Gina Hernandez

Gina Hernandez, MA, LPC, ACS, CCTP, is a nationally recognized trainer, licensed professional counselor, executive leader, and curriculum developer with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations create healthier, more resilient children, families, schools, and communities. She is known for translating complex neuroscience and behavioral health research into practical, engaging, and immediately applicable strategies for educators, mental health professionals, nonprofit leaders, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community organizations.

As the co-founder of the Child Wellness Institute (ChildWIN®), Gina has designed and facilitated dozens of professional learning experiences for educators, school counselors, school social workers, administrators, behavioral health professionals, home visitors, nonprofit organizations, parents, and community partners. She has also developed and conducted in-class Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons for elementary schools in New Jersey. Her presentations for professionals combine evidence-based research, real-world experience, interactive learning, storytelling, and practical tools that participants can immediately implement. She has trained more than 11,000 educators nationally in trauma-responsive care, mental health, and brain science and more than 8,000 professionals nationally in a variety of additional topics.

As the founder of AVEDA Counseling & Consultation, LLC and Guided Path Therapy and Consulting, Gina provides clinical therapy, executive consultation, leadership development, and professional training. Her clinical and educational work includes a specialized focus on trauma recovery, grief and loss, resilience, child development, educator wellness, mental health, and the complex impact of narcissistic and emotionally abusive relationships.

Gina has extensive experience supporting survivors of narcissistic abuse as they work to understand the psychological and relational impact of manipulation, coercive dynamics, chronic invalidation, boundary violations, and trauma. Her approach focuses on helping survivors rebuild self-trust, strengthen boundaries, reconnect with their values and identity, recognize unhealthy relationship patterns, develop emotional regulation and coping skills, and move from survival toward greater confidence, autonomy, and resilience. She has completed specialized training in supporting individuals impacted by narcissistic abuse and has translated this knowledge into practical clinical strategies and educational resources designed to support recovery.

A significant part of Gina's work has been developing accessible, practical tools that help clients move beyond insight into action. She creates therapeutic worksheets, reflection activities, psychoeducational resources, recovery exercises, and other client-centered tools that support individuals in identifying patterns, challenging internalized messages, strengthening boundaries, rebuilding self-worth, and developing healthier relationships. Her resources are designed to make complex trauma and behavioral health concepts understandable and usable both inside and outside the therapy setting.

Gina is also the developer of the Student Success Lab Mentoring program, which has demonstrated remarkable changes in attendance, behavior, engagement, and academics among Tier 2 students. Her work reflects her belief that meaningful change occurs when people are provided not only with knowledge, but also with the relationships, skills, tools, and support necessary to apply that knowledge in their everyday lives.

Gina has collaborated with researchers from Rutgers University and other academic institutions and has co-authored peer-reviewed publications examining trauma-informed education, behavioral health interventions, home visiting, and childhood obesity prevention. Her work has contributed to improving outcomes for schools, families, and community systems across New Jersey and beyond. Across her clinical, training, and organizational leadership roles, Gina brings a unique combination of clinical expertise, trauma-informed practice, neuroscience, leadership experience, and practical resource development to help individuals and systems move from simply understanding challenges to creating meaningful and sustainable change.