Dr. Israel Martinez, LCSW, Certified Sex Therapist 

LGBTQ+ counselingCarpe Diem: Mental Illness in the LGBTQ+ Community (Interview with Israel Martinez, LCSW)

​​​​I am a gay man (pronouns: he, him) who has been working with the LGBTQ+ community on a professional basis for close to 20 years. This background provides me with unique expertise on issues that tend to be a part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer experience.  I began my mental health work with the LGBTQ+ community at the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, and enhanced my experience with clinical positions at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center and Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC).

​In addition to my clinical experience with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, I have published a book (Helping Gay Men Find Love: Tips for Guys on Dating and Beginning a Healthy Relationship), am an American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) certified sex therapist, have been trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Relationship Therapy (Developmental Model), Group Therapy, and Mindfulness.  I also provide trainings, lectures, and supervision to other therapists working with the LGBTQ+ and consensually non-monogamous communities.    
 
Education
  • Modern Sex Therapy Institutes
  • Columbia University, Master of Science in Social Work
  • University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Training
  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Couples Therapy (Developmental Model) 
  • Sex Therapy (AASECT certified; Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment; Modern Sex Therapy Institutes) 
  • Group Psychotherapy 
  • Mindfulness

To better serve the LGBTQ+ community, I brought on to my team a therapist that shares my enthusiasm and passion for working with LGBTQ+ clients: Isiah Lacefield, LPC.
LGBTQ+ teen therapy counseling

​Isiah Lacefield, LPC, BC-TMH, ACS

​I am trained in trauma and stress including anxiety and depression. I am here to assist you with awareness and balance. I can help by providing a nonjudgmental space, techniques, and interventions to assist with your development and goals. When I am not in the realm of psychology and mental health, I am sharing time with loved ones, traveling, listening to music, and/or exercising. It is not easy walking alone, let me walk with you.
​Good Faith Estimate (GFE)
At my practice all clients will receive an oral and written explanation of all expected charges from therapy services.  Information will be orally provided when the service is scheduled or when the client asks about costs, and available in accessible formats, in the language(s) spoken by the client.
 
Information regarding scheduled services will be furnished within one (1) business day of scheduling an service to be provided in three (3) business days; and within three (3) business days of scheduling an item or service to be provided in at least 10 business days. A new GFE will be provided, within the specified timeframes if the client reschedules the requested service. If any information provided in the estimate changes, a new GFE will be provided no later than 1 business day before the scheduled service. Also, if there is a change in the expected provider less than one business day before the scheduled care, the replacement provider must accept the original GFE as their expected charges.
 
Disclaimer 
This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created. 
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, and your bill is $400 or more for any provider or facility than your Good Faith Estimate for that provider or facility, federal law allows you to dispute the bill. 
 
If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you may have the right to dispute the bill. 
You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available. 
 
You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill. 
 
If you dispute your bill, the provider or facility cannot move the bill for the disputed item or service into collection or threaten to do so, or if the bill has already moved into collection, the provider or facility has to cease collection efforts. The provider or facility must also suspend the accrual of any late fees on unpaid bill amounts until after the dispute resolution process has concluded. The provider or facility cannot take or threaten to take any retributive action against you for disputing your bill. 
There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the Selected Dispute Resolution (SDR) entity reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate, reduced by the $25 fee. If the SDR entity disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.