Build & Bloom
Build the skills, Bloom in community
The safety of therapy. The practicality of skills training. The connection of community.
Next Group Starts Wednesday, October 1st – limited spots available!
Relationship Skills for People Who’ve Been Through Hard Things
You’ve done a lot of individual work. You’ve taken time to reflect, heal, and understand your patterns. You have insights and tools that have helped you grow.
But when you’re actually in relationships — even new ones — those same ways of being still show up. You still find yourself over-explaining, struggling with boundaries, or managing other people’s emotions. The awareness is there, but translating it into different responses with real people feels challenging.
That's because relationship skills need relationship practice
Build & Bloom is an 8-week online group where you get to practice the insights and tools you’ve developed in a supportive community of people who understand the work.
It’s where individual growth meets relational application.
Led by Eva Fernandez, LMFT — Licensed therapist with specialized training in attachment, relationship patterns, and trauma-informed care. I combine distress tolerance skills from DBT, values clarification from ACT, and somatic regulation techniques with real-world practice in a supportive community.
The Patterns That Persist Despite Your Growth
Fawning and people-pleasing
You know your worth, but still find yourself managing everyone else’s emotions and saying yes when you mean no
Hypervigilance in relationships
Scanning for signs of rejection, criticism, or abandonment even with people who’ve shown they’re trustworthy
Difficulty trusting your instincts
Second-guessing your gut feelings about people or situations because you learned your perceptions weren’t valid
Emotional flashbacks in relationships
Getting overwhelmed by feelings that seem too big for the current situation, often triggered by relationship dynamics
All-or-nothing connection patterns
Either over-sharing to create instant intimacy or keeping people at arm’s length because vulnerability feels too risky
Over-functioning or shutting down
Taking responsibility for everyone’s feelings and the relationship’s success, or completely withdrawing when things get difficult
These patterns make sense given what you've been through.
And you’re ready to practice responding differently when they show up in real relationships.
Healing in Community Changes Everything
Something powerful happens when you share your story and hear others share theirs. The shame that keeps you isolated starts to melt when you realize your responses make perfect sense — and that you’re not broken, you’re human.
Group work provides what individual therapy cannot — the experience of practicing new responses in real relationship dynamics.
Why Relationships Heal in Relationship
Relational wounds need relational healing.
You can do a lot of healing work on your own — therapy, journaling, reading books, understanding your patterns. And that work matters. But here’s what individual work can’t give you: the actual experience of relating differently with real people.
Relational wounds need relational healing. The betrayals, disappointments, and unsafe connections from your past happened in relationship with others. The nervous system patterns that developed to protect you were learned through interactions with real people. So the healing has to happen there too.
Think about it: If you have trouble setting boundaries with your kids or partner, you probably struggle to say no at work when you’re already overwhelmed. If you have a hard time expressing needs in your marriage, you likely do the same thing in friendships. These patterns show up everywhere because they live in your body, not just your thoughts.
The group becomes a safe laboratory where you can practice new ways of connecting with people who understand what you’re working through. You’ll get real-time feedback about what feels authentic versus what sounds like you’re apologizing for existing. You’ll experience what it feels like to set a boundary and have people respect it, or to share something vulnerable and be met with understanding instead of judgment.
Individual therapy can teach you about healthy relationships. Group therapy lets you practice actually having them.
What Our Clients Say
“I stopped apologizing for having needs. The group helped me practice asking for things without over-explaining. My marriage is completely different now — we actually solve problems instead of me just accommodating everything.”
“I used to shut down during any disagreement. Learning to stay present with people who understood why conflict felt dangerous changed my whole life. I can handle difficult conversations at work now without my body going into panic mode.”
How Build & Bloom Works Differently
This isn’t group therapy where you just talk about problems. Each week combines what’s happening in your real life with proven tools and skills — creating responsive structure that addresses what the group actually needs.
Here’s what happens: Each session begins with a brief grounding exercise to help everyone arrive fully present. Then we open the circle where participants can share their reflections on the week’s topic. For example, someone might share about shutting down during a difficult conversation with their boss. We explore what happened in their body during that moment, learn specific techniques for staying present during conflict, then practice these new approaches together and receive feedback about what feels genuine.
Group Structure
Each 75-minute session includes:
- Group sharing and processing — What’s actually happening in your relationships, with support from people who understand the deeper patterns
- Skill-building in the moment — Learning regulation techniques, boundary setting, and communication tools when they’re most relevant to your experience
- Real-time practice — Trying new responses with people who get why it’s scary and can celebrate small wins
We explore topics like: Staying present instead of reactive during conflict. Understanding trauma responses in relationships. Breaking patterns of people-pleasing and codependency. Healing from emotional neglect or narcissistic family dynamics.
Program Details
Format: 8 consecutive weekly sessions, 75 minutes each
When: October 1st, 2020 6:30pm ET/3:30 p.m. PT
Where: Secure online platform (HIPPA Compliant)
Group Size: 8-10 participants maximum for meaningful connection
Investment: $600 Complete Program ($75 per session)
Led by: Eva Fernandez, LMFT — Licensed therapist specializing in attachment, trauma, and relationship patterns
Secure your spot. Space is limited.
Build & Bloom Group Is Perfect if You
You understand your patterns but struggle to change them in real-world situations
You’re tired of trying to figure everything out on your own
You want to connect with others who understand what you’ve been through
You’re ready to learn practical tools alongside emotional processing
You prefer learning and healing with others rather than in isolation
You want structure and professional guidance, not just peer support
You’re committed to showing up for yourself and others for 8 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
How are the sessions structured and who leads them?
Each weekly session is structured and facilitated by me as your licensed therapist. You’ll receive pre-session materials with reflection questions about our topic (like codependency, boundaries, or trauma responses). During our 75 minutes together, I provide psychoeducation, teach specific skills, and guide group processing.
Will I be forced to share personal details?
You’re welcome to share as much or as little as feels right for you. Some weeks you might have a lot to process about how the topic shows up in your relationships. Other weeks you might prefer to listen and learn from others’ experiences. Both are equally valuable.
What if I don't have breakthroughs or feel like I'm not progressing?
There’s no pressure to perform or have breakthroughs. This is a safe space to explore, practice, and make mistakes. I facilitate the discussion to ensure everyone feels heard while keeping the focus on skill-building and forward movement.
What happens between sessions?
Between sessions, you’ll practice what we’ve learned with the support of your group members who understand the challenges you’re facing.
What to Expect in Build & Bloom
In Build & Bloom, you’ll experience:
Peer support from people who understand — Connecting with others who know why relationships can feel simultaneously wonderful and terrifying
Skill-building in community — Developing regulation techniques, boundary setting, and conflict skills alongside others doing the same work
New relational experiences — Actually experiencing what it feels like to be heard, respected, and valued while being authentic
A sense of belonging — Moving from isolation to connection with people who celebrate your growth and understand your challenges
The group becomes a living example of the healthy relationships you’re learning to create everywhere else in your life.
Ready to Heal in Community?
Healing happens in relationship — with yourself, with a skilled professional, and with others who understand the path you’re walking.
Every week you spend trying to figure this out alone is another week without the support and tools that could change everything.
Getting Started is Easy
Step 1 - Reserve Your Spot
Reserve your spot in Build & Bloom via my online scheduler. Space is limited to 8-10 participants to ensure meaningful connection and personal attention
Step 2 - Brief Consultation
We’ll have a 20-minute conversation to ensure this group is the right fit for your goals and current stage of healing. This helps create the safest, most supportive group dynamic.
Step 3 - Begin Your Journey
Join your cohort for 8 weeks of skill-building and authentic connection. You’ll receive pre-session materials and begin practicing new ways of relating in community.