Sometimes it can feel like a mystery when searching for a therapist.
You read and scroll all of the websites, profiles, and clinical information, but you don’t usually get to hear from the therapist in their own words.
Bright Light Counseling Center decided to lift the veil and introduce our therapists, in their own words. Learn more about them both personally and professionally.
This month we are interviewing Micaela Hernandez, LCSW.
Micaela is a therapist in our Austin, Texas office. She provides therapy in person as well as online to residents of Texas and Virginia.
(Nancy): What do you like to do in your free time/for fun?
(Micaela): It really depends on how I feel. Sometimes I love a relaxing weekend on the couch while watching a Formula 1 race or catching up on shows, or a weekend of adventure exploring a new place or spending the weekend in the sun and on the go. It’s a toss up and also really depends on the Texas weather (so hot!).
(Nancy): Are you currently binge watching any shows?
(Micaela): I am a huge reality TV person (#Scandoval) and I just started watching the most recent season of Love Island USA. I also just finished watching the most recent season of The Bear in one sitting.
(Nancy): What music is on your playlist?
(Micaela): If you’re familiar with the Spotify Daylist feature, it’s most often that! I would say most often the major genres are R&B, alternative, and indie but I have so many playlists. I am also a huge fan of adding a photo that encompasses my Spotify playlist, so sometimes a playlist is literally tailored around the photo.
(Nancy): Are you currently reading any books?
(Micaela): Yes! I recently bought a Kindle and after watching Under the Bridge, I knew I had to read the book. I’m about halfway through! Next on my list is Jeanette McCurdy’s book, which I’ve heard a lot about.
(Nancy): What is your favorite dish to eat?
(Micaela): This is tough! I LOVE pizza, or a good bagel, but I would equally say my grandma’s pupusas. I’m biased but home cooked food is the best food! If we’re talking Austin restaurants, that has to be El Dorado, Home Slice, Peached Tortilla, or Loro.
(Nancy): Where is one place you would like to travel to and why?
(Micaela): Greece! Greece has always been on my bucket list. All the photos I’ve seen look breathtaking, the water seems very relaxing, and how can you not love the added bonus of all the cats?!
(Nancy): What helps you to relax and calm your mind??
(Micaela): A LOT of music, coloring, swimming, and watching reminiscent childhood movies. I like that with music, it can be white noise or a mix of favorite songs depending on the mood. I also really enjoy just swimming or floating in water and just losing track of time. It’s so peaceful, I could spend hours in the water.
(Nancy): What is your ideal way to spend a day off?
(Micaela): I imagine I would wake up late, take my time getting out of bed, have a relaxed shower, grab a cup of coffee and breakfast, maybe shop for a bit, and head home to relax and spend the rest of the day reading or watching tv, and then having a yummy dinner.
(Nancy): What is your favorite place?
(Micaela): There is a place called Church Hill Overlook in Richmond, VA, where I attended undergrad. It overlooks the city of Richmond. This place meant a lot to me while going through the college experience, being away from family, and finding myself. I visited it often and would spend hours sitting there and looking out at the skyline. I loved it so much I have a tattoo of the skyline from this view!
I also have been on the opposite side of the chair as a client and I’m not ashamed or afraid to admit that. Therapists also benefit from therapy.
(Nancy): What was your first job?
(Micaela): My first official job was being a waitress at a local restaurant. I think it’s important that everyone who hasn’t had a food industry experience really makes an effort to be patient and understanding to those working in it. It can get tough at times.
(Nancy): What made you choose counseling as a career?
(Micaela): I sort of always knew I wanted to help others feel supported. My friends in elementary school experienced some unfortunate circumstances and I remember thinking “I wish I could do more.” My aunt was also in the mental health field and when we spoke in middle school about what I was hoping to find a career in, she mentioned that what I was describing “ sounds a lot like social work.” From there, I really hit the ground running researching social work, especially the clinical field, and it felt like the perfect fit. I think over the years in the field, it’s really solidified my passion for counseling!
(Nancy): What do you enjoy most about being a therapist?
(Micaela): There’s a couple things but what comes to mind is I just really enjoy learning about others. I love being able to connect with others and do my best to create a space that feels comfortable with each individual client. I think it’s such an honor to hold space for the emotions and thoughts someone is experiencing, and also being witness to their healing and growth.
(Nancy): What do you think makes you stand out as a therapist?
(Micaela): I think my willingness to be authentic. I also will trip over my words, lose my thought occasionally, fidget, and have very natural human reactions happen, so I am always understanding when there’s awkwardness, anxiety, or any other emotion in the room.
I also have been on the opposite side of the chair as a client and I’m not ashamed or afraid to admit that. Therapists also benefit from therapy. I too have felt anxious, panic, afraid, and have lived through some tough experiences, which I view as an ability to empathize with your experiences.
(Nancy): What is your specialty or niche? And why?
(Micaela): There are two for me. I would say my niches are anxiety and trauma. I think similar reasons for the two, but with varying lived experience with each, it makes me incredibly passionate about both. I think similarly often it feels like there is no escape from the impacts of those experiences and I feel a duty to show others you can heal and work through these things.
(Nancy): What would you want someone who has never been to therapy to know about therapy?
(Micaela): It’s going to be awkward at first, it just is (and that’s so normal), but it can also be one of the kindest things you do for yourself. If you’ve never been shown or encouraged to discuss feelings, it can be a bit unfamiliar at first, but you’ll get to know your therapist and see if it’s a fit, and before you know you’ll forget what it was like to start. I think the last thing is to be honest with your therapist. We’re not here to judge, we’re here to support you, and if you feel that maybe we’re not meeting what you need, let us know!
(Nancy): What is rewarding about working with your clients?
(Micaela): Witnessing growth! There is really nothing like watching clients have those “lightbulb” moments, or walking into a session feeling proud about the boundary they’ve been struggling to set, or the sessions where we both know the growth has happened and the client feels ready to navigate on their own.
(Nancy): What have you felt most challenged by as a therapist?
(Micaela): Probably accepting that I can’t know everything or be a fit for everything. I can always do research but there are just some topics where I don’t have the knowledge base or experience to support clients in, and accepting that is hard but also better allows me to connect those client’s to other therapists who can better support them.
Therapy is going to be awkward at first, it just is (and that’s so normal), but it can also be one of the kindest things you do for yourself.
(Nancy): What makes being a therapist worthwhile?
(Micaela): That although we are navigating tough times in our lives and world, we can be there to support others going through their own difficult moments. We can be beacons of hope in those dark moments.
(Nancy): How have current events impacted how you approach therapy?
(Micaela): I think current events have brought to the forefront the systems we all navigate as people of different identities, and how detrimental it is that we are all empathetic. I think it’s important to acknowledge the impacts of these systems and identities on our lived experiences, as not doing so could be a disservice to ourselves.
(Nancy): How do you feel about technology and its impact on therapy?
(Micaela): Ugh, this is tough. I recognize that technology, particularly during the pandemic, has brought awareness to mental health that wasn’t necessarily accessible to all before. However, there are also downsides of misinformation, generalizing symptoms as an official diagnosis, and just Toxic TikTok. I think it’s about analyzing the technology critically and asking a professional for clarity.
(Nancy): What is one common misconception about therapy that you would change, if you could? Why?
(Micaela): That therapy is just a “fix all.” Therapy of course can help you and sometimes that isn’t immediate, seamless, or 100% everlasting. Therapy is work, and growth isn’t linear, there may be harder weeks than others, and there may be times in the future where you feel a check in might be helpful after something eventful has happened. That’s totally okay! Therapy is a journey of growth and healing.
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