Karina Fernandez , LCSW

Karina Fernandez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 16 years of experience supporting people through depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship struggles, and other life challenges. She earned her Master of Social Work at Loma Linda University in San Bernardino, California, and has developed a practice rooted in helping clients navigate complex emotional experiences and rebuild resilience.

Her background includes work across multiple clinical settings and direct experience with survivors of violent crime, including sexual assault, robbery and assault, domestic violence, and homicide survivors. She also brings extensive expertise in complicated grief and loss, and she supports individuals facing stress, parenting challenges, caregiver strain, addiction, and compassion fatigue.

Karina integrates evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness approaches, and she is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address complex trauma. She applies client-centered and empowerment-oriented techniques to tailor treatment to each person, helping clients identify existing strengths and practical steps toward healing. Karina approaches therapy as a collaborative process, guiding clients as they rediscover resilience and work toward meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Karina Fernandez uses a combination of practical, skills-based therapies and trauma-focused work to support clients in an online setting. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and then learn concrete strategies to shift those patterns; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance skills, offering tools for managing intense feelings and improving relationships. Karina is also trained in EMDR, a trauma-focused approach that works with how distressing memories are processed to reduce their ongoing impact.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey. Karina works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best align with their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress unfolds. Licensed professionals and therapists can combine these techniques to create a personalized path forward.

Online therapy with Karina is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules, caregivers, and those managing life transitions. These options make regular care more accessible and help clients continue steady work toward their goals from locations that fit their lives.