Karina Fernandez , LCSW

Karina Fernandez is a licensed clinical social worker with 16 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, and related concerns. She practices in Tennessee and offers care in both English and Spanish. Her approach aims to meet people where they are and build on their strengths.

Karina spent many years in settings that supported people with depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges. She has worked with survivors of violent crime and with people facing complex grief and loss. Those experiences shaped a practical, empathetic style she carries into sessions.

In therapy she blends straightforward techniques with listening and validation. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used for emotion regulation and managing intense moments.

Mindfulness strategies are offered to help people notice sensations and calm the nervous system. Client-centered methods guide sessions so people set the pace and priorities. Karina focuses on helping people recover a sense of control and hope.

She also supports concerns around relationships, parenting stress, caregiver strain, codependency, and compassion fatigue. Common practical goals include improving sleep, coping with life changes, and reducing shame or guilt. Karina encourages small, steady steps toward the life people want to reclaim.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's goals and preferences, giving space for the client to guide what matters most in sessions. It focuses on listening, empathy, and building on existing strengths to move forward.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses simple exercises to test and shift unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and coping with life changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions, improving distress tolerance, and strengthening communication in tense moments.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss options, try techniques together, and adjust based on what feels useful. Clients help set the pace and choose which tools fit their goals and daily life.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more accessible. Video calls are good for face-to-face conversation and skill work, phone sessions can fit a short break or use less bandwidth, and messaging or live chat can be used for quick check-ins or between-session support. These options aim to make it easier to attend sessions around work, caregiving, or busy schedules.