Our promotional spotlight employee for May 2025 is Miguel Martinez, Therapist – Intensive Services Wraparound.
From a fresh UCLA graduate unsure of his next steps to a licensed clinical social worker making an impact in his own community, Miguel Martinez’s journey is one of passion, persistence, and purpose. Miguel’s first attempt to join Penny Lane Centers (PLC) may not have worked out due to a lack of driving experience, but that didn’t stop him. After gaining valuable skills in the ABA field, he reapplied—and this time, his career with PLC officially began. Inspired by his mother, who also works at Penny Lane, Miguel always knew he wanted to follow in her footsteps and give back to the community that raised him.
Now a Therapist in the Intensive Services Wraparound program, Miguel has grown through multiple roles within the agency, including Child & Family Specialist and Case Manager. His path to licensure was shaped by the supportive environment at PLC, where mentorship, encouragement, and access to educational resources helped him thrive. Whether he's supporting youth through tough times, advocating for underserved families, or unwinding with his cacti garden, Miguel approaches everything he does with heart and authenticity.
In June of 2017 I graduated from UCLA and thought well, maybe I should look for a job. Penny Lane was hiring at the time, I interviewed but did not have the needed driving experience, which shows you how fresh faced I was out of college. I ended up working in the ABA field for about a year. I was able to get not only driving experience but experience in general. Applied at Penny Lane for the CFS position again and I’ve been here ever since.
For one my mom worked at Penny Lane Centers when I was in high school and currently works here still. Which may make me a nepo baby … On a serious note, my mom always worked in community-based services, and I was always inspired by how she went the extra mile to help others no matter what the situation. I knew I wanted to be like her and to work in a field where I could help the community I was born in.
I think being able to work with a diverse client population. I love being able to work with various clients, expand my understanding of their culture, people’s backgrounds, and history. I think it makes me a better therapist, and it makes me understand my community more.
I started at Penny Lane Centers as a Child & Family Specialist in the Intensive Services department. I really enjoyed working side by side with a team learning from their experience, especially the eclectic cast of therapists that were present. As I learned more and more, I applied and became a Case Manager in the Child Outreach Triage Team at Penny Lane. During that time of being a CFS and Case Manager I was in graduate school getting my MSW. When I completed my program, I became a therapist in both COTT and then Wraparound. A couple of years later I passed my licensure to become an LCSW!
I think PLC provides the structure to grow within the agency. Whether it’s through experience, motivation from your supervisors, and coworkers, you really feel that you can continue to pursue greater heights. The opportunities are there, and they are even encouraged at PLC.
I took advantage of everything that could help me further my education while I continued to work at Penny Lane. Especially the education reimbursement, knowing you don’t have to pause your education because you know there’s opportunities at Penny Lane to help with that which removes barriers that one can encounter when pursuing higher education. The sign-on bonus and bilingual differential don’t hurt either.
Can I say documentation? I feel I never learned how to type properly - maybe I can get education reimbursement for typing classes to help with that. On the other hand, when you work in the mental health field the job is difficult no matter how you try to slice it, the important thing is to keep going and learn.
I think people would be surprised to know I love gardening, specifically cacti. I have a lot of cacti in my yard. I can probably name the type of cacti and what family it belongs to just by looking at it. I also like anime, video games, collecting shoes, and sports. I try to get into a new hobby every so often, it helps to decrease the stress of the job.
One of the events in my life that shaped me is in college, I worked for a program that aided preschoolers in disadvantaged low SES areas. I remember one day on site at my preschool where this kid had come back after a long absence due to a death in his family. The child was behaving aggressively during play time and would interrupt story time. At one point in the day, he did not want to join his peers for lunch. I took it upon myself to sit with him as he rolled a ball around. We sat on the carpet for an hour passing the ball along. He flashed a smile till he abruptly stopped and said that he missed his mom. I didn’t have the answers back then to console him although in that moment playing with him was a helpful distraction. But I wanted to find the answers, that moment inspired me to change my major to pursue therapy as a profession and help young people in similar situations.
That you’re not going to change someone’s life in one session or one sitting. It’s going to take time.
The thing I appreciate most about Penny Lane is it has always been firm in its values. That no matter what is going on in the world, we continue to be calm in the storm for many of our clients. We welcome everybody no matter their background and we empower those who know what it feels like to be oppressed, discriminated against and/or ostracized. It makes it easy to wake up every morning to work for a company like that.
I am grateful for all the amazing people that I have got to know at Penny Lane Centers! I feel that certain people deserve a shout out for helping me achieve my goals (so far) at Penny Lane. Felicia Ramirez for giving me a chance and being patient with me as a young CFS. Edie Sanchez and Daisy Gonzalez put up with me during long car rides to see clients. Martha Saavedra for setting a benchmark on how to be a therapist and never letting me settle. These women motivated me and continue to inspire me, and for that I am grateful.
Congratulations Miguel!
