Hi, I'm Vanessa

Credentials/Education:

Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Palo Alto University

Masters Degree in Human Rights, Universidad Carlos III, Madrid

Bachelor Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of California, Berkeley

Certified Level 1 in the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT)

I became a therapist because I believe in the power of relationships—how they can wound us, and how they can also be the very place we find healing. Whether you’re navigating conflict with your partner, untangling old trauma, or learning to listen more deeply to yourself, I offer a space where your full story can be seen and honored.

My work is rooted in trauma-informed, somatic, and mindfulness-based practices, which means we won’t just talk about what’s happening—we’ll also pay attention to the body, the nervous system, and the subtle patterns that often live outside of words. For couples, I use the PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy) model, which helps partners understand each other’s emotional and physiological cues, build safety, and shift painful cycles into more secure, connected ways of relating.

Much of my practice centers on intercultural and interracial dynamics, where culture, history, and power intersect with intimacy. This focus comes not only from my training but also from my own lived experience as a woman of color and daughter of immigrants. I understand the complexities of holding multiple worlds at once, and I bring that awareness into the therapy room with curiosity and care.

I believe therapy isn’t just about “fixing” what feels broken—it’s about reclaiming the parts of ourselves that have been silenced or shamed, and discovering what becomes possible when we bring those parts into relationship. I care deeply about collective liberation and hold space for the complexities of identity, power, and possibility. My style is collaborative, relational, and gently challenging, always with the aim of helping you move toward a life and relationships that feel more authentic, grounded, and alive.

Outside of therapy, I find restoration in creativity (an avid photographer since high school!), nature (always happy on a mountain), and in connecting with my loved ones, wherever in the world they might be.