LMFT, 9 years of experience
New to Grow
My name is Vanessa Labarga and I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist. The majority of my clinical experience has been with children and teenagers in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, but I also have experience working with adults who are experiencing severe mental health concerns. I have also worked as a mentor and supervisor to new therapists and supported and trained them in learning therapeutic skills to help their clients. When I'm not working, I can be found spending time in nature, finding new restaurants to enjoy, travelling to new countries, and spending time with my cats and my partner at home.
I always spend the first session getting to know one another. I will gather information about your history with therapy, things that worked or didn't work, what your goals are for our therapeutic relationship together, and spend time just getting to know you as a person. I will also leave space for any curiosities you have about me as your provider!
My main expertise in therapy is working through trauma and supporting folks who are hesitant about the therapy process. The concept of "showing up" in this work is so different for every person, and I understand this and know how important it is to work with each individual where they are at. Not everyone has it figured out, or knows what needs to change. I have extensive experience working in this gray area, and have had success getting folks to the other side. Change is scary, and showing up to do this work takes so much courage and bravery, and I take this all into account in the therapeutic process.
Given my experience, I believe I would be a good fit for those who are looking to resolve issues related to trauma, managing their anxiety, addressing interpersonal or family conflicts, or just looking to explore what is getting in the way of living the life they hope to live. I have experience working with depression, anger, and other mood-related concerns, so I can support in these areas as well. I have extensive experience working with folks who are uncertain about therapy, or resistant to changing, so I can be a good fit for someone who just isn't sure about this whole therapy thing in general! I am very solution-oriented so I would be a great fit for someone who has clear goals in mind and is looking to partner with a therapist to help achieve these goals.
I have extensive training in CBT modalities as well as trauma-focused CBT. I utilize these evidenced-based approaches to help relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflicts, trauma related disorders, among other presenting issues.
The bulk of my therapeutic experience has been working with individuals who have experienced some form of trauma. I approach my work from a trauma-informed lens and make sure all of my therapeutic approaches are aligned with this framework.
I incorporate many aspects of narrative therapy in my work, especially in my work with adolescents/teens. I utilize these approaches most commonly for those struggling with anxiety and depression, and have also utilized these approaches in trauma work.
I have experience working with folks in time-limited situations. I utilize a solution-focused approach in order to address the problem at hand and work towards a resolution collaboratively. I approach the work from a humanistic perspective, but I also know it can be a struggle to find the time for therapy, so I am mindful about approaching the work with an eye towards relieving the symptoms presented in an efficient and effective way.