Flor del Cielo Hernandez

Flor del Cielo Hernandez is a Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) and has worked for over 15 years in the mental health field. She completed the bachelor’s degree in music education at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and master’s and doctoral degrees at Florida State University. As part of her master’s degree, Hernandez researched music therapy techniques to help with academic learning with a group of special education students in Puerto Rico. Likewise, Hernandez completed her master’s thesis using music therapy techniques to help increase language intelligibility and improve the mood of Parkinson’s patients in Puerto Rico. Continuing her commitment to the Hispanic/Latino community, her doctoral thesis is titled “Mental Health Music Therapy with the Hispanic/Latino Community: Identity, Cultural Perspective, Musical Preferences, and Repertoire.” She contributed to the development of the First Music Therapy Symposium at the Pontifical Catholic University in Puerto Rico.

Hernandez has used music therapy interventions following cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused philosophy. She has worked with clients and patients ranging from young children and adolescents to older adults and has provided patient-centered services in Spanish and English. Part of her experience includes working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, dementia, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. She is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at Florida State University. Hernandez has a passion for education and mentorship as she has supervised well over 30 music therapy interns and many practicum students.