Claudia Hernandez Vargas

As a Latina, immigrant, and Indigenous woman, I am deeply committed to increasing access to mental health care and reducing stigma within my community. As a first-generation individual and Spanish-speaking therapist, my path into this work is rooted in my own lived experiences navigating limited mental health awareness and support. I am passionate about helping individuals and families better understand what therapy is, what it can look like, and how it can become a meaningful and empowering part of their lives.

I work with children ages 6 and up, with a special love for pre-teens, as well as adolescents, young adults, couples, and families. I especially enjoy incorporating creative and expressive approaches into therapy, including art, sand tray, and parts-based work. These approaches can help clients explore emotions, identity, and lived experiences in ways that go beyond words and may feel more accessible and authentic.

At the heart of my work is helping people build self-esteem, self-compassion, and confidence, especially when they are navigating spaces where they may feel different, unseen, or underrepresented. I believe everyone deserves to take up space without fear, and therapy can be a powerful place to begin practicing that.

My approach is warm, relational, and collaborative. I strive to create a nonjudgmental and affirming space where clients feel safe, respected, and in control of their own process. I often describe therapy as a road trip: you are the driver, and I am the passenger offering guidance along the way. We move at your pace, pause when needed, adapt to detours, and learn as we go. Over time, my hope is that you continue forward feeling more confident, grounded, and connected to yourself.

I also believe that grief exists in many forms. It can show up in life transitions, identity shifts, relationships, and even within the healing process itself. Rather than avoiding or resisting grief, I invite clients to gently acknowledge it, understand how it shows up in their lives, and build a different relationship with it. Making space for grief can open the door to deeper self-understanding, resilience, and growth.

A Mexican turned Austinite, I cherish and value my culture deeply. Having grown up in Austin while navigating two cultures, I bring a culturally responsive and compassionate lens to my work with clients and families.

Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy traveling and learning from other cultures, exploring trails around Austin, and getting lost in a good book.