Meet Ashley Martinez
Let's tap into your bravery so you can write the next chapter of your story with confidence.
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in Lakewood, Colorado
The #1 thing clients say to me is, “I never knew therapy could be like this.”
Clients often tell me that they appreciate how natural and welcoming therapy with me has felt.
I support parents, children, and families who feel constantly overwhelmed — even when life looks “fine” on the outside. Together, we reconnect with your creativity, playfulness, bravery, and intuition, helping you feel calmer, more grounded, and more connected to what matters most.
Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. I often blend creative arts, expressive techniques, play and talk therapy to help clients explore emotions, build insight, and discover new ways to cope in a brave and empowered way, for artists and non-artists alike. This means that in one session, we might use movement, art and role playing to express our feelings, and in the next sessions have a deeper conversation where you are finally able to say and express what you have been holding in. We’ll move at a pace that feels safe and supportive while gently encouraging growth and change.
Therapy is as unique and special as your own story.
When clients work with me, they discover a creative capacity for therapy that they often didn’t know existed. Through art, play, storytelling, and expressive techniques, therapy becomes more than just talking — it becomes a space to explore emotions, gain insight, and try new ways of responding to life’s challenges.
At the same time, our work together remains grounded, approachable and practical. Alongside creative exploration, we focus on building tools, confidence, and emotional awareness that you can carry into everyday life. My goal is to create a supportive, down to earth, and collaborative environment for you, your child or family.
I have a unique combination of lived and professional experience, as well as both creative and clinical training and education, and as a mom myself, I get it and I am here for you.
I understand firsthand how overwhelming emotions, big life transitions, and challenging family dynamics can feel, allowing me to bring that empathy into every session. My training in the creative arts, expressive therapies, and evidence-based approaches allows me to meet you where they are and tailor support to yours and your family’s needs.
Whether it’s helping children navigate big feelings, supporting new moms through the transition into motherhood, or guiding families through periods of change, I am committed to helping you feel seen, understood, and empowered to move forward with confidence.
Clients (adults and children alike) describe me as down-to-earth, playful, compassionate, and skilled. They feel comfortable and content in working with me because I create a safe space where big emotions are met with understanding, curiosity, and humor and creativity is encouraged. Together, we explore feelings, try new ways of coping, and uncover strengths you have been missing — helping you feel seen, supported and empowered to face life’s challenges with bravery.
My Guiding Principles
Creativity
Creativity is our compass, turning challenges into opportunities for insight, growth, and confidence.
Play
With play as our guide, therapy becomes a space for curiosity, courage, and meaningful connection.
Compassion
At the heart of my approach is compassion — meeting each client with empathy, patience, and respect, and creating a foundation of support that helps clients navigate life’s challenges safely and confidently.
Strength
Guided by a strength-based perspective, therapy focuses on what is already working for you — building confidence, resilience, and lasting skills
Humor
Humor is one of the tools we use to build trust, relieve stress, and discover new ways to cope and grow.
Bravery
To me, bravery is being scared of something and exploring it anyway. Through this lens, therapy becomes a space to safely take risks, build resilience, and uncover strengths you may not have known you already had.
My Specialties
My Methods
For artists and non-artists alike, I use creative arts therapy — a way to explore emotions, express yourself, and gain insight through art, movement, or other creative mediums — and drama therapy, which uses storytelling, role play, and improvisation to process experiences, try new perspectives, and practice coping strategies. Even within verbal conversation, we often focus on stories, roles, and metaphors to help you make sense of experiences, reframe challenges, and reconnect with your strength.
These approaches are effective for children, teens, and adults, creating a space that is engaging, playful, and deeply transformative. By blending creativity, play, and conversation, you can gain emotional insight, build resilience, and feel more confident navigating life’s transitions.
Traditional Talk Therapy
Focuses primarily on verbal the discussion of thoughts and feelings
Relies only on verbal communication and insight
Encourages reflection, analysis, and discussion
Provides talk-based strategies and coping tools
Helps build insight, coping strategies, and perspective
Creative Arts Therapy
Uses art, drama, music, or movement to express emotions
Helps clients access feelings that are hard to put into words
Encourages play, and creativity in experiential problem-solving
Provides hands-on, experiential ways to process emotions
Helps build confidence, self-expression, and emotional regulation
Learn more about Creative Arts Therapy here.
In my unique therapeutic approach, we will combine creative arts therapies with verbal exploration, so that we can utilize the benefits of both approaches, to uncover feelings, build understanding, and foster lasting growth and strength.
My Background
As a child, I was drawn to theatre for its creativity, camaraderie, and capacity for self-expression. At the same time, I had a passion for psychology and helping others. Unsure how to combine the two, I pursued them separately — until I discovered Drama Therapy, a unique modality that blends theatre processes with psychological principles.
Over the past 20 years, I have continued to nurture my creative interests and needs, while working in a variety of clinical settings, including domestic violence support, school-based therapy, intensive trauma recovery, addiction treatment, and long-term mental health rehabilitation. I have also provided home-based care for adolescents and families in crisis, as well as extensive work in acute inpatient psychiatric units, supporting patients across the lifespan.
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Marymount Manhattan College, BA in Theatre & Psychology, Minor in Drama Therapy, 2008
New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education & Human Development, MA in Drama Therapy, 2012
Capella University, Additional education in Clinical Assessment & Career Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado (#0015466) & Missouri (#2025041232)
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in New York (#001681)
Registered Drama Therapist & Board Certified Trainer [of Drama Therapy] with The North American Drama Therapy Association (#503/#144)
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Certified Perinatal Mental Health Clinician (In progress)
Certified Lucid Body Teacher
Certied Rape Crisis Advoacte
Certified in PMCS (Preventing & Managing Crisis Situations)
Ongoing clinical Supervision
Specialized Training in:
Play Therapy
Dance Therapy
Music Therapy
Art Therapy
Trauma Therapy
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North American Drama Therapy Association
Postpartum Support International
American Counseling Association
American Group Psychotherapy Association
Publications:
Martinez, A. K. (2018), “This way to the playground: A drama therapeutic treatment protocol for the parentified child who has witnessed domestic violence’, Drama Therapy Review, 4:1, pp. 101-116. Read the article here.
Why Brave Space?
A key part of successful therapy is creating a space where you feel safe, seen, and supported. As your therapist, I am committed to fostering that safety, but I also recognize that taking the first step inside requires courage, which doesn’t always mean the absence of fear, as sometimes it means we speak while our voice shakes. That’s why the name Brave Space reflects both the bravery people show in seeking support and the safe, nurturing environment we cultivate together.
The name is also a tribute to my oldest daughter, whose name carries the meaning “Strong and Brave.” Soon after she was born, I took the leap to start this practice. Brave Space honors both my brave girl’s needs and growth and support, as well as my own challenging postpartum journey. Brave Space carries forward a message of strength, courage, and hope for every client who walks through my door.
Let your bravery be your guide.
Contact me today for a free consultation.
THERAPY IN LAKEWOOD, CO AND ONLINE ACROSS CO, MO & NY
THERAPY IN LAKEWOOD, CO AND ONLINE ACROSS CO, MO & NY