I have been helping clients navigate and recover from mental health disorders working as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in MA for over 20 years. I am passionate about helping others discover and accomplish their individual therapeutic goals. I am an experienced animal assisted therapist and work towards incorporating animals into sessions, even virtually! I have a therapeutic dog, Oliver and 3 cats that love to join in sessions from time to time. I understand that therapy can be a big step for most people and know how important it is to work with someone clients feel comfortable in their therapeutic space. When I am not providing therapy or taking care of my 4-legged furry friends, I love to travel, spend time with family, scrapbook, and make hand beaded creations.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions. It is important for me to create a safe space to get to know you and the goals you wish to achieve while working with me.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having worked with clients of all ages for the past 20+ years, I've developed an achievable individualized plan for helping you identify the root cause of your challenges and create a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I serve all ages and primarily specialize in anxiety and depression although I do a lot of work with ADHD/ADD, ASD, and PTSD diagnosis.
About Michelle Hernandez
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps shift distorted thoughts that come from many mental health disorders. CBT has proven to be a powerful coping mechanism specifically for anxiety but is also effective with other mental health struggles such as depression.
Compassion Focused
Building a trusting and open therapeutic relationship is essential to making progress in therapy! Finding a therapist that understands your mental health needs without judgement and with unconditional positive regard is something I firmly believe in.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing involves meeting you where you are at and helping you move through the stages of change while identifying challenges and overcoming barriers to making these healthy changes.
Mind-body approach
An integrative approach to therapy, the mind-body approach helps clients work towards optimal health and well-being by addressing the connection between thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and physical health.
Play Therapy
In my experience, play therapy is a helpful way to keep kids engaged and learn healthy ways to communicate, understand, and express difficult emotions. I incorporate play therapy with most of my young clients in virtual sessions to help practice coping skills, build a strong therapeutic relationship, and to keep kids interested in coming to therapy.