Karina Fernandez , LCSW

Karina Fernandez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 16 years of experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and family challenges, sleep difficulties, parenting concerns, and compassion fatigue. She earned a Master of Social Work from Loma Linda University in San Bernardino, California, and brings long-standing experience in a variety of clinical settings aimed at treating mental health disorders and complex life challenges.

Her work has included helping individuals with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as providing care to survivors of violent crimes such as sexual assault, robbery or assault, domestic violence, and homicide survivors. She also has comprehensive expertise in complex grief and loss and addresses related issues like abandonment, caregiver stress, codependency, communication problems, and family of origin concerns.

Clinically she uses a blend of approaches tailored to each person, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), client-centered methods, and mindfulness practices. She is EMDR certified to support recovery from complex trauma, and she incorporates empowerment-focused work that helps people recognize and build on their existing strengths. As a therapist she aims to guide clients in uncovering their potential and moving toward meaningful healing.

Approaches to Healing and How Online Care Fits In

Karina Fernandez draws from several evidence-informed approaches to tailor care to each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, making it useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on building practical skills for managing emotions, tolerating distress, and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can help with intense emotions and relationship challenges. As an EMDR certified therapist, she can also use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to support recovery from complex trauma by helping process distressing memories in a structured way.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and she works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative planning allows treatment to evolve as progress is made and priorities shift.

Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging add flexibility and accessibility to care. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, maintain continuity during life transitions, and connect with licensed professionals from the place that works best for the client, while preserving the same clinical focus used in traditional sessions.