Therapists can truly change their clients’ lives by listening to them, providing effective mental health tools, and having a heart to connect with others. “People matter so much,” Nathaniel Fernandez, PhD, said while reflecting on the intertwined nature of his life and career as a psychologist. Related to the Gabrielino indigenous people and Andres Duarte (who founded Rancho Azusa Duarte), Fernandez gives back to the community that helped shape him. As a Christian, he especially seeks to live out God’s calling to care for those in need. Fernandez is happy to serve as a psychologist and outreach coordinator in Azusa Pacific University’s Counseling Center.
Fernandez grew up in Santa Clarita. He studied psychology close to home at Cal Lutheran, open to the various ways he could apply it in the workplace. During that time, Fernandez’s father passed away. Walking through grief brought forth a plethora of emotions as Fernandez struggled with loss. “There were many barriers in the way of accessing support when I needed it, mainly due to cultural parts of my identity,” he said. “Being a Christian, I thought that if my faith was strong enough I’d feel better, and it wasn’t until I connected with pastoral counseling and engaged in conversations with close friends that I realized that’s a misconception of Christianity.” Fernandez then realized that becoming a therapist would allow him to extend what he learned to help others facing hardship.
Fernandez attended Fuller Theological Seminary to earn his PhD in Clinical Psychology and an MA in Theology. Part of his clinical training included internship placements at universities across Southern California. He was placed at APU and loved the community of difference makers. He sought to share Christ’s love through wellness initiatives. In 2018, there was an opening at APU for a new position as outreach coordinator, which entails providing students with resources ahead of stressors, so they have the tools to cope well.
"The opportunity to do outreach work in the Southern California region, an area that’s really special to me, is something I knew I was called to do,” Fernandez said. “It’s been such a life giving experience.”
In addition to providing students one-on-one counseling, the outreach side of Fernandez’s job includes everything the Counseling Center creates outside the office. The center’s goal is to equip various stakeholders at APU with the skills they need to ensure the community promotes wellness. Students are more likely to succeed, grow, and deepen their faith when their emotional wellbeing is nurtured. By training student leaders, faculty, and staff to recognize when a student would benefit from mental health resources, Fernandez plays a large part in creating a culture that encourages healthy living. He is especially proud of the Counseling Center’s student interns, called peer educators, who connect with students across campus to foster awareness about mental health and share about the Counseling Center’s resources.
Caring for those going through emotional challenges offers Fernandez the space to
live out his passion.
Fernandez seeks to continue reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.
Reflecting on his journey to APU, Fernandez attributes the fulfillment he’s gained to the people who have made the environment uplifting. Working alongside those who share the same commitment to put God First, Fernandez is a part of delving into a community that loves God and others well.