“My approach emphasizes encouraging individuals to actively participate in their lives and to build a more compassionate, healthier relationship with themselves. Therapy helps increase self-awareness, strengthen relationships, and support meaningful personal growth.
Vannesa is a Postdoctoral Fellow working under supervision, having recently earned her PsyD in School Psychology and MEd in Psychology from The Chicago School. She previously obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University. Vannesa’s background includes working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families, providing individual and group therapy, family support, crisis intervention, and comprehensive psychological assessments in diverse settings, including schools (public and therapeutic day), inpatient hospitals, private practice, emergency services, and community mental health organizations. Her roles have included therapist, intensive community case manager, and emergency/crisis therapist, guiding individuals and families through complex emotional and behavioral issues. Vannesa has also presented at multiple conferences relating to her work with systems issues and creating more equitable environments and opportunities for others.
Vannesa has experience working with depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, psychosis, autism, at-risk youth, and identity development. She takes a collaborative approach that integrates the client and their community, whether that is family, friends, other providers, or schools. Vannesa draws from a variety of relational, humanistic, and behavioral therapeutic approaches, including Psychodynamic and Gestalt, that emphasize self-awareness, emotional understanding, and staying present, all within a safe, authentic, and nonjudgmental environment. By fostering these qualities in a supportive space, she helps clients gain insight into themselves, strengthen their connections, and pursue personal development.