Services Dedicated to Fostering Positive Change
Gilbert Family Counseling is dedicated to fostering positive change and personal growth, driven by their 57 years of experience in the helping profession. Their expertise spans individual counseling, couples counseling, teen counseling, and family counseling, all tailored to meet the unique needs of the Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Casa Grande, San Tan Valley, and Queen Creek communities. Explore their counseling services below.
Help for Teens
We treat adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 who struggle with teen depression, anxiety, trauma-related issues, as well as teenage substance use and other teen mental health problems. We create a safe space for teens so they can express themselves and not feel judged. Creating a safe space is essential in building trust with teens so the therapist can make progress in building rapport and identifying the root cause of their problems.
As your teen transitions from childhood to adulthood, their lives can be severely challenged by both the internal and external pressures working against them in their growth. Fitting in, adjusting to social and school environments, as well as over-thinking identity concepts about who they are and what they stand for all can weigh in on the mental health of a teen.
We assist parents by bringing teens from a path of self-destruction and bad choices to a place where they can build self-esteem, coping skills and mindfulness, by making an evidenced-based diagnosis then matching it with the most effective corresponding treatment. Dr. Hernandez has many years of experience working with teenagers and young adults dating back to 1999. We have a strong understanding of teen issues and will navigate these and find effective treatment solutions.
Teen stressors and causes for anxiety and depression:
- Poor or no coping skills
- Substance Abuse/Substance Exploration
- Isolation and Loneliness
- Adjustment issues involving a move or changing schools
- Extracurricular Demands
- Financial Stressors & Pressures
- Expectations for High Achievement
- Self-expression and Identity
- Romantic Break-ups and relationships
- Academic Pressure
- Hormonal changes
- Poor sleep hygiene
- Social Media Influence
- Fear of the Future
- Family History & Genetics
Individual Therapy
Individual Therapy allows patients to explore thoughts, feelings and behaviors, about past or current experiences and relationships, to improve wellness and settle old thoughts that may be causing discomfort. Individual Therapy can also help you identify aspects of your life that you would like to better understand, improve or completely change for the betterment of yourself, your family and your future.
Individual Therapy is a process through which patients work one-on-one with a licensed therapist in a safe, caring and confidential environment to become their best and healthiest self. It is also a personal opportunity to receive emotional support and empathy during life’s most difficult times.
If you or a family member need Individual therapy, please select a therapist under the ABOUT tab and send an appointment request through this website and a therapist will contact you between 24-48 hours.
Here are a few life challenges treated at Gilbert Family Counseling:
- Life transitions
- Depression and Anxiety
- Adjustment Disorder
- Intimacy and Relationship Issues
- Substance Use/Abuse
- Stress/Burnout
- Career and Work problems
- Family of Origin Issues
- Post Traumatic Stress
- Disorder
- Attachment Trauma
- Low Self-Esteem
- Identity Issues
- Divorce
- Sexuality and Sexual Concerns
Marriage Counseling
All relationships eventually experience conflict in one form or another, especially when two people are spending a lot of time together, regardless of their intended goals. When relationships experience conflict, and communication breaks down, couples distance themselves emotionally, physically and sexually, thus increasing the stress and often furthering the conflict. Seeking therapy for your relationship is not a sign that the relationship has failed, but a sign that the relationship is important to you.
Marriage Counseling or Couples Counseling involves a specific type of therapy to help couples recognize and take accountability for conflicts and learn new and specific ways to improve the relationship. This starts by having a therapist create a therapy space free of bias for you and your partner and to discuss all aspects of your relationship and life together.
Treatment for Marriage/Relationship Counseling will begin by identifying where the couple is at on the relationship scale, a thorough evaluation of past wounding, and a thorough understanding of what each person wants from the therapy and relationship. If your relationship/marriage is struggling, consider scheduling a session as soon as possible.
Marriage/Relationship Counseling can help you with specific issues including:
- Communication Problems
- Sexual Difficulties
- Parenting Conflicts & Blended Families
- Substance Abuse
- Anger Management Issues
- Infidelity
- Intimacy Issues
- Life Transitions
- Separations
- Co-parenting
- Family Conflict Issues
- Trust Concerns
Family Therapy
Family Therapy is a specialized treatment to help families improve and resolve conflicts by improving the dynamics and transactions between the members. This may include all family members or only those willing or able to participate. The Family is seen as a unit and when something happens to one of its members, the entire unit can be affected. Families typically are comprised of a structure, with effective communication and a known pathway to resolve conflicts.
Life is full of change and dynamic movement and the Family System tends to change over time, and by change, I mean members either no longer subscribe to the old structure, or the known pathways for problem resolution are no longer followed. Sometimes children grow up and decide they should be leading the family and not their aging parents and conflict ensues. Other times younger children or adolescents will bring chaos and life challenges that greatly affect the family structure, safety and dynamics.
We are trained in Family Systems and have helped many families work through life change and conflict and we want to help you and your family as well. Contact us to schedule a session or to discuss how we can help your family work through life challenges and move forward in a healthy manner.
Family Therapy involves the use of tools, skills development and may include the following:
- How to verbalize thoughts and emotions to loved ones
- Repairing Relationships Within The Family
- Addressing Substance Abuse on Family Dynamics
- Discussing Mental Illness and Affects On The Member and Family
- Creating Health Boundaries
- Learning or Relearning How to Care For One Another
- Bringing Positive Intent
- Learning to Meet Family Members Half-Way In All Areas of Relationship
- Learning To Be An Intentional Family
- Helping Families Repair Lost Elements That Defined Them As A Family
- Developing Healthy Communication
Online Therapy
Do you need supportive counseling but can’t make it to an in-person appointment? Or are you a busy work-from-home parent or homemaker that doesn’t have the time to drive into our office for a counseling session? Maybe you live in a very rural section of Arizona and would never be able to drive into a counseling session due to distance? Not a problem. At Gilbert Family Counseling we use a HIPPA compliant Live Video Conferencing through a company called Simple Practice, to maintain the same standards of confidentiality as in-person sessions. These Live Video Conferencing sessions are called “telehealth” sessions, and research supports the efficacy of telehealth treatment, showing it can be as beneficial as face-to-face sessions. Our telehealth platform allows you to engage in therapy sessions from the comfort of your own home or office by simply logging into a link that we will send out to you. We recommend patients consider purchasing a small video camera to connect through their home computer, but you can always use your phone or laptop camera as well. If this is an option you would like to explore, give us a call and schedule a session or a free consultation to learn more about our Online Counseling services.
Online Counseling and Therapy can be ideal for you if you:
- Travel Frequently for Your Job
- Struggle With Physical Limitations/Disabilities
- Need To Reduce Commute or Travel Time
- Want Therapy with Gilbert Family Counseling but Live in Another City
- Need More Flexibility in Your Schedule
- Simply to Enjoy the Convenience of Bringing a Service to You
Clinical Supervision
In 2025, I will be offering AZBBHE Clinical Supervision for associate level licensees seeking independent licensure and requiring 100 clinical supervisory hours. I’m currently completing the mini didactics, the “library” of clinical documents required/needed to teach, monitor and guide future attendees. If you have questions about schedule, fees and availability for clinical supervision, use this site to contact me (email) and I’ll get back to you in a timely manner (24-48 hours).
Clinical Supervision is a process that provides educational and clinical oversight for a mental health professional trainee working towards their independent licensure. To be licensed at the highest independent level, mental health providers must complete a minimum number of therapy hours under clinical supervision. The requirements vary depending on the license type, but the guidance and clinical oversight are primarily the same. All trainees receiving Clinical Supervision will be licensed in the State of Arizona at the Associate Level.
Why Choose Us?
Choosing Gilbert Family Counseling means partnering with a team committed to your well-being. Their longstanding commitment to quality care ensures lasting results and support on your journey toward healing and growth.
Book Your Session Now
Ready to take the first step toward a brighter future? Contact them now to book a therapy session and learn more about how they can assist you and your family.