Micaela Hernandez, MSSW, LCSW

I strongly believe that each individual is incredibly resilient and has their own unique set of strengths. I really enjoy working with people to uncover and tune into those strengths. While things in life can get turbulent, therapy is a place where your strengths will help us build up your resilience.

Perhaps you’re going through a major life change and you’re taking it harder than you thought you would. Or maybe you have mixed emotions on big decisions that need to be made, and that’s okay!

Therapy is absolutely the place to process emotions, making it easier to move smoothly through those changes and making the decisions that have to be made. I help teens and adults process these difficult experiences and use their strengths while riding the roller coaster we call life.

It can take a lot to start therapy, but it can be even more challenging to remain committed. Therapy is most successful when we approach our work as a team. It is not a place where you show up, get the tools, and “that’s that”. All the tools in the world won’t help unless you are also willing to put in the work to use the ones we create together. Getting comfortable using the tools, adjusting them based on your day-to-day experiences, and adapting them to your life as we go will make a huge impact on how you feel each day. Even when it feels scary, unsettling, or exhausting, I am there with you, making sure you have a space of safety and security to put your tools to work. I am ready to offer consistent encouragement, thoughtful reflections, and a reassuring presence to help you get to where you want to be, using an explicitly anti-racist, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and trauma-informed lens. I will be your cheerleader and your accountability buddy as we work towards a more whole you.

Specializing in Intergenerational Trauma

One of my core specialties is working with intergenerational trauma, a deeply important area that recognizes how the experiences of our ancestors continue to shape our present-day lives. Have you heard the saying “you can only trust family”? It makes sense in a way, but how are you supposed to feel when your family hurts you? That confusing mix of emotions about your family is hard to work through. It is difficult to know why your family would try to control your decisions, give you ultimatums, or assign blame when you make mistakes.

One important reason these kinds of dynamics show up in family life is generational trauma. Sometimes our family members that came before us have experienced such distressing and traumatic events that the impacts of those events ripple through the generations after them. The experiences we live through growing up not only shape the way we view and interact with the world, but also impact how our future family members experience it as well. Whether those experiences include things like war, poverty, racism, or other traumatic experiences, our ancestors, or even our own parents, have reacted to those events in many different ways, some less helpful than others.

They might have been very cautious of trusting anyone who isn’t in the family, as a result it’s hard to know who to actually trust. Maybe they tried to control your choices at the expense of connecting with you on an emotional level or just ignored your emotional needs completely. It can be really challenging to try to tell your family no or even express how you feel when you don’t want to upset your family. The impacts of these experiences are passed down through the generations in a family, until someone recognizes them, names them, and decides to do the work of disrupting that generational pattern of avoidance and harm.

Whether you’re starting a family of your own or going through an experience that has you reflecting on your own childhood, being confronted with the realization that maybe your family wasn’t the healthiest and that you would like to do it differently, means it is time for change. When we focus on intergenerational trauma in therapy, we will focus on not just “what happened” but also what strength it took to make it through and how to break the cycle of harm that your family has carried forward over time. As Dr. Muriel Buqué has said, “we carry generational trauma, but we also carry generational resilience.”

My Therapeutic Approach

My work is grounded in understanding that healing happens within relationships and community. I approach therapy through an explicitly anti-racist, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and trauma-informed lens because I believe that all aspects of your identity deserve to be honored and celebrated in our therapeutic space. I understand that marginalized communities often face additional layers of complexity when it comes to mental health, and I work to create a space where those experiences are not only acknowledged but centered in our work together.

I believe in meeting you exactly where you are, without judgment or expectation that you should be anywhere other than where you find yourself today. Whether you’re navigating family relationships, processing past experiences, working through major life transitions, or simply feeling stuck and unsure of your next steps, I am here to walk alongside you as you discover your own path forward.

Creating Space for Growth

In our work together, I prioritize creating a therapeutic relationship built on trust, respect, and genuine care. I know that vulnerability takes courage, especially when you may have experienced relationships where that vulnerability wasn’t met with the safety and support you deserved. My goal is to provide you with a consistent, reliable space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences without fear of judgment or criticism.

I understand that seeking therapy can feel overwhelming, particularly within communities where mental health support may be stigmatized or where there may be cultural barriers to accessing care. I work to honor the cultural richness you bring to our sessions while also recognizing the unique challenges you may face as a result of systemic oppression, discrimination, or cultural expectations that may not align with your personal values or goals.

Together, we will work to identify and strengthen the resilience that already exists within you while also developing new tools and strategies that feel authentic and sustainable for your life. My role is not to have all the answers, but to support you in discovering your own wisdom and strength as we navigate this journey of growth and healing together.