In a world filled with constant flux and unforeseen challenges, finding one’s footing amidst the chaos can feel like an insurmountable task. For Jessica Hernandez, M.A., Bilingual Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Speaker, & Coach, guiding individuals through these turbulent waters is not just a profession—it’s a passion deeply rooted in empathy and understanding. Jessica’s journey is a tapestry woven with threads of holistic health, yoga, and meditation, all of which culminate in a unique Wholeness-oriented approach to psychotherapy. Her work specializes in supporting those who feel adrift, overwhelmed by past trauma, or grappling with significant life changes. Drawing on her background and expertise, Jessica provides a safe harbor for individuals seeking to reconnect with themselves and cultivate a sense of well-being. In this exclusive Mystic Mag‘s interview, we delve into Jessica’s multifaceted approach to therapy, exploring the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and personal growth.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career where your holistic approach to psychotherapy made a significant difference in a client’s life?
I don’t know if there’s any one moment that stands out, but I can tell you that people seek me out because I offer a Holistic approach to psychotherapy. People are not keen to experience what I’d call “old school psychotherapy” where the therapist looks down at them from a place of “brick-wall smugness” and gives them a label and tells them they’re stuck with it for life, now how do they feel about that, haha. I definitely would not appreciate that, and people are realizing that they are more than just their mind or emotions, and that their body and their soul are also intertwined, which means there’s a lot of variables to factor in when looking at what’s causing mental and emotional suffering. Yes, sometimes it can be a relief to have a label that finally helps you understand what you’ve been experiencing and receive medical services for it, but I believe it’s been taken a bit too far. People are actively searching for practitioners who can bring them back to their wholeness, and I’m excited to be the expert thinking partner, compassionate witness, and facilitator of healing and transformation that steers them back to their inner wisdom, inner strength, and embodied wholeness. Overall I find it’s a much more rewarding therapy process that people actually want to participate in.
Given your background in holistic health and yoga/meditation, how do you integrate these practices into your therapy sessions to support your clients’ well-being?
It really looks different for each client—definitely not a cookie-cutter approach! As each client’s needs and challenges and strengths vary, I bring in the holistic elements, where called for, to supplement and enhance the therapy. It’s also the lens that I view my clients from; as in, I’m always looking at them from their wholeness, rather than from their dilemma, if that makes sense. And some clients would benefit from practicing some yoga poses, while others would benefit from looking at how their food and beverage intake is affecting their mental health (it does affect it greatly!), and we could all slow down and use more mindful moments in this modern age of fast-moving information and technology. Basically, I remind my clients that they are more than a mind in a head, and invite them to experience life from their entire body, for the body not only holds deep wisdom, but also stores a lot of the emotional pain that causes continued suffering. In my perspective, what good is therapy if we’re not addressing that, too?!
What type of services do you offer?
I offer a wide variety of services since, from the beginning of my career, I’ve intended to be able to support people on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. With that in mind I offer Psychotherapy for California and Texas residents, 1:1 Resilience, Spiritual Integration, and Embodied Leader Coaching Programs, Yoga & Meditation classes (group and individual), EFT tapping sessions (group and individual), as well as Intuitive offerings such as Sound Healing (group and individual), Cord Cutting, Energy Clearing, and Akashic Records Readings. I also offer 1:1 intensive retreats to jumpstart your holistic transformation, as well as group retreats around the world. In fact, in September 2024 I’ll be hosting a Yoga & Sailing Retreat in Croatia!
Many of your clients identify as Highly Sensitive, Empath, or Introvert. How do you tailor your therapeutic approach to meet the unique needs of these individuals?
To begin, I believe Sensitives are drawn to my holistic approach to therapy because they already know there’s more to their life experiences than just what the mind tells them, since they are picking up on SO much from their environment via their bodies. So I support them with helping to process and sort what they feel to see if it’s even theirs to begin with. I tend to employ a lot of mindfulness and tuning in to oneself with Sensitives, as they are so naturally tuned outward that it’s difficult to know how they actually feel themselves. This means a lot of their needs go unmet, which I aim to reverse as they start to listen for their own needs. I also bring in discernment and setting healthy boundaries: physical, mental, emotional, and even energetic. Plus, I teach them how to strengthen and support their own energy. I believe it’s pertinent for me to teach my clients resilience tools and coping skills that they can use on their own in their daily life, so they are empowered to thrive no matter what, because society is not set up to support Sensitives.
Ecotherapy is another approach you offer. How does connecting with nature enhance the therapeutic process for your clients?
I adore working with clients in nature as it reminds us that we are all interconnected, even with plants, and it brings back the awe of communing with an intelligence greater than us. Personally, I love feeling small when I stand next to a tall tree! Plus, it gives clients an opportunity to slow down and be present with themselves in a peaceful, life-enhancing environment. Even a city park can offer this!
As someone who guides individuals in creating a meaningful life, how do you help clients navigate the integration of their experiences into a coherent life narrative?
Such a great question that highlights the importance of being able to integrate back into the community we belong to after we experience personal transformation. It can be shocking or harsh sometimes, especially when those around us don’t support us shifting things to have a more meaningful life. This is a time when leaning on internal strength gathered during one’s transformation process as well as external support of loved ones and professionals like me is vital for integration to be successful. Otherwise, it can be too easy to slip back into old habits, patterns, and relationships that no longer serve us, but still feel like the comfort zone. I say all this to encourage anyone reading who’s going through a personal transformation to reach out to the helpers in their lives, because it can be a process that takes more time than we want it to sometimes, and you don’t have to do it alone. With that being said, the way I help is by witnessing and stewarding my clients towards the steps that make sense and are doable for them to hold onto their newfound truths and fulfil their quest in living a meaningful life. I help them learn new ways to manage the relationship snafu’s that show up since they’re showing up differently in life. I help by validating the pain that sometimes comes with their loved ones not accepting the new version of them, and holding the space for them to decide where those relationships go from here. I help them find the courage to speak their truths and take leaps of faith in themselves, all in service to living the life that has meaning to them.
