Leslie Fernandez, AMFT

What sets me apart as a therapist is my ability to hold space that bridges both traditional evidence-based practices and culturally responsive, holistic approaches. Being bilingual and experienced with BIPOC, first- and second-generation immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ clients, I bring an attuned awareness to the cultural, spiritual, and systemic factors that shape people’s lives. I draw from my own background and training to help clients feel seen and understood in ways that honor both their struggles and strengths. Beyond talk therapy, I integrate somatic and expressive modalities such as mindfulness, yoga, EMDR, and indigenous healing perspectives, creating a truly individualized path for healing. This integrative lens allows clients to reconnect with themselves in deeper, lasting ways.

Types of clients treated:

• Child clients 10+ 
• Teens
• Adults
• Families 
• Couples  
• Latinx clients
• 1st/2nd Generation Immigrants
• Spanish Speakers
• Expats/Nomads

Types of therapies or interventions used:

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
• DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
• EMDR
• IFS
• Mindfulness-based Holistic Therapies
• Attachment-based Therapy
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Narrative/cuento therapy
• Play Therapy
• Sand Tray Therapy
• Decolonized+Indigenous Healing
• Somatic Therapy

Types of mental health issues treated:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• PTSD
• Personality Disorders
• Schizoaffective 
• Bipolar Disorder
• Body Dysmorphia 
• Substance Use
• Anger Management
• Sexual Assault
• Grief/Loss

Licenses/Certifications: 

• BBS Registered: Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #141988 

Education: 

• M.A., Counseling Psychology, California State University Long Beach, Ca

Availability: 

• Newport Beach, CA 
• Long Beach, CA 
• Telehealth

Years of experience: 3

Languages: 

• English
• Spanish

Why I became a Therapist:

As a first-generation child of immigrants, I grew up navigating the U.S. with limited resources and little understanding of how the dominant culture worked. My parents didn’t speak the language and carried stigmas around mental health, even though my family was impacted by addiction, poverty, and criminal justice issues. Without access to the support we needed, I turned to psychology in high school and found it both fascinating and healing—it gave me the language to understand the dysfunction in my family, myself, and the world around me. That discovery set me on a path of making sense of my own experiences while opening doors for others to do the same. I’ve committed myself to ensuring that no child or person is ever denied the mental health services they need, because I know firsthand how transformative access can be.

My Therapeutic Approach:

My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and collaborative—I view therapy as a partnership where healing unfolds at the client’s pace. I draw from EMDR, IFS, and attachment-based frameworks while weaving in mindfulness, narrative, and somatic practices to address the mind-body connection. For families and couples, I emphasize strengthening communication and attachment bonds while holding space for intergenerational and cultural narratives. I also bring in creative interventions like sand tray, play therapy, and Gestalt techniques when helpful, especially with adolescents or when words alone feel limiting. At the core, my work is about cultivating safety, connection, and self-trust so that clients can move toward greater freedom and wholeness.

Supervised by Emma Esper, LMFT #137235, LPCC #14998