Stefanie Fernandez, LCSW-R

Stefanie Fernandez is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience helping adults facing anxiety, depression, grief, and major life changes. She focuses on practical steps people can use right away. Stefanie is based in New York and offers sessions in English. She meets each person where they are and builds goals together. Sessions focus on increasing self-awareness, practicing mindfulness, and strengthening emotional connection. Stefanie uses a mix of approaches and picks what fits the person's needs rather than following a single method. Many clients work on relationship stress, family-of-origin issues, or coping after loss. Stefanie also supports people dealing with chronic illness, caregiving strain, body image concerns, and workplace or career stress. She helps people learn skills to manage anxiety, depression, and mood shifts. Therapy sessions include straightforward conversations, skill practice, and checking progress together. Stefanie emphasizes collaboration so goals stay relevant as life changes. She draws from cognitive behavioral tools and acceptance-based strategies when they match what a person wants. In addition to direct practice, Stefanie mentors graduate social work students and supervises social workers beginning private practice. That background informs her focused, practical approach to therapy and to helping people move toward clearer choices and steadier coping.

How Stefanie’s Approaches Work Online

Stefanie draws from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to guide sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises and small experiments. Acceptance and commitment therapy emphasizes noticing thoughts and feelings without fighting them while clarifying personal values to guide choices in daily life.

She views therapy as a collaborative process and will help clients find which approach fits best. Together they set goals, try approaches, and adjust what they do based on what helps most. That team approach makes it easier to switch focus as life changes or new concerns arise.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different needs. Video calls work well for in-depth conversations and skill demonstrations. Phone sessions provide a lower-bandwidth option for a focused check-in. Live chat or text-based messaging can be useful for quick reflections, brief coaching, or ongoing support between sessions. These options make scheduling more flexible and help people keep therapy consistent around work and family demands.