Have you been feeling like you can’t seem to pull yourself together or that you are emotionally drained trying to figure out what is going on in your life? Is anxiety or depression causing you problems with your spouse, partner, friends, co-workers, or family members? Did something bad recently happen? Are you going through a separation? Did you lose a loved one? Are you dealing with stress at work? Did you experience trauma in your life? Are you just feeling anxious? "You are not alone.” I am passionate about helping people deal with life challenges that cause them distress. My first goal is to help you identify what the problems are, how they impact relationships in your life, and what goals you want to work on to bring understanding, calm, peace, and joy back into your life. You are the expert in your life, and working together with me, I will challenge your thinking patterns to help you see alternative outcomes that align with the goals you are working toward.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

I will provide a safe environment so you can explore the factors causing your distress. I will empower you to try strategies that alleviate the symptoms you are experiencing. I will challenge your thinking patterns, provide evidenced-based practices and highlight progress you are making utilizing new healthy habits and routines. You can expect homework, as the work outside of therapy is just as important, so in the following sessions, we can understand what is working, what didn’t work and what can be modified to fine-tune coping strategies.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

In my career experiences, I have worked at a psychiatric hospital, a geriatric mental health center, and nonprofit agencies working with children and their families. I have facilitated diversion classes, worked in a private practice setting, and provided clinical supervision for unlicensed therapists. I have worked with patients dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, autism, substance issues, and dual diagnosis. I am trained in the following treatment models: TF-CBT (trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy), IPT (interpersonal therapy), Brainspotting, Triple P (positive parenting program), and MAP (managing adaptive practices). My primary approach is CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy); however, because I recognize everyone is unique with unique challenges, I will work with you to determine what evidence-based interventions to apply and, in collaboration with you, fine-tune strategies that help you improve your overall functioning to what brought you into therapy. I also utilize IPT (interpersonal therapy) interventions, as I believe language is powerful and how we communicate impacts all relationships in our daily lives.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My specialty is working with people struggling with depression and anxiety. I have found through many years of practice the importance of helping my clients identify their emotional distress and clarify how that distress converts into problems. It is important to examine factors contributing to their problems, accept what they can’t control, and explore options. How they move forward is key to change. I will work with you to find your calm place, because then you can better examine what is going on, see life from different dimensions, and become empowered to take the steps you choose to improve how you see your challenges and distress and how you react to them. I will work together with you so you can see the power in your thinking patterns and improve how you communicate with others, so you can shift your thinking and how you communicate to healthy patterns that bring you hope, joy, and motivation to experience it today. " Mental health is not a destination but a process. "It’s about how you drive, not where you are going. Noam Shpancer, Ph.D.

About Victor Hernandez JR