Clinician Spotlight David Fernandez

What inspired you to become a therapist, and how has your journey in the field evolved so far?

Like many helpers with minoritized identities, I became a therapist because I wanted to be the supportive adult I needed when I was younger. I wished for someone who could sit with me through the discomfort of feeling “different” and the uncertainty of forging my own path in a world that wasn’t built for me.

My journey as a therapist has gone hand in hand with my personal growth. As I’ve learned more about myself and worked through my own experiences, my capacity to just be with my clients through their challenges has grown stronger. While my personal and professional journey is far from over, I’m proud of how far I’ve come and look forward to seeing where my work takes me next.

What has been one of the most rewarding aspects of your work with clients, and how do you navigate challenges in therapy?

One of the best parts of my work is seeing my clients live each day more in line with their values, dreams, hopes, and desires.

It’s also a real honor when my clients trust me enough to share some of the most personal parts of their lives.

When challenges come up in therapy, I pay attention to what I’m feeling and use grounding techniques like paced breathing and feeling my feet connect with the floor. I aim to support my clients without jumping in to fix things, since that usually comes from my own discomfort. Instead, I show empathy for how hard things can be and remind clients they can take as much time as they need to work through their experiences, without expecting everything to look perfect.

Can you describe a specific area or approach in therapy that you are passionate about or currently focusing on in your practice?

At the heart of my practice, I’m a person-centered therapist. I show up as myself in every session and encourage my clients to do the same, welcoming every part of who they are and what they experience.

Lately, I’ve been focusing more on helping people explore their sexuality, especially how trauma or social pressures can make it harder to be intimate or talk about their needs, boundaries, or fantasies.

Share a therapy fun fact!

You don’t need to be in crisis or have a specific mental health issue to try therapy. Whether you have a diagnosis or just think therapy might help, it’s one way to better understand yourself and make more informed choices in your life.

What’s one misconception about therapy you wish more people understood?

It’s normal not to trust your therapist right away. After all, we’re basically strangers at first, so let us earn your trust just like anyone else would!

Therapy can feel uncomfortable sometimes. We don’t go to therapy to stay the same, and change can be hard. It can feel scary to lean into the discomfort, but it helps to experience it with someone you trust in a space you’ve fostered together.

If your therapeutic style had a tagline or catchphrase, what would it be?

We might not know exactly where we’re headed or what we’ll discover, but I hope our relationship gives you something steady to lean on when things feel uncertain, vulnerable, or scary.

What’s one small mental health habit you recommend to almost everyone?

Investigate first, then improve—take time to understand what’s going on before trying to fix things. We often want to solve problems right away, but taking time to get curious about our reactions, fears, and hopes helps us move through life with more confidence. If we always try to get rid of discomfort without knowing why it’s there, we might miss out on the confidence that comes from facing it and learning from it.

What’s something that brings you joy outside the therapy room?

My husband, my pets, working out, dancing, playing the piano and cello, creating digital art, and playing Pokémon (my starter is usually the water-type) all bring me joy!