Dr. Ricardo Martinez began his education and training in
Psychology at California
Lutheran University.
As a second-generation Mexican-American, Dr. Martinez was struck
by the shortage and need for more Latino/a psychologists and
other mental health professionals. Moreover, he was
especially surprised to learn that there was a strong need for
Latino men in the field (which coincidently, continues to this
day) and Spanish-speaking mental health professionals.
While at
California
Lutheran
University, Dr. Martinez completed
clinical and research practicums at the former
Camarillo
State Hospital & Developmental
Center
working with adults with schizophrenia. In addition, Dr.
Martinez began a research assistantship at the UCLA
Neuropsychiatric Institute & Hospital. He spent a year and
half assisting with electrophysiological research investigating
genetic markers for alcoholism in the EEG brain waves of
adolescent sons of alcoholics. Dr. Martinez graduated from
California
Lutheran University
with a B.S. in Psychology in 1992.
Dr. Martinez then continued his education at
San Diego State
University
in pursuit of a M.A. degree in Psychology. At
San Diego State,
he worked as a Graduate Research Assistant following his
interest in neuropsychology where he studied language and
emotional development in infants and toddlers with focal brain
lesions and infants of substance abusing mothers. He
completed his M.A. in Psychology in 1995.
Dr. Martinez then went on to pursue his Doctor of Psychology
(Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology at the California School of
Professional Psychology (CSPP),
Los Angeles. His emphasis area
at CSPP was in the Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology
track which reinforced his education and training in
multicultural/diversity issues. While at CSPP, he worked
as a Research Assistant at the Los Angeles Addiction Research
Consortium / Matrix Institute on Addictions. At Matrix, he
had the opportunity to work with clients who were addicted to
methamphetamines, heroin, cocaine, and many who were
dually-diagnosed with mental illness and substance dependence.
He completed his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from CSPP in 1997.
In addition, while at CSPP, Dr. Martinez completed his
pre-doctoral internships at
Pasadena
City
College – Psychological Services and
at Whittier
College’s
Student Counseling
Center. His dissertation
involved a ‘needs assessment’ for an adolescent substance abuse
prevention program. Dr. Martinez received his Psy.D.
degree in 1999.
Dr. Martinez was then hired as a Registered Psychologist at
Pacific Clinics’ outpatient program in
Pasadena. While in the outpatient
program, he provided individual and family therapy to children
and adolescents and their families. Later, Dr. Martinez
transferred to the Alta-Pasa Community Education Center (CEC)
Day Treatment program within Pacific Clinics to complete his
post-doctoral hours for licensure. In the CEC program, he
provided individual, family, and group therapy to adolescents
who were involved in the juvenile justice system. Shortly
after becoming licensed by the California Board of Psychology in
2001, Dr. Martinez was promoted from a staff psychologist to the
Program Director of the CEC where he remained until May 2008.
Dr. Martinez then went on to expand his
private practice and continue working part-time providing
psychological counseling to the students at
Pasadena
City College’s
Community Education Center (CEC).
Dr. Martinez worked at Pasadena
City
College’s
CEC from March 2006 until March 2010.
Currently, Dr. Martinez works as a part-time
Family Therapist serving adult clients with chemical dependency
issues and their families at Promises Treatment Centers in
Malibu.
In addition, Dr. Martinez maintains his private practice
in Pasadena, CA.
