Amber-Lea Martinez, APCC, joined us as a volunteer therapist in 2023 and has been faithfully donating her time to a client ever since.
Volunteers / Amber-Lea Martinez, APCC
It is an absolute honor to be invited into [my client's] life, to be a part of their story, and to witness their growth. I am constantly in awe of their willingness to be open and vulnerable. Building a relationship with them has been and continues to be a highlight of my week.
What's a fun fact about you?
Amber-Lea: I have been creating a culmination of 1-second videos every day since January 1, 2021, and at this point it's up to 1,482 seconds of my life!
What is your favorite part about volunteering with A Home Within?
Amber-Lea: This is the easiest question! The relationship I have formed with my client and their family. It is an absolute honor to be invited into their lives, to be a part of their story, and to witness their growth. I am constantly in awe of their willingness to be open and vulnerable. Building a relationship with them has been and continues to be a highlight of my week.
Why did you decide to join A Home Within?
Amber-Lea: Volunteering with AHW is one small way that I can give back to the community. There are so many barriers to receiving mental health support, including cost, lack of community resources, and stigma. By joining AHW, I am able to take away one or more of those barriers for my client and give them the support that they otherwise may not have had.
How has your work with A Home Within impacted you personally, professionally, or otherwise?
Amber-Lea: As cliche as it may sound, I have learned as much from my client as they have from me. Our journey together has been just that – together! As our relationship has grown and as I have gotten to know them, I have grown in my understanding of the foster community and my role in supporting those within it. I've also grown as a person in my patience and understanding. I always resonated with the mission of AHW to therapy for "as long as it takes", and working with my client and their family has highlighted how important it is to build a long-term relationship.
What would you say to someone considering volunteering with A Home Within?
Amber-Lea: Do it! Volunteering for AHW has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I've taken on, and being surrounded by other volunteers with similar passions to myself is so uplifting.
What do you think would surprise people most about the work A Home Within does?
Amber-Lea: AHW is more than just your individual work with your client. AHW provides consultation, community, and education. I love my consultation group, look forward to meeting with my local volunteers, and enjoy learning new things during the free CEs provided by other AHW volunteers.
Thank you so much, Amber-Lea, for your beautiful commitment to our mission and to your client!
At a Glance
A Home Within’s community includes nearly 500 therapists in 20 chapters across 10 states.
Dozens of free consultation groups and continuing education events are offered each year.
This year, over 150 therapists nationwide became volunteers, leading to a 25% increase in our network!