Online therapy in Florida for chronic pain and illness

What working together actually looks like

Everything's virtual so that we can work together from wherever you feel most comfortable, whether it's your couch, your bed, your backyard. One-on-one sessions are typically 60 minutes and via a secure video platform.

It isn't generic talk therapy, and it isn't only about coping better. It's about helping you unlearn the patterns in your brain and nervous system that are driving your symptoms. This is mind-body medicine.

Learn more about my approach

Most people come in carrying years of being dismissed. You won't have to prove to me that your symptoms are real and causing great suffering.

I believe you.

I know what it's like because I've been there.

You'll have someone in your corner who gets it, every step of the way.

Why work with me

Dr. Ileana Hernandez smiling at her laptop in front of a full bookshelf

Emotional health is usually treated in one place, physical health in another. But neuroplastic symptoms require an integrative, holistic approach that addresses the whole picture. I don't treat your mind separately from your body because that separation doesn't exist. As part of your care team, my role is to help you identify and unlearn the brain and nervous system patterns keeping you stuck.

I have specialized training in the approaches that actually move neuroplastic pain and other chronic conditions.

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

Retrains the brain to stop reading safe signals as danger. Rather than avoiding or bracing against sensations, you learn to turn towards them with curiosity, which teaches your brain they're not a threat. This is the most researched approach for neuroplastic pain.

Somatic Therapy

Works directly with the nervous system and how your body learned to respond to stress. You learn to understand what your body is communicating in real time and how to shift out of the states it's been stuck in (e.g., fight, flight, shutdown).

Trauma Therapy

Neuroplastic symptoms often sit on top of emotional, behavioral, and protective patterns learned long ago. We work underneath the symptoms rather than only at the surface: making room for emotions that got pushed down, and getting to know the parts of you that formed to keep you safe.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

What you avoid, your brain codes as dangerous. We gradually get you back to the activities you've stopped doing — first in your imagination, then in real life — so your brain learns they're safe and your life can open back up.

I recovered from chronic pain and illness myself, after years of being told there was nothing more to be done. That's not a line on my CV or something I learned from textbooks. It's the reason I understand what you're carrying, why I can pick up on things many miss, and why I'm able to successfully do this kind of work. (You can read my full story here.)

Common questions

How long are sessions, and how often?

Sessions are 60 minutes. Most people start weekly, and we adjust as you go.

How much does it cost?

Sessions are $185 each. Sliding scale available.

Do you take insurance?

I'm an out-of-network provider, which means I don't bill insurance directly. I'll give you a superbill (an itemized receipt) that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

What are the benefits of self-pay therapy?

Paying out of pocket keeps your care private. To bill insurance, I'd have to give you a diagnosis. That diagnosis goes to your insurer, along with whatever else they require to approve care (e.g., your treatment plan). When you pay privately, your records aren't shared.

If you'd like to seek out-of-network reimbursement, I can provide a superbill — that does require a diagnosis, since insurers won't process a claim without one. The difference is that it's your choice, not a condition of getting care.

Self-pay also means we're not bound by an insurer's rules about how long a session runs or how long we work together. We decide what your care looks like based on what you actually need.

Can I use my HSA or FSA?

Absolutely! Most HSA and FSA cards work like any other credit or debit card, and psychotherapy is a qualified expense. And because you're paying with pre-tax money, it effectively lowers the cost depending on your tax bracket. I'm happy to provide receipts if your plan administrator asks for documentation.

Occasionally a card is declined for reasons on the plan's end. If that happens, any other card works and I'll send you a receipt to submit for reimbursement.

How long will it take me to heal?

It depends on many factors — your history, your symptoms, and what's underneath them. For some, just learning about the science behind neuroplastic symptoms is enough to bring relief. For most, it will take time to retrain the brain and nervous system. You may notice shifts after a few sessions, a couple months, or longer. I'll be honest with you about what I'm seeing as we go.

Do you only work with people in Florida?

Yes. I'm a Florida-licensed psychotherapist based in Miami who specializes in chronic pain, chronic illness, trauma, anxiety, and depression. I work with clients located anywhere in the state of Florida. All sessions are online, so we can meet wherever you are in the state.

What if I've already tried everything?

I know what it's like to try so many things without relief. If no one has worked with the emotional, behavioral, and neurological patterns driving your symptoms, then there's a real chance a mind-body approach can be the missing piece. I created a free, 5-minute quiz that can give you a better idea of whether this approach may be a good fit for you: Take Quiz Here

Is this just going to tell me it's all in my head?

No, your symptoms are real and physical. If you've seen all the specialists, tried all the treatments, and you're still struggling, it could be that your symptoms are driven by learned patterns in your brain and nervous system instead of damage in the body. The great news is those patterns can be changed!

How can a psychotherapist help with pain?

I know we've been taught that when a symptom is physical, the solution must be physical — that there must be something wrong with the body. Yet, decades of research on chronic pain and neuroplasticity have shown us that all pain is generated by the brain, whether it's acute or chronic pain. That pain is there to protect you. If you break a bone in your leg, for example, the brain generates pain so that you can rest your leg until it heals. But in many cases of chronic pain — versus acute pain — the brain got overprotective and continued to generate pain! Sometimes the danger the brain is sensing is instead coming from past experiences and emotions we've been avoiding, and/or from unrelenting daily pressures and stressors. That's where a psychotherapist trained in a mind-body approach, like I am, can make all the difference. Together, we work on teaching your brain and nervous system that you're not in danger, that it no longer needs to send you pain or other sensations to keep you safe.

Next step

If any of this sounds like what you've been looking for, let's talk. Request a free 30-minute consultation and we'll see if it's a fit.

Request a free consultation