic design, and although she postponed her career until my father had completed the revalidation of his law degree, education was crucial to her. They were both very appreciative of the U.S. for all the opportunities they received.

The idea of hard work, integrity, and working on your own to help others was the foundation of my upbringing. My father always told me to focus on becoming financially independent and taking care of myself, especially as a woman. This was the groundwork that encouraged me to start my own business. And although my father wanted me to be a lawyer, in my junior year in college, I realized that I wanted to help people, as he did, but in a different way. I decided to pursue a degree in psychology to help couples and families work through all of life’s transitions.

I opened my private practice, Resolution Counseling Center, in 1997 and have since helped hundreds of individuals navigate and overcome life’s many challenges. I have worked with many families, mentored students, created a primarily women-run practice of associates, and done teaching and consulting in the community.

The principles that my parents brought to the U.S. and the values they instilled in me have been the foundation of the success that I continue to experience in my career. Twenty-five years later, my practice continues to thrive, and I love what I do!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I am a Miami-based bilingual licensed marriage and family therapist with over 25 years of experience in conflict resolution, interpersonal relationships, and women’s challenges. Some of the specific areas I do work in are infidelity, couples counseling, and navigating life transitions.

Through honest feedback and a solution-driven approach, I have successfully helped my clients reconnect with themselves and create paths of resolution that have turned their lives around.

My approach to help you rediscover yourself is honest and solution-focused so that you can focus on living a fulfilled life in emotional wellness.

Aside from my one-to-one work with clients, I have experience in public speaking and leading workshops for corporations and organizations about a wide range of topics including stress and conflict management, improving communication effectiveness, leadership, and more.

I offer personal and virtual sessions, and a complimentary 10-minute consultation over the phone.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my family! Thank you for your love and ongoing support!

Website: https://www.gilzafort.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toughlovehealer/

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/gilza-fort-martínez-ms-lmft-6b0924b

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toughlovehealer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toughlovehealer