Vanessa Hernandez

My name is Vanessa Hernandez and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Orange County, CA, and working with clients statewide via telehealth. I work with children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of presenting concerns. I specialize in anxiety, stress, trauma, depression, ADHD, and relationship issues using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brief Solution Focused, and Person-centered Therapy to empower my clients to make lasting and meaningful changes.

My approach

My approach is highly collaborative and varies based on the specific needs of the client or family that I am working with. Together we can determine which type of therapy works best for the goals, plan, and resources available to the client.

My focus

I enjoy working with many different types of people, including those who are new to therapy and clients with lots of previous experience. My approach is helpful in uncovering relational and behavioral patterns, cultivating individual strengths, and working toward positive change. I help clients identify problems, set goals, and create a plan for success.

My communication style

I believe the relationship between the therapist and client is one of the most important cornerstones for change. My communication style is warm, empathetic, and authentic. I want the clients to feel safe to be themselves and to feel both understood and respected in all of our communication.

My journey to mental healthcare

I have really enjoyed my journey to becoming a licensed therapist. My interest in the field began in High School and was confirmed through my experiences in higher education, volunteering in the community, and my field experience. I am passionate about helping people continue to heal, grow, and develop throughout their lives.

My goals for you

I want to help clients believe that they can make changes and achieve their goals. Through our work together we can identify the specific goals that you would like to accomplish. We can work backward from those goals to create our action items, steps, address challenges, and ultimately track the progress being made!

My first session with you

It can be nerve-wracking to have a first session with a new therapist! Our first session together will be a chance for us to meet and begin discussing your concerns, issues, and challenges that have led you to seek out therapy at this time. I will ask you questions, listen. and be available to answer any questions that you might have. Once I have an understanding of how you’ve been feeling and what you’d like to work on, we can begin to discuss our treatment plan and your options for different types of approaches. We can determine what works best together.