Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucia.
Hi Lucia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My father is a psychiatrist, and I was always deeply enamored with both my parents even before I met them. My father was a political prisoner in Cuba, and my mother stayed behind, helping him survive while continuing the underground fight against the Castro regime. I came to the United States as an infant, just six months old, and met them when I was 18, after my father was finally released and exiled. Growing up, I always saw them as heroes. To me they were people who sacrificed everything for what they believed in and that had a profound influence on me.
That admiration led me to want to follow in my father’s footsteps and study medicine to become a psychiatrist. But once in medical school, I realized that while I loved medicine, my real passion was in psychotherapy. My real passion is in understanding people, their stories, and their healing. I believe that early separation from my parents shaped that calling; it inspired me to study trauma and its deep effects on people and relationships.
I was fortunate to share a practice with my father for many years before he retired. My journey, in many ways, is one of resilience. It has been about learning to face what life brings, to cope, and to grow from it.
When I founded Coral Gables Counseling Center, my vision was to give back to the community that raised me by creating a place where every aspect of mental health could be supported under one roof. I wanted it to be both a home for clinicians to build their private practices and a safe, welcoming space where individuals could find support, guidance, and healing.
A few years ago, we expanded our mission by adding a teaching program for masters counseling students. The goal was twofold: to provide accessible services for clients who may not have the resources to seek therapy otherwise, and to offer students an opportunity to experience what a thriving, community-oriented private practice looks like in action.
Alongside my professional journey, my personal life deeply shaped the therapist I’ve become. I became a young mother at 21, went through divorce, remarried, and built a blended family of six children. Those experiences – the challenges, the love, and the chaos of family life – helped me connect profoundly with couples, marriages, and families in my work.
I spent 12 years at Miami Children’s Hospital (now Nicklaus Children’s Hospital) gaining extensive training working with children, families, and adults, all while growing my private practice. My personal journey, through divorce, remarriage, raising six children (plus a house full of their cousins and friends), strengthened my empathy and deepened my understanding of resilience, growth, and love.
Today, I’m married to my high school sweetheart, and together we have a beautiful, blended family. As Director of Coral Gables Counseling Center, I focus on creating an environment of wellness, family, and healing for everyone who walks through our doors.
Faith has always been the cornerstone of my life and my work. I have a strong relationship with God, and I encourage nurturing spirituality – whatever that may look like for each person. Believing in something greater than ourselves is powerful; it helps us let go of what we can’t control and trust in the blessings that come with faith. I see spirituality as a vital part of healing, and I strive to integrate that belief into my practice and my life every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I look back, I truly feel my life has been a beautiful one. There have been many challenges and hardships along the way, but each of them has brought opportunities for growth, resilience, and deeper appreciation for life. I wouldn’t wish hardship on anyone, but I’ve learned that when we face difficult times and still find ways to grow and thrive, that’s where the beauty and the healing lie.
When my daughter was 25, she was diagnosed with leukemia. It was an incredibly intense and painful time, but she’s a walking miracle today – alive, healthy, and thriving 15 years later. That experience is a powerful testimony to my faith. I saw so many miracles unfold during that time, and I know without question that faith carried us through.
Another major challenge was the separation from my parents for the first 18 years of my life. They were in Cuba, fighting for freedom, while I was raised here in the U.S. I longed to meet them, to know them, but I also knew they were heroes fighting for something greater than themselves. Even so, there were moments of deep sadness and feelings of abandonment, not because they wanted to leave me, but because circumstances made it impossible for them to be by my side.
I was blessed, though, with wonderful grandparents and an extended, loud, loving Cuban family who raised me with so much joy. They celebrated life at every turn, and I always felt surrounded by love. I had many “mothers” and “fathers” who guided me, even in my parents’ absence. So, with every hardship, there was also tremendous blessing.
Going through divorce was another painful chapter in my life, but again, it brought its own lessons and growth. Every experience, every relationship, taught me something valuable and helped me build a stronger foundation for the future.
As for Coral Gables Counseling Center, its growth has been organic and full of grace. It hasn’t always been easy, but I truly believe that when you put good energy out into the world, good people are drawn to it. That’s been our story. We’ve built a beautiful team, now over 30 people who share the same heart for helping others. I started with just two therapists, then three, and now we’ve become a thriving community.
It’s also a family business in every sense of the word. My husband encouraged me from the beginning, telling me, “If you build it, they will come” and he was right. My daughters, my niece, my sister (who’s a life coach), and so many wonderful clinicians have all become part of our extended professional family. I’m deeply grateful for each person on our team, the staff, clinicians, and everyone who makes Coral Gables Counseling Center a place of hope, healing, and connection.
We’ve been impressed with Coral Gables Counseling Center, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a comprehensive mental health center with a team of over 30 clinicians, including psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, school psychologists and coaches. Our services range from testing and therapy to life, divorce, and transition coaching.
We specialize in a wide array of mental health areas, including eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, addiction, ADHD, depression, family and relationship challenges, and child and adolescent issues. We have clinicians trained in many therapeutic modalities including EMDR, hypnosis and trauma-informed therapy.
What sets us apart is our ability to create personalized care teams for each client or family, ensuring that every individual’s unique needs are met, whether that involves testing, therapy for multiple family members, or focused support for a single individual.
Clients appreciate they can access all the support they need under one roof, with our team collaborating closely when necessary. Beyond client care, I also work on building and supporting the private practices of our clinicians, helping them grow professionally.
I’m particularly proud of our initiative, The Happiness Project. It allows us to provide mental health services to those who might not otherwise afford them, while also serving as a teaching institute where clinicians can gain supervised experience toward graduation and licensing. It embodies our mission of making mental health care accessible, collaborative, and empowering for both clients and professionals alike.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Coral Gables is my home, and I’ve been part of this community my whole life. There’s a special family history here. When my mother was a teenager in Cuba, she dreamed of living in Coral Gables.
Ironically, my parents ended up moving here after coming to the U.S. in 1979. My father quickly earned his board certifications, and they were able to buy a home in her dream city. Growing up here, I’ve been deeply connected to this community, and that’s what I love most about it.
I adore the charm of Coral Gables, the beautiful restaurants, and the way I often run into people I’ve known all my life. It’s also one of the largest urban forests in the United States, so the lush foliage makes it a truly beautiful place to live and serve others.
Honestly, I can’t think of much I don’t like about Coral Gables. I’ve always focused on the things I love about it. The August heat is perfect for the pool or the ocean, and even the traffic doesn’t bother me. The city has given me a lifetime of joy and connection, and I feel incredibly lucky to call it home.
Pricing:
- We offer a variety of clinicians with different fee schedules, to accommodate the unique needs of each client.
- We work with many insurance providers and we handle all the research for our clients.
- With our Happiness Project initiative we, provide services at a lower rate for clients who may not be able to afford standard fees.
- These lower cost services are delivered by clinicians who are completing their graduation or licensing hours, all under the supervision of our experienced, licensed providers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coralgablescounseling.com/
- Instagram: @coralgablescounselingcenter
- Facebook: Coral Gables Counseling Center
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucia-fernandez-silveira/
- Twitter: coralgablescounselingcenter
- Other: The Counseling Corner Podcast on Itunes, Spotify and Google Play
