Victoria Fernandez

Hello, my name is Victoria. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida with over 10 years of experience in both mental health and substance abuse counseling. You have reached out to me for a reason. Let’s partner together to get through this tough time, help you to feel better, and give you hope. For me, the most rewarding part of being a counselor is knowing that I played a role in positively affecting the life of another person. My counseling style is warm, relatable, and interactive. I see my clients as individuals and treat them as such with the respect and compassion they deserve, not stigmatizing labels. I think we can address the issues that are preventing you from living the life you want to live, keeping you in pain, and preventing you from acknowledging the existing positives in your life. I look to establish a counseling relationship based on genuineness, unconditional positive regard, spontaneity, and when needed humor. I have worked with clients from all walks of life with varying degrees of mental health needs and concerns, including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, career challenges, substance abuse, behavioral concerns, bereavement, and trauma. My background includes having worked on inpatient units with clients in severe distress and substance abuse issues; as well as higher functioning clients looking for more insight and better functioning. My counseling style is eclectic. I try to draw from many different approaches including cognitive behavioral, motivational interviewing, solution focused, existential, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, and Trauma Informed Care. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. I hold a master’s degree from the City University of New York Hunter College in Applied Psychology, affording me a background in research and theory. I also have a master’s degree in Rehabilitative and Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida which gave me the tools for working in many different counseling modalities with diverse clients. I also have worked with individuals with significant disabilities, children and adolescents, and group work. It took courage for you to reach out to me. If you are ready to take those steps towards a happier and more fulfilling life, I am here to help and support you. I look forward to working with you.