Exploring Life & Business with Yanira Hernandez of Pa’lante Therapy, Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yanira Hernandez.

Hi Yanira, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, a place I proudly represent. I grew up in a traditional Mexican household with strong ties to my Mexican-Pueblano roots. As the eldest daughter of working-class immigrant parents, I was often motivated by parents to do my absolute best, especially in the realm of education. My parents migrated to a new country with hopes and dreams for a better life and believed that education had the power to transform the lives of their children and future generations. So it only made sense for my brother and I to pursue higher education. I graduated from UCLA with my BA in Women’s Studies and Education Studies and thereafter, received my Master’s in Social Work at USC. A few years later, I decided to return to academia and obtain my Doctorate in Education from USC. I chose to focus on a career in social work, mental health and education largely due to the systemic challenges many in my community, including my family, have faced. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and provide mental health services and consultation to a school district in Los Angeles in addition to owning my private practice.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey in academia, entrepreneurship, and in life has not been easy at all. One of the biggest challenges has been navigating different spaces with my intersectional identities (Latina/Mexicana Americana, First-Generation, woman, bilingual and bicultural, working-class raised) and feeling enough without the validation of others. As someone who grew up seeking the validation and approval of my parents, I naturally gravitate to perfectionism, which ultimately led to having high functioning anxiety. Questioning if I am enough, if I can do it, if I can succeed, and if I fail, what does this mean about me… Fortunately enough, I’ve learned along the way to silence that inner critic and elevate my true, authentic voice.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am the proud owner of Pa’lante Therapy, Inc.- an online private practice where I center my work with BIPOC individuals with an emphasis on Latinx communities. As a bilingual licensed therapist, I am passionate about empowering First-Generation Women of Color professionals, college/graduate students, undocumented/immigrant individuals, and Latinx families. Areas of specialty include trauma (e.g. racial/ intergenerational trauma, early childhood trauma, complex trauma in immigrant populations), inner child work, anxiety, depression, stress, professional identity related issues, and imposter syndrome (imposter phenomenon/perfectionism). I provide cultural responsive therapy and practice through trauma-informed, anti-oppressive lenses. As a daughter of hard working class immigrants from Mexico and as a First Generation college graduate/professional from South Central Los Angeles, I not only empathize with my clients but I am also committed to decolonizing therapy and mental health practices through healing and education. I am very proud to be in a position where I can provide mental health services to individuals that look like me, who have similar lived experiences, and ultimately, be able destigmatize mental illness in the Latinx community. My journey in private practice has not been easy at all. Managing a full-time job along with other personal and professional commitments, has made it challenging to juggle the demands of being a private practice owner but I continue to rely on my support system and my passion to fuel my motivation to continue on this journey.

How do you define success?
So if this question would’ve been asked five years ago my answer would’ve been different. Success to me is the ability to let go. Let go of the made up version we have of ourselves based on what others have imposed on us, whether it was our parents, a teacher, a coach, a family member, or a friend. Being able to let go of that made up version of ourselves and not be bounded by expectations from others is beyond liberating and allows us to be successful the way we want to be successful. It allows us to redefine success in our terms. It allows us to see ourselves as flawed beautiful capable beings that can make the impossible possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.palantetherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palantetherapy

Image Credits
Yaquelin Hernandez