Vanessa Rakis-Garabedian
I'm Vanessa, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who believes real healing happens through genuine, human connection. I'm warm, direct, and deeply curious about your story—not the version you think you're supposed to tell, but the real one. I won't rush you toward where I think you should be; I'll meet you exactly where you are and walk alongside you from there. My approach blends evidence-based tools—EMDR, DBT, Internal Family Systems, attachment-focused work—with a deep respect for your innate capacity to grow. I take therapy seriously, but I don't take myself too seriously. Expect honesty, the occasional well-placed laugh, and a space where you can stop performing and just be. I'm especially drawn to working with people navigating significant life transitions: rebuilding identity after leaving a relationship, belief system, or chapter of life that no longer fits; pursuing ambitious goals while healing from past wounds; or simply trying to figure out who they are outside of who they've had to be for everyone else. If you're motivated, thoughtful, and ready to do real work—even when it's uncomfortable—we'll get along well. Outside the therapy room, I'm parenting two teenagers, which has taught me more about patience, letting go, and unconditional love than any textbook ever could. I'm also an avid gardener, and I've come to appreciate that growth—whether in people or in gardens—is rarely linear, often messy, and almost always worth the wait. If you're looking for a therapist who will be honest with you, laugh with you, and stay steady with you through the hard parts, I'd love to be that person for you.
First session
In our first session, my goal is to help you feel comfortable, not interrogated. We'll spend time talking through what's brought you to therapy, what's been weighing on you, and what you're hoping might shift. I'll ask questions to understand your history and current life, but this isn't a one-way intake—it's a conversation. You can expect me to be warm, direct, and genuinely curious about your story. We'll also talk about what therapy with me looks like: the approaches I draw from, how often we might meet, and what realistic progress could look like for you. There's no pressure to share everything right away. My job in this first session is mostly to listen, ask good questions, and start building a sense of whether we're a good fit to work together. By the end, you should leave with a clearer sense of what to expect going forward—and hopefully, a little lighter than when you walked in.
Strengths
What sets my approach apart is the balance I strike between holding space and gently challenging when it's needed. I ask good questions—not just to gather information, but to get to the real root of what's going on beneath the surface. I want clients to leave each session feeling deeply understood and accepted, never judged. When it's helpful, I'll bring in education to make sense of patterns or experiences, but I won't lecture you. My goal is always to meet you with both compassion and honesty, so the work we do together actually creates lasting change.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are thoughtful, motivated individuals navigating significant life transitions—rebuilding identity after leaving a constraining belief system or relationship, or pursuing ambitious goals while healing from past trauma. They're ready to do deep work, balancing real-world demands like parenting or career pivots with inner growth. I'm drawn to clients who bring curiosity and courage to therapy, wanting both practical tools and meaningful self-discovery along the way.
Treatment methods
EMDR
I use EMDR to help clients process and resolve distressing memories that continue to affect their present-day functioning. By targeting the way traumatic experiences are stored in the brain, we work to reduce their emotional intensity, allowing clients to move forward without being controlled by past pain.
Attachment-based
My attachment-based approach explores how early relationships shape current patterns of connection, trust, and self-worth. I help clients understand their relational blueprints and work collaboratively to build healthier ways of relating to themselves and others, fostering secure, lasting change within the therapeutic relationship and beyond.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I draw on DBT to help clients build practical skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. This approach is especially helpful for managing intense emotions and reducing impulsive reactions, giving clients concrete tools they can use right away in daily life.
Humanistic
My humanistic approach centers on unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuine connection. I believe clients are the experts on their own lives, and I create a safe, nonjudgmental space where they can explore their experiences, build self-awareness, and move toward greater authenticity and personal growth.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Using IFS, I help clients understand the different "parts" of themselves, including protective and wounded parts, with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment. This approach supports healing at the root by fostering self-leadership, internal harmony, and a deeper relationship with one's core Self.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 107941