Vanessa Fornasier
Hello there! My name is Vanessa Fornasier. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Southern California and working with clients statewide via telehealth.
Together, we can find hope for changes that bring true healing and restore your emotional well-being.
I have over 26 years of experience working with adults and adolescents who have experienced challenges that stem from anxiety, depression, grief/loss, traumas, family conflict, relationship challenges, life transitions, general life stressors, and college or career stress. Life may bring you challenges and struggles that may affect your mental health, however, what is going to get you through the other side is having understanding, healthy coping, and having hope. Through therapy you can find hope for change that can bring healing and restoration of your emotional well being. Doing the work in therapy can get you through these life challenges. Allow me to help empower you to begin to lead a life filled with internal peace, greater happiness, and greater quality of life.
First session
In our first session together I will conduct a brief assessment to gather history and information to help me better understand you and determine the concerns that have brought you to therapy. We will discuss the therapy process and expectations. During this time, we will also build rapport and begin to create a treatment plan together.
Strengths
I am an experienced mental health professional dedicated to helping individuals cultivate balance and emotional well-being. Guided by a natural capacity for empathy, compassion, and deep listening, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel secure opening up. My approach is highly collaborative; I work alongside clients to build customized, long-term treatment plans that yield real results. Ultimately, I am passionate about guiding people to recognize their own strengths and self-worth so they can achieve a higher quality of life.
Ideal clients
I specialize in helping adults of all ages, including college students & young adults, and adolescents (13+) to navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, life stressors, and low self-esteem. Whether you are facing grief, relationship/family challenges, or major life transitions, these stressors can make it difficult to find peace and happiness. Together, we will work through these hurdles so you can reclaim a sense of happiness and balance in your life.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which is a structured, goal-oriented talk therapy focused on how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. It is based on the idea that how we perceive situations influences how we feel and act. Instead of focusing heavily on the past, CBT centers on the present to help you identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns.
Attachment-based
I use Attachment-based therapy which I is an approach that explores how your earliest relationships with caregivers shape your current emotional bonds, self-esteem, and relationship patterns. It is based on the idea that humans have an innate need for safety and connection. If those needs weren't fully met in childhood, it can create subconscious "attachment styles" that impact adult relationships, often showing up as anxiety about abandonment or a tendency to push others away.
Psychodynamic
I used Psychodynamic therapy which is an in-depth form of talk therapy that focuses on uncovering unconscious thoughts, emotions, and past experiences to understand present behavior and relational patterns. It is based on the idea that our current vulnerabilities, defenses, and choices are deeply influenced by our formative past and hidden emotional conflicts. By bringing these unconscious drivers into awareness, you can break cycles of painful behavior rather than just managing surface-level symptoms.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I take a Person-centered/Humanistic therapy approcah with my clients which is a compassionate, non-directive approach that focuses on your inherent capacity for self-actualization and personal growth. This approach is built on the belief that you are the ultimate expert on your own life. Rather than acting as an authority figure who analyzes you or prescribes solutions, I create a warm, deeply supportive environment that allows you to discover your own answers and realize your full potential.
Faith-based therapy
If your faith is very central to your beliefs and value system you abide by in your daily life, we can focus on Faith-based treatment which is a holistic approach to therapy that integrates traditional psychological practices with a client’s spiritual beliefs and values. Instead of separating mental health from spirituality, this approach views faith as a powerful resource for healing, resilience, and purpose. It is tailored entirely to the client's comfort level, ensuring that clinical tools align with and honor you worldview.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 47766