Today we’d like to introduce you to Marti Caro.
Hi Marti, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Nearly 30 years ago, I began pursuing my dream of becoming a licensed professional counselor by enrolling in the master’s program at Liberty University. At the time, my husband and I had recently returned from the mission field in order to plant another church in South Florida.( Learning the Spanish language on the field was a definite plus during that endeavor.) Between ministry, raising our family, and serving as a pastor’s wife, life was already full. Then it became overwhelming.
A devastating hurricane struck our community, followed by a cancer diagnosis that sidelined me for more than an year. My education, and what I believed was my calling to become a counselor, was placed on hold. Eventually, I began to believe that dream would never become reality.
But God had a different plan.
Years later, I received the opportunity to continue my studies, which I completed with honors. I interned and worked a Domestic Violence Center for over 7 years which gave me great experience. Those years gave me invaluable clinical experience while confirming what God had place on my heart decades earlier: to create a counseling practice where women could receive compassionate, faith-based mental health care.
In September 2024, after nearly three decades of waiting, that vision became a reality when I opened St. John’s Women’s Counseling and Therapy.
My passion has always been to help women discover that their past does not have to define their future. Whether they are healing from trauma, abuse, anxiety, or life’s unexpected hardships, I want them to know that healing, hope, and restoration are possible.
Opening my practice, however was not the end of the journey – it was the beginning of a new one.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Building a counseling practice requires something that cannot be rushed: trust. Women entrust counselors with the most painful parts of their lives, and confidence must be earned over time. Because confidentiality is at the heart of ethical counseling, I cannot rely on client testimonials or public success stories to build my reputation. Instead, I have learned that credibility is established one relationship at a time.
During my first year I attended countless networking events to introduce myself and make my practice known within the community. While the effort was often exhausting and the results were slow, I remained committed because I knew every conversation was an opportunity to serve someone who might one day need hope. And I prayed a lot more that God would send the women whom He knew I may be able to help.
The financial challenges of launching a private practice have been significant. Office rent, licensing fees, continuing education, certifications, marketing, and operating expenses all require ongoing investment before a business becomes sustainable. I am deeply grateful for my husband, who has faithfully supported this dream from the beginning. He has not only helped shoulder the financial burden, but has also been my greatest source of encouragement through every setback and every victory.
When I look back over the last 30 years, I no longer see delays, I see preparation. Every hardship, every interruption, and every season of waiting shaped me into the counselor I am today. My experiences have given me a deeper compassion for the women I serve because I understand what it means to face disappointment, uncertainty, and suffering while holding on to hope.
Today I have the privilege of helping women believe what I have learned firsthand: God’s timing is always purposeful, healing is always possible, and it is never too late for Him to fulfill the calling He has placed on your life.
As you know, we’re big fans of St. Johns Women’s Counseling and Therapy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We specialize in counseling women where we offer a tranquil and supportive environment where they can find peace and healing. Our comprehensive services are designed to address a variety of emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs.
We offer faith-integrated counseling that is grounded in truth and guided by faith that offers spiritual alignment alongside emotional healing. We offer crisis stabilization and support when life feels overwhelming along with trauma-informed care and practical tools to develop healthier patterns of thinking and response. We offer guidance for what comes next when facing difficult decisions or uncertainty. We create space for thoughtful reflection as we help women move forward with clarity, confidence, and intention, especially after difficult life transitions such as divorce, loss, a major illness, or a major life shift.
We hold monthly events, such as art therapy, designing vision boards, pottery painting, discussions around various subjects such as parenting adult children, gratitude, etc., and Selah Sessions (unique with Scripture, musical tones, & silence).
I am certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors and am a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor.
I am also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, as a Clinical Trauma Professional Level I & II, as a Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, and an Addictions-Informed Professional.
“My goal as a counselor is to help women realize their full potential even when unexpected life events happen. I tell you this to let you know that sometimes life does not go as we plan, but I would like to remind you that the rest of your story is unwritten still.”
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that our area is diverse with people moving here from everywhere around the world, yet it continues to have that hometown feel. There are new businesses, medical centers, restaurants, service centers popping up all over the place. I love that there are parks, the beach, concerts, sports, meeting places, and most of all people that are usually courteous and polite. It has both the Florida culture along with a gentile Southern culture combination. And I love that the sun shines most of the time.
Sometimes I am not a fan of the traffic, but at the same time, it means more people are moving here and that means we’re growing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stjohnswomenscounselingandtherapy.com
- Instagram: getrealwithmarty
- LinkedIn: Martha Caro – St. Johns Women’s Counseling & Therapy, LLC
