Join us as we welcome new columnist Dr. Angela May, a talented and accomplished Michigan woman in her own right, who will be joining us every month with Phenomenal Michigan Women. Dr. May will profile Michigan women you may not know - but should!
A Passion for Helping Others
Dr. Tanya Martin always had a passion for helping people. And, although she did not know what form this desire would take, the idea that working hard in school to obtain her goals was ingrained from her earliest memory. “My mother worked a lot. She modeled for us hard work. She never made us believe that it (accomplishments) would be easy.” Her parents married young, and separated young. As a result, her mother raised Tanya, her older brother and younger sister, as a single parent. Always close with her siblings, she stated, “The three of us have our own special relationship."
Tanya, a native of Detroit, Michigan, recalled that at age thirteen, a teacher described several professions to her class. When psychology was mentioned, she was intrigued. “I had never heard of it. But as he described it, I realized that that was what I was meant to do. It never varied (after that).” Majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology at Marygrove College, she earned a Bachelors Degree in 1988, and a Masters Degree in clinical and humanistic psychology from the Center for Humanistic Studies (CHS) in 1991. In addition to working with individuals, she developed a passion for treating couples. Tanya became an expert in the use of Imago relationship therapy, a form of treatment considered very effective in helping couples with relationship challenges.
Just When She Thought Her Work Was Done
Tanya, a native of Detroit, Michigan, recalled that at age thirteen, a teacher described several professions to her class. When psychology was mentioned, she was intrigued. “I had never heard of it. But as he described it, I realized that that was what I was meant to do. It never varied (after that).” Majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology at Marygrove College, she earned a Bachelors Degree in 1988, and a Masters Degree in clinical and humanistic psychology from the Center for Humanistic Studies (CHS) in 1991. In addition to working with individuals, she developed a passion for treating couples. Tanya became an expert in the use of Imago relationship therapy, a form of treatment considered very effective in helping couples with relationship challenges.
Just When She Thought Her Work Was Done
Once Dr. Martin completed her Masters degree, she thought she was finished with school. “I had no plans to get the Doctorate. But I wasn’t done yet. God had more for me to do. I never wanted to do a dissertation, but it turned out that my dissertation was something that had never been done (before).” (A requirement for earning a Doctorate degree, is to write a dissertation, an original research study).
Tanya returned to CHS, now the Michigan School of Professional Psychology, and created a dissertation that turned out to be groundbreaking. Her study, What is the African American Experience Following Imago Education? was historic because no previous research on this form of therapy had focused on African Americans. She received the Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) in 2005, and in 2009 her work appeared in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
Life As A Doctor
Since earning her Doctorate, Tanya has reflected on its impact on her life and career. “More credibility and respect. And it’s a tremendous achievement. I find that I am called on to do more things, more speaking engagements.” She also noted the challenges, as an African American woman at the Doctorate level. In one incident, a woman who had previously acted friendly, but professional, suddenly changed in demeanor when she discovered that Tanya was not Ms. Martin, but rather, Dr. Martin. Even though the woman regularly referred to Tanya’s colleagues as “Doctor”, upon discovering Tanya’s status, she became visibly uncomfortable and asked her, “What should I call you?” As Dr. Martin stated, “She never asked any of my other colleagues what they should be called.”
Practicing What She Preaches
Tanya believes in helping people in every aspect of her life, not just in her work. "I like to walk my talk." At her home church, Greater Quinn AME, she started a positive change group, where they do outreach and enjoy outings with each other. Walking the talk can also be taken literally. She has walked to fight leukemia in Hawaii, Alaska, Bermuda, and Chicago, completed the Detroit Free Press Full Marathon in 2007, their Half-Marathon in 2009, and will do the Half-Marathon on October 17 of this year. “My goal now is to do one every year. I find so many benefits from it, physically, mentally, emotionally.”
Into the Future
Currently, Dr. Martin is a professor at Oakland Community College and Henry Ford Community College, practices at Apex Behavioral Health and the Center for Individual and Family Counseling, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Michigan School of Professional Psychology. She released her first book in February 2010, titled, Quotes and Anecdotes On How To Avoid The “Yeah But Syndrome, and stated that her next work will be on relationships. More speaking engagements are also in her future. “I get so much back from helping people, it’s like divine reciprocity.”
As for her personal life, she was always so focused on her career, that marriage was not a priority. However, “Now that I have accomplished my goals, I feel I am ready for that step in my life.” There is no doubt that divine reciprocity will offer Dr. Martin the chance to receive what she so passionately gives. It is what would be expected for a Phenomenal Michigan Woman.
Dr. Martin can be reached at the following locations:
Apex Behavioral Health, Fairlane Office Center, 6 Parklane Blvd., Ste. 695 Dearborn, MI 48126 (313) 271-8170
Center for Individual and Family Counseling, 16000 W 9 Mile Rd # 207 Southfield, MI 48075-4830 (248) 443-8494
Center for Individual and Family Counseling, 16000 W 9 Mile Rd # 207 Southfield, MI 48075-4830 (248) 443-8494
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