Vanessa is an independently licensed therapist with experience working with a variety of issues, including grief and loss, anxiety, depression, trauma, and important life transitions. She will support and encourage you on your journey and accompany you as a trusted companion, skilled witness, and guide.
Having grown up between two cultures, Spain and the United States, Vanessa speaks both Spanish and English and brings an understanding of what it means to live between cultures. Vanessa believes in the power to heal through compassionate witness, emotional expression, and creative process. She is passionate about creating new narratives that will serve you using a variety of modalities including sand tray therapy, songwriting, art, creative writing, and more.
Vanessa received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, and her Masters in Counseling from Southwestern College, with a certificate in Grief, Trauma, and Loss. Vanessa completed her internship at Solace Crisis Treatment Center. Vanessa has worked as an outpatient counselor at the Santa Fe Recovery Center supporting individuals recovering from addiction and leading Spanish language recovery and grief groups. She is on faculty at the Academy for the love of Learning and has facilitated numerous groups focused on story and creative process with youth and elders alike. Vanessa has spent 15 years cultivating original pieces of music that reflect meaningful stories in her work with individuals and groups. Vanessa has completed trainings in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Treatment, Motivational Interviewing and Sand Tray Therapy. As part of the therapeutic relationship, Vanessa will accompany you in exploring your unique personal growth and transformation process.
