Stefanie Fernandez

Experienced therapist blending skill and compassion

LCSW-R New York

Experience: 25 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Stefanie

Stefanie Fernandez is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship struggles, and complex life changes.

Background and approach

She draws on a range of therapeutic methods to tailor care to each person’s needs, emphasizing collaborative goal-setting and practical steps that fit daily life. Her practice centers on increasing self-awareness, building mindfulness skills, and strengthening self-connection to support lasting change.

Therapy with Stefanie blends evidence-informed techniques with a client-centered stance, so treatment choices emerge from what matters most to the individual. She has worked widely with people facing chronic health challenges, caregiving strain, bipolar mood concerns, eating and body-image issues, and the emotional fallout from loss and trauma.

In addition to individual work, her background includes group work, family sessions, and couples counseling, as well as mentorship and supervision for social work professionals entering independent practice. Based in New York, Stefanie brings a calm, pragmatic approach that aims to help clients build skills for coping, communication, and more fulfilling relationships.

Her practice is suited to adults seeking a thoughtful, flexible therapist who combines traditional talk therapy with mindful and action-oriented strategies.

How evidence-based approaches translate to online work

Stefanie commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to guide online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, which can be applied to anxiety, depression, and stress through structured exercises and skill practice. ACT helps clients clarify values and build psychological flexibility by teaching acceptance and mindful action, useful for grief, chronic health challenges, and coping with life transitions.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative: the therapist will explore your goals, preferences, and life circumstances to determine which methods feel most useful. Together you will set priorities and adjust techniques as progress is made so the work stays relevant and practical.

Online sessions via video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for people juggling work, care responsibilities, or health concerns. These formats allow for regular check-ins, skill-building between sessions, and easier scheduling while maintaining a consistent therapeutic relationship with a licensed professional. The range of options makes it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to continue momentum between appointments.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Stefanie commonly address?

Her practice focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family concerns, eating and body-image issues, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and coping with life changes among other areas.

What is her therapeutic style and approach?

She uses a client-centered, collaborative approach drawing on modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), and existential ideas to tailor work to each client.

How long has she been practicing therapy?

She brings 25 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of emotional health concerns and formats, including individual, group, family, and couples work.

Where is she licensed and based?

She is licensed in New York as LCSW-R with license number NY LCSW-R 069980 and practices from New York.

Does she work with non-English speakers or international clients?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a brief matching questionnaire, and then scheduling based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Grief Depression

Also works with

Relationship issuesEating disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English