Dr. Dawn Hernandez, Psy.D.

Dr. Hernandez is a Clinical Psychologist who is completing her post-doctoral experience in our practice.  She earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology and Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri.  Her undergraduate work was done at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.  Dr. Hernandez completed a well-rounded internship with the National Psychology Training Consortium.  With this organization she served populations in the inpatient setting from children of all ages as well as on the adult inpatient unit.  She also worked in the University of Central Missouri’s counseling center with college-aged students and completed a 3-month rotation with Pathways in Marshall, Missouri with the substance abuse population.  This comprehensive experience gave Dr. Hernandez an ability to see many different diagnoses and work collaboratively with multiple agencies for the betterment of these clients. 

 

Dr. Hernandez worked in Springfield, Missouri at the Neurological Associates of Southwest Missouri (NASM) after graduating.  The majority of her tasks here included testing and therapy.  She developed a love for testing and furthering her ability to help others with diagnostic discovery and treatment plan options for the future.  While unveiling a diagnosis can be helpful for the client, Dr. Hernandez also believes that learning how certain diagnoses operate can help empower the client and their family to see the strengths of their associated behaviors. 

 

Though she enjoys testing, Dr. Hernandez has had experience in short and long-term therapy with all ages and populations.  Dr. Hernandez enjoys working with adolescents and adults utilizing an eclectic or integrated approach.  She finds it essential that the client and therapist work together to find the best fit for treatment.  Dr. Hernandez believes that our thoughts influence our behavior, and how we experience others can affect these thoughts, therefore utilizing Interpersonal style therapy is essential to the process.  She also utilizes Cognitive-Behavior techniques, bibliotherapy, and psychoeducation when appropriate in the therapeutic relationship.

 

Outside of her passion for helping others, Dr. Hernandez enjoys adventuring with her husband, watching her kids shine on the field and on the stage, and walks with her two dogs.