Fernando should make every effort to speak with his adviser; misunderstandings are common in the hectic environment of graduate school. If his attempt fails, he should consult the head of the graduate program, whose job it is to be the liaison between students and faculty. If this fails, he might talk with his department chair.

Is this problem his adviser's fault, or is he himself doing something that contributes to a poor relationship? This kind of difficulty is a good argument for taking great care in choosing an adviser.

If Fernando is truly blocked, he might need to find another adviser. There are risks to this step: he might not find one in his field, he might lose time in reshaping his career, and he might lose financial support. But unless he is nearly finished with his research, selecting another adviser is probably preferable to continued unhappiness and lack of progress.