- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- EMDR for trauma
- Speaks English and Spanish
About Karina
Karina Fernandez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 16 years of experience. She practices in Tennessee and works with people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem struggles, depression, addictions, relationship and family strains, sleep problems, parenting pressures, and compassion fatigue.
She trained for her Master of Social Work at Loma Linda University in California and has worked in a range of clinical settings. That work included supporting people with depression, anxiety, PTSD, survivors of violent crimes, and those facing complex grief and loss.
In sessions she uses straightforward, skills-based methods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. She also brings mindfulness practices to help slow down intense feelings.
Karina also uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, commonly called EMDR, when trauma processing is needed. She mixes client-centered ways of working with these approaches so people can lean on what fits best for them. Her Spanish language ability supports people who prefer to work in that language.
Her work often focuses on practical problems you carry from relationships, family of origin, or difficult losses. She helps people talk through guilt and shame, abandonment issues, codependency, caregiver stress, first responder concerns, and communication problems. If you want to begin, follow the site steps to match and schedule a first session.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the person in front of her, helping people set their own goals and priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is skills-focused work that identifies patterns of thought and behavior and practices alternatives for mood and anxiety concerns. EMDR is a trauma-focused method used when processing traumatic memories becomes central to reducing their hold on daily life.Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Karina will talk with the person about goals, symptoms, and preferences, and then try methods that fit those needs. She adjusts the plan as sessions reveal what helps most.
The site biography does not list specific session formats here, so confirm the current online session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - for example they can reduce travel time, allow a shorter check-in on a break, or let someone work by phone when bandwidth or being on camera is difficult. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT tools, mindfulness practices, and trauma-focused work to remote settings so the work can continue without rearranging your whole schedule.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
Tennessee
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, depression, addictions, relationship and family problems, sleep issues, parenting strain, compassion fatigue, and related areas such as abandonment and guilt and shame.
How does she approach guilt and shame?
She uses client-centered conversation alongside CBT and mindfulness to help people name feelings and test unhelpful beliefs that keep guilt and shame active.
What is her professional background?
She has 16 years in mental health work and holds a Master of Social Work from Loma Linda University, with clinical experience in trauma, grief, and serious mental health concerns.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Tennessee and practices with that credential in the state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what about cost?
Session costs vary with location and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the site process.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.