It would be much better to look into shadow work. I typically think one star reviews are a bit suspicious because you can't tell if somebody is just being immature, but I have a whole lot of context behind this one. Many moons ago I was a client of his practice, before it was more common to choose which places you will choose to patronize out of discernment with research. During visits, Martins did not conduct himself with an appropriate demeanor or attitude, which is even worse when you consider what line of work he is in. Nobody wants to work any more, and he chose to put himself in this very position. The way he carried himself could use more manners and interpersonal people skills, including basic ones such as not talking over others. He also speaks with a shocking amount of logical fallacies, such as strawmanning. I have never met somebody who uses so many of these fallacies, that it felt like he was horseplaying, in a serious environment which was not appropriate. I also agree with the reviewers that the space was crowded, though that is probably not the fault of the individual psychologists, so I won't hold that against them. It costs money to rent out a lot, so I can have empathy for that. He visually lacked concentration, which is also something that is going to be a red flag in this field, for this high stakes of a career. He derailed conversations a lot and came off as disheveled due to it. I don't know if this was his first few years as a practicing psychiatrist, and the idea of allowing a newly certified or graduated psychiatrist practice on a vulnerable demographic such as children rubs me wrong, though I do understand needing to get that first entry-level job. Sadly I think he found that he wasn't so good at it, and it might have been hard to just up and change careers, but I truly wish he has. Honestly, seeing so many other negative reviewers who has experiences similar to mine with him, it sounds harsh but I sometimes hope he's passed away. I've come to realize that what Martins does is a very surface-level "band-aid" approach to dealing with the children. I find this immoral and unethical on many grounds, especially when dealing with children who inherently still have undeveloped brains that are still growing and developing. I'd like to suggest and encourage people who are considering seeking this, or perhaps any, psychologist for their child instead get to the root of the problems that are occurring, as is responsible to do. Some ways I suggest to do this include but are not limited to: showing up for your child emotionally, making sure they are not being raised in emotional neglect which is a form of abuse, maybe if they are a bit older and can comprehend and have some level of self-awareness you can introduce them to shadow work, you can also do shadow work yourself as a parent to ensure they are being raised by a healthy individual or healthy parents and are in a healthy environment, not being bitter or resentful of your children because they are our youth and are inherently pure even if you don't understand how so yet or it doesn't seem like it on surface-level, leading by example and teaching your children empathy through both direct and indirect lifestyle choices i.e. apologizing to your children when you are wrong teaches them to own up to their own mistakes as well and shows them that life allows them to develop and grow into beautiful human beings, reading reviews before deciding on which psychologist you feel comfortable to have care for your child and preferably looking for a human/person-centered or IFS (Internal Family Systems) approach, not being quick to assume the worst of children and instead asking yourself, "if I am assuming the best of them, why might they be doing this" and generally being less impulsive in your approach to correcting them. I really do want to suggest one lady who I think is worth looking into, but I first want to pre-warn you that you may seem some very bad reviews written of her online, but Martins also has a jaw-dropping number of bad reviews as well, so if you are already pursuing Martins, you should use your own mind and critical thinking skills to compare the two and see who you think sounds more professional and holds themselves with more grace and talent. Her name is Teal Swan. read more
