📘 Interview with Arturo José Sánchez Hernández

Dr. Arturo José Sánchez Hernández is a psychiatrist, motivational coach, and writer specializing in mental health and well-being. With a deep calling to serve, he has dedicated his life to promoting emotional health, personal growth, and conscious decision-making.

Beyond his clinical work, he has published several books on inner development, interpersonal relationships, values, and therapeutic fables—blending proverbs and illustrations that make his teachings more relatable, visual, and accessible to all kinds of audiences.

His commitment to education and emotional empowerment has led him to create blogs, support groups, and informative content that positively impacts the lives of many.

Arturo, when did you start writing?
Although I was passionate about books and ideas since my teenage years, it was during medical school that I felt the need to express myself in my own voice. Writing became a way to breathe amidst the challenges of study and life.

How did it all begin?
I started by jotting down and commenting on proverbs, thoughts, and reflections. During the challenges of what was called the Special Period, many didn’t understand why I spent so much time writing… but over time, they realized it was something serious and began to support me.

What do you enjoy writing the most?
I love writing popular self-help literature focused on values and mental health. But I also deeply enjoy creating fables, where animals and landscapes become symbols that touch the heart and help to heal—gently and without pressure.

When did you become interested in these topics, and why?
I’ve been fascinated by these topics since before entering university. I can’t fully explain why... I just know they deeply move me and give me a sense of purpose. The fables, in particular, emerged in Botswana as a therapeutic resource for people living far from mental health services.

Do you remember the first piece you wrote as a writer?
Yes. It was about the need to redirect our efforts intelligently according to circumstances if we want to succeed. That early writing eventually became part of my book Cardinal Virtues: Illustrated Proverbs for a Full Life, in the chapter on spiritual strength.

Have your original ideas changed over time?
The core ideas remain the same: writing with purpose, using proverbs and images. What has changed is how I present those ideas—new technologies have greatly enriched the final result.

Where do your ideas come from?
From daily life, from what I hear in psychotherapy, and from proverbs that spark new insights. Today, many ideas come directly from my patients, and my books are often born in response to their deepest questions. Ideas also arise through interaction on social media, where I share content, receive feedback, and discover new needs that inspire and refine my message.

What is your writing process like?
In the past, I would research a topic, gather proverbs, write the main text, and only at the end add images. Today, I also write for the blog Mental Health at the Heart of Maun, where the topics are discussed in a WhatsApp group. That dialogue greatly enriches my books.

How do you design a book cover?
I used to imagine the cover as I wrote and then browse through hundreds of images to capture the book’s essence. Now, with the help of artificial intelligence, the process is faster and more creative—though the approach remains deeply symbolic.

How does your work influence your writing?
My work as a psychiatrist and educator is the foundation of everything I write. I do it thinking of my patients or those in need of guidance or comfort. Each text is a way of accompanying others, especially those who can’t be physically close.

If you could, would you devote yourself only to writing?
No. Writing complements me, but I couldn’t do it without the human contact that clinical work provides. My clinical experience nourishes me, and writing helps me process and share what I learn. These are two paths that strengthen each other.

What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
Knowing that what I write reaches people, brings relief, or sparks something. Seeing someone improve their mental health thanks to a fable, a post, or a book... that’s one of the greatest joys I’ve experienced. It inspires me to keep creating with humility and purpose.

What do your readers mean to you?
They are much more than readers; they are people with whom I share a silent bond. Knowing that someone feels understood or uplifted because of what I write confirms that this path has meaning. Writing is a way of being close, even from afar.

What book are you currently working on?
I’m working on a series of therapeutic fables for people dealing with addictions and emotional trauma. These stories reflect difficult realities—but with hope. They are written in a symbolic and visual language, meant to heal without imposing.

What is the story behind your most recent book?
Okavango Fables: Stories to Heal Invisible Wounds was born out of the need to accompany young people who live far away and are struggling with addiction. I thought of them as I wrote each story, hoping they would feel understood and motivated to seek help.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your free time?
I read, practice tai chi, watch good films, enjoy time with my family, or simply seek quiet moments. In silence or during a peaceful walk, ideas often come to me… and before I realize it, I’m writing again. Inspiration lives in simplicity.

What inspires you to get up and keep going each day?
The contact with those who are suffering, the opportunity to help, and the love that binds me to my family. I’m also inspired by writing, because I know that with one phrase or image, I can plant light in someone who needs it.

Has any message or story from a reader ever deeply moved you?
Yes, many. But I especially remember a young woman who wrote to me from a remote rural area. She told me that after reading one of my fables, she felt, for the first time, that someone truly understood her without judgment. That moved me deeply.

What value do you think writing has in emotional healing?
Writing helps shape what we often feel but don’t know how to express. A good story can open space for reflection, ease resistance, and sow hope. It also allows many people to see themselves without feeling judged or pressured to act a certain way. For me, writing is a quiet form of therapy that gently reaches places other tools can’t always access.

What does your ideal reader look like?
I imagine someone looking for answers… or simply comfort. It could be a teenager, a concerned mother, a tired worker, or someone carrying invisible pain. They’re not looking for perfection, but for truth and tenderness.

What would you say to someone who wants to write about mental health but doesn’t know where to start?
Start from your lived experience—from the heart. Don’t try to teach, but to accompany. Use simple, authentic language… and always think of the person on the other side of the pain, searching for light.

What role does local culture play in your writing?
Local culture is the landscape where my stories grow. The Okavango Delta, the Setswana names, the faces of the patients... these aren’t decorative backgrounds—they are essence. It’s my way of honoring the land that welcomes me.

Do you have any dreams or future projects you haven’t shared yet?
Yes. I’d love to create a collection of illustrated, multilingual fables for at-risk youth—stories they can read even without professional supervision. I also want to keep expanding the Mental Health at the Heart of Maun project into new communities.

How would you like your work to be remembered in a few years?
As a close voice—one that spoke with respect, simplicity, and depth. I’d like my books to be remembered as small lighthouses: not grand, but constant. And that readers feel that, at some point, I reached out my hand.

🌿 FINAL THOUGHTS
Arturo José Sánchez Hernández writes popular self-help literature and therapeutic fables aimed at personal growth and mental well-being. His texts combine proverbs, images, and emotional language to guide with clarity, gentleness, and depth.

He is the creator of the project Mental Health at the Heart of Maun, an initiative that integrates a blog, social media, a WhatsApp group, and books—spaces that promote prevention, reflection, and emotional support. Many of his works arise from direct dialogue with the community.

His experience as a psychiatrist and educator gives structure to everything he writes. He believes in the power of love, attentive listening, and words to support healing processes—even from afar. That’s why each fable, reflection, or proverb becomes a way of reaching out—with respect and warmth—to those who need it most.

With affection,

Dr. Arturo José Sánchez Hernández, your friend in health promotion 💙