C. Sophia Hernandez is the founder and CEO of The Love Courses Workshops and Claudia Sophia Global Retreats, Inc. After learning from world-renowned psychologists and love-experts, C. Sophia has learned the best kept secrets and techniques to empower couples to exceed their relationship goals and dreams.
What would your clients and colleagues say is your therapist superpower?
The nickname my clients have given me over the years (“The Relationship Whisperer”) is directly tied to what I’m told is my superpower: being able to quickly assess and address couples’ needs while getting to the root cause of their issues.
What is one thing that you have learned through your own therapy?
A beautiful side benefit of being a relationship coach is that I have learned how to better manage and nurture my own relationships with patience, kindness, and love.
What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
I was inspired to become a relationship coach because I saw my own parents struggle with their marriage and ultimately divorce. It taught me that love wasn’t enough, we need tools to stay connected and to practice love. I did not want myself nor my clients to become part of the 50% divorce rate.
What does a typical session with you look like?
From the very first assessment session we’ll get right to work digging into the dynamics and patterns the couple has developed throughout their relationship. From there I will create a custom treatment plan, using therapeutic techniques, that apply specifically their unique needs.
If you could pick one or two books that influenced your approach to therapy, what would they be and why?
I personally love and often recommend Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find – and Keep – Love, by Amir Levine. It deep dives into attachment styles and, in many ways, redefines what it means to be in relationships.
I also really like The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, by John Gottman and Nan Silver. The Gottman Method aims to “disarm conflicting verbal communication, increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers…and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.”
How do you approach the stigma surrounding mental health and therapy?
For those who enjoy sports, I approach it by comparing therapy to coaches. All athletes have coaches that help them practice and improve their game. Other times I approach it by explaining that biologically we are built to connect. Thus, “talk therapy” is how we stay mentally healthy and lucid.
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C. Sophia Hernandez has a Masters degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Brandman University. She also has a BA in Business, specializing in Organizational Leadership, from Chapman University.
Short Term (Solution-focused, etc.)
Ideal for those who are coming in with a specific problem they’d like to address and gain clarity on. Typically, short term therapies are present focused and do not dive deep into your past.
Structured
Structured therapies are goal and progress oriented. Therapists may incorporate psychoeducation and a specific “curriculum.” In order to stay on track, therapists may provide worksheets and homework.
Insight-oriented (Psychodynamic, Existential, etc.)
Exploring the past and making connections to present issues can help clients gain insight. Getting to the root of the issue and finding deeper self-awareness can help with long-term change.
Non-directive (Humanistic, Person-centered, etc.)
Going with the flow and seeing where it leads.
Behavioral (CBT, DBT, etc.)
Focuses on changing potentially unhealthy or self-destructive behaviors by addressing problematic thought patterns and specific providing coping skills.
Trauma Focused (EMDR, TF-CBT, etc.)
Recognizing the connection between trauma experiences and your emotional and behavioral responses, trauma focused therapy seeks to help you heal from traumas.
