Decades of Expertise in Behavioral Health
Gilbert Family Counseling was opened in April of 2020 with a focused commitment to provide exceptional therapeutic interventions and counseling services to the community. With a commitment to supporting individuals and families facing mental health issues, relationship difficulties, and many other stressors related to life challenges. Gilbert Family Counseling offers compassionate and personalized treatment and is committed to evidenced-based positive outcomes. Dr. Hernandez is recognized as a Subject Matter Expert in the field of Behavioral Health and Clinical Social Work and brings over 27 years of experience working with patients of all ages in Behavioral Health. Mark Walker LCSW, spent 30 years working with patients in a clinical capacity in multiple settings from Medical Social Work to Care Coordination for patients with Mental Illness and General Mental Health patients throughout Maricopa County.
About Dr. Hernandez
Hi, I’m Dr. Hernandez…
I spent the last 27 years working with people who were suffering from stress, trauma, crisis of the self and relationships, including chemical dependency and addiction. I helped my patients with either actual recovery or building solutions for their future. This is what I do. The curious nerd in me is always looking for new pathways, skills, and interventions to improve treatment outcomes. I currently provide treatment for teens 13-17, young, and older adults/seniors suffering from life changes and struggles. Socrates once said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” The space I create with my patients is one of trust, safety, where we examine the present and past, so we can repair and build an improved healthier and authentic self.
Here is my commitment to you:
I will provide a thorough diagnostic assessment and develop solutions to the problems you identify, and discuss these solutions with you. I will collaboratively build a treatment plan that will serve as your roadmap for skills/tools/insights/solutions of which you will be given a copy. I will always give you honest feedback in areas we identified as needing improvement, and will do it with empathy and compassion.
I will guide you through this process, and your return on time invested in counseling will be the completion of goals in the treatment plan, valuable insight, growth, and the interpersonal tools gained in sessions, that you will utilize for the rest of your life.
This is your commitment to me:
If you agree to counseling treatment with me, you must commit to attending each of your scheduled sessions and completing homework. You will be honest about everything you share and do, even if it doesn’t feel natural to admit. You will give me honest feedback if something is working or is not working well. Lastly, I will encourage you to commit to taking good care of yourself during treatment and thereafter. If this sounds like a commitment you can make, please contact me to schedule a session by clicking Contact at the top of the page. I look forward to hearing from you.
Specialty treatments I provide:
- Aging and Health
- Adjustment to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
- Anger & Mood Management
- Anxiety & Depression
- Behavioral Health Concerns
- Bi-Polar Disorder & Mood Management
- Domestic Violence
- Grief and Loss
- Life Changes & Stress
- Marriage Counseling
- Post-Divorce Adjustment
- PTSD & Complex Trauma
- Serous Mental Illness (SMI)
- Stroke Recovery
- Substance Use Disorder and Addiction
- Teen Life Challenges
- Work-Life Balance
- Veterans and First Responders
Education
- Arizona State University – Doctor of Behavioral Health: Clinical Psychotherapy
- Arizona State University – Masters of Social Work: Direct Practice
- California State University Fresno –BA Social Science
- California State University Fresno – BA History
- Fresno City College – AA Liberal Arts
Work Background
- The Center for Case Management – Subject Matter Expert –Behavioral Health, Clinical Social Work
- Banner Health – Group Facilitator: DBT adolescent & adults, Chemical Dependency, Mental Health
- Maricopa Integrated Healthcare System- Med. Social Worker – Level 1 Trauma ED, PICU, SICU, MICU, TICU, Burn Center
- Berkeley Research Group – Subject Matter Expert--Behavioral Health, Clinical Social Work
- Dignity Health- Regional Clinical Manager-Clinical Social Work Department & Care Coordination
- Dignity Health- Regional Clinical Supervisor, Staff Educator, Stroke Recovery Group Facilitator
- Dignity Health – Clinical Social Worker, Family Focused Care in PICU, SICU, ICU, CVICU, ED
- Triple R Behavioral Health – Site Manager RTC, Recovery Model Educator, Peer Coord. Trainer
- Humanities Resource Builders- Child and Family Behaviorist Counselor
Trainings & Certifications
- ASU Graduate Field Instructor, School of Social Work (10 years)
- Physician Educator on Civil Commitment, SMI patient flow (29 states)
- Boston University Psychiatric Rehabilitation Educator
- 2004-2014 Certified Psychiatric Recovery Practitioner (Certification)
- 2009-2014 Certified Thanatologist ADEC (Grief Certification)
- Critical Incident Stress Management Trainer/Clinician (CISM, 13 years)
- Stroke Recovery Expert Educator & Group Facilitator (6 years)
- Alzheimer’s Dementia & Parkinson’s Support & Recovery Expert (9 years, ongoing)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI) 1 & 2
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 1, 2 & 3
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) 1 & 2, & DBT for Adolescents
- Medical Univ. of South Carolina: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Medical Univ. of South Carolina: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 & 2
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Arizona License # LCSW-22319
Vermont License # 089.0136003TELE
Specialized Care for Teen Drug & Alcohol Use
Dr. Hernandez also offers specialized care for Teen Drug and Alcohol use entitled Teen Intervene. The Teen Intervene program is designed to provide education, support and guidance for teens and their parents for teens experiencing problems with drugs and/or alcohol. Teen Intervene is a comprehensive screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) model of care. Teens who are experiencing mild to moderate problems associated with drugs or alcohol, engage in work one-on-one with a licensed therapist to identify and examine their behaviors and choices with a focus to help teens make healthier life choices.
Contact Dr. Hernandez
Ready to take the first step toward a healthier, happier life? Contact Dr. Hernandez for a free 15-minute consultation or to schedule your First Session. To begin this transformative journey with Dr. Hernandez, simply visit the link below and send an email stating your request and you will receive a response within 24-48 hours.
Mark Walker, LCSW
For over 25 years, Mark Walker has been assisting clients in overcoming obstacles that hinder their happiness and fulfillment. With extensive experience working with Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) patients in both outpatient and inpatient settings and years spent in hospital environments, Mark understands the challenges posed by chronic and unexpected illnesses. Life is too short to be unhappy, unsure, or unfulfilled. Mark's goal is to help clients achieve a more positive outlook and provide the tools necessary for personal growth. Specializing in grief recovery using the Grief Recovery Method, Mark is committed to helping clients develop better ways to handle the issues that stand in the way of their goals. Schedule your initial therapy session with Mark today.
