Stefanie Fernandez, LCSW-R

Stefanie Fernandez is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience providing psychotherapy to adults and families in New York. She holds the LCSW-R credential - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Registered - and works with clients who present with anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, relationship and family difficulties, bipolar disorder, ADHD, eating and self-esteem concerns, career challenges, and a range of chronic health and disability-related issues.

She primarily works with adults age 21 and over, though she also has experience with older teens, couples, family sessions, and therapeutic groups. Individual therapy is her main modality, and she selects treatment methods based on each client’s needs, drawing from approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and client-centered work to promote greater self-awareness, mindfulness, and self-connection.

Stefanie emphasizes a collaborative, client-driven process in which therapist and client identify priorities, set achievable goals, and adjust the focus of work as progress unfolds. In addition to clinical practice, she mentors graduate social work students and provides supervision to social workers new to private practice, supporting professional development and ethical practice in the field.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Stefanie integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients clarify what matters most and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise - ACT supports work on anxiety, depression, and life transitions by teaching values-based decision making and mindfulness skills.

She also uses client-centered therapy, which emphasizes empathy, active listening, and the client’s own strengths so that people feel heard and supported while they explore personal goals and relationships.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another frequent component of her work, offering structured techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns that contribute to symptoms like anxiety, low mood, or stress.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process; Stefanie collaborates with each client to determine which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences and adjusts the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit varied schedules, mobility needs, and daily responsibilities. This range of options helps make consistent support more accessible while allowing therapists and clients to choose the format that works best for their work together.