Hi, I’m Danielle Eaves Hernandez, a Certified Child Life Specialist, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Certified Grief Counselor and Certified Public Health Professional. My mission is to support the psychosocial needs of children, adults, and families through illness, loss, and life’s toughest moments. My approach blends validating feelings, building coping skills, and bringing a little sunshine, even on the heaviest days. I began private practice because I saw a gap in services for children, teens, families and adults of all ages experiencing challenging times. I believe in both individual sessions as well as family sessions to promote open conversation and healing together. 

 

Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) educate children and families through translating medical jargon, medical play, books, and hands-on science experiments to understand illness and medical conditions. Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) provide adaptive leisure activities to persons with various abilities to promote fun, autonomy and socialization, and memory making. As a certified public health professional (CPH), I educate communities and schools, using developmentally appropriate language and play to make health and wellness topics interactive, enjoyable and meaningful. I also train medical providers on strategies to reduce medical anxiety, promote medication compliance, increase access to care, and facilitate support groups on various medical conditions and remembrance ceremonies.

 

As a certified grief counselor (GC-C), I work with individuals of all ages through many kinds of loss. I’ve guided parents through the heartbreak of perinatal loss, supported families facing a life-limiting diagnosis, and walked alongside those navigating the long journey of chronic illness and those experiencing complicated grief. I’ve been there for children whose loved ones were in hospice, died suddenly, or experienced a tragic accident. I’ve worked with kids and young adults with neurotypical and neurodiverse conditions, physical challenges, and developmental differences from all over the world. Because grief takes many forms and surfaces at any time, I also support families mourning the loss of a beloved pet or the loss of normalcy after natural disasters. It is a privilege to walk such sacred ground with families who are missing a loved one. I learn from my clients on how to best support them, provide memory making activities, engage in life review to learn more about your person, and promote ways to continue your connection. 

 

Since 2008, I’ve worked with over 600 families at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, supporting them at home, in schools, and in clinics from the time of diagnosis to years after a death. .Alongside my private practice work, I’ve spoken locally, nationally, and internationally about the value of child life services, deployed for hurricanes and earthquakes with The American Red Cross & Child Life Disaster Relief, served on international mission trips and co-authored a hospice and palliative care chapter in The Role of Child Life Specialist in the Community. I believe all children and families deserve access to meaningful support through illness, trauma and loss. 

 

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me chasing my toddler and dachshunds, at the beach with my family, planning my next travel adventure, or cheering on the Florida Gators in the Swamp. I look forward to meeting you and am honored to be part of New Growth Counseling.