Stefanie Fernandez , LCSW-R

Stefanie Fernandez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Registered (LCSW-R) with over 25 years of experience offering psychotherapy to adults and older teens. She has worked with clients from a wide range of backgrounds and with many different emotional health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, PTSD, chronic health and developmental disabilities, relationship and family issues, eating concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and challenges related to life transitions and caregiving. Her practice centers on serving adults age 21 and older while also working with older adolescents when appropriate.

Stefanie’s primary focus is individual therapy, though she has extensive experience facilitating group work, family sessions, and couples counseling. She selects therapeutic methods to fit each person’s needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model, and she emphasizes collaboration with clients to prioritize the goals they wish to address first. Building self-awareness, cultivating mindfulness, and strengthening the connection to one’s values and inner resources are recurring themes in her work.

In addition to direct practice, Stefanie mentors graduate social work students and provides supervision to social workers beginning private practice. Her approach is client-driven and grounded in decades of clinical experience in New York.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Stefanie commonly integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into her work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combines mindfulness and acceptance strategies with a focus on clarifying personal values and taking committed action - it can help people manage anxiety, stress, chronic health challenges, and patterns that interfere with meaningful living. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and creating a supportive space where the client’s experience guides the pace of change - it is useful for building self-awareness, self-esteem, and stronger emotional connection. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and is often used for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and difficulties with coping skills.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Stefanie works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies as progress unfolds. Clients are invited to participate in shaping the plan so the work feels relevant and practical.

Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging add flexibility to treatment. These formats can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access therapy from different locations, while still working with a licensed therapist on the issues that matter most.