Karina Hester, LMFT

As a Family Therapist, I like to approach client's challenges and victories from a systemic perspective, while facilitating self-growth, symptoms management and healthy connections.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Florida (MT 3746). I am tri-lingual in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Understanding my cultural privilege has helped me to connect with clients and their families under a non-judgement, strength-base and supportive lens.

My specialty is working with trauma survivors and trauma related symptoms such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive tendencies, guilt, shame, coping with substance misuse, self-esteem, inability to maintain healthy connections, co-dependency, anger management, flashbacks and self-harm, in both adults and children. I understand that the therapeutic process can be painful and it takes courage to take the first step therefore I utilize some humor and unconditional positive regard to encourage clients feeling safe and building a trusting therapeutic relationship. My goal is to facilitate all clients achieving their objectives and reaching their version of their best self, tranquility and healthy coping skills under a collaborative approach.

Since then I have been working with a variety of populations and different ages including, couples and relational struggles, strengthening the intimate relationship, adolescent’s conflicts, phases of life concerns, family dynamics, parenting and co-parenting skills, blended families, foster and adoptive families, occupational responsibilities and children's social and/or behavioral challenges.

As a clinician, I am well trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, play in therapy, Motivational Interviewing and EMDR. As a family therapist I utilize systemic and relational concepts to orient client's treatment and their sessions.

In my free time, I enjoy a self-care routine that includes taking time for myself by reading, exercising, practicing mindfulness and spending time with loved ones. Appreciating the importance of taking care of oneself is a crucial part of being able to be present for others. Self-awareness and considering the systems that we all participate in can bring out the most powerful motivation for growth!

Thank you for visiting my profile and I hope you found what you were looking for!