Vanessa Hernandez

LSW, CADC, CTP

PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Treating ages 12+

Hello and welcome!

I’m Vanessa Hernández, a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), and Certified Trauma Professional (CTP), and the founder of Embrace Counseling Center. I provide trauma-informed therapy for adults, adolescents, and families across Illinois through secure telehealth services.

My clinical specialties include trauma recovery, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, grief, infertility, and substance use treatment. I am currently advancing my training in Somatic Experiencing (SE) and am a therapist-in-training in EMDR and Sand Tray EMDR. I also integrate Brainspotting and mindfulness-based approaches to support nervous system regulation and embodied healing.

Trauma Therapy That Integrates Mind and Body

Many clients come to therapy feeling stuck in survival mode — experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, numbness, or self-criticism. Trauma is not only a memory stored in the mind; it is also held in the nervous system.

Through EMDR therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and body-based interventions, I help clients process overwhelming experiences safely and gradually. My approach focuses on restoring regulation, building resilience, and helping the body complete stress responses that were interrupted in the past.

Healing is not about reliving trauma. It is about integrating it.

Addiction Counseling & Trauma-Informed Recovery

As a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), I bring extensive experience in addiction treatment and recovery. I understand the complex connection between trauma, nervous system dysregulation, shame, and substance use.

I approach substance use disorders through a trauma-informed lens, recognizing that addiction often begins as a survival strategy. Together, we address both behavioral patterns and the deeper emotional pain beneath them — supporting long-term recovery through regulation, accountability, and self-compassion.

Bilingual & Culturally Responsive Therapy

As a bilingual Latina therapist, I provide culturally responsive counseling in both English and Spanish. I honor family systems, immigration experiences, generational narratives, and the cultural values that shape identity and resilience.

I recognize the strengths within Latina/o communities while also acknowledging the pressures related to family roles, intergenerational trauma, spirituality, and expectations. My work is grounded in cultural humility, respect, and attunement to each client’s lived experience.

Faith-Integrated Counseling (Upon Request)

For clients who desire it, I integrate faith-informed perspectives into therapy in a clinically ethical and client-led manner. Whether exploring spiritual identity, healing from religious trauma, or strengthening alignment with personal values, therapy can include mind, body, and spirit — without compromising psychological integrity.

“At Embrace, healing begins when we give ourselves permission to listen to our story with compassion and reconnect with the wisdom of our body, mind, and spirit.”

Email — LinkedIn — Psychology Today

MA in Social Work, Aurora University, IL
BA in Human Services, National Louis University, IL