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Ness Ruvalcaba, LMFT - California Therapist at Grow Therapy

Ness Ruvalcaba

Ness Ruvalcaba

(she/her)

LMFT
9 years of experience
Warm
Empowering
Open-minded
Virtual

Hello! My name is Ness (Vanessa) Ruvalcaba. I am an Spanish and English speaking licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California. I work with individuals who are are needing some extra support understanding or creating some change in their lives. I specialize in trauma informed care, PTSD, anxiety and depression, self harm, and various other issues and needs. I also work with individuals around resolving conflict, improving communication, processing difficult experiences, and various other experiences. I have also very much enjoyed supporting parents individually to work on having better relationships with their children and identify the most effective ways they can support their child. I have worked in various settings including virtual therapy, office or clinic based services, school based services with adolescents and their families, and community based services with newcomer and immigrant youth, youth in foster care, adults, and their families maneuvering complex systems. At this time, I do not meet with couples looking for couples therapy.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

The first 1-2 sessions focus on intake and assessment. This allows time for you to share what is going on and issues you are dealing with. It also lets me begin to get to know you and better understand the support you are seeking. We will also discuss what your goals for therapy are and how we can meet them.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I enjoy getting to know you in your unique experience. I became a therapist to offer to offer a safe space, a support system, and a guide to those in need, as well as support families come closer together and find more effective ways of connecting. I am passionate about holding what you are holding with you, as it is not something you have to hold or go through alone. I use various methods to make sure we are doing effective work, but often revolves around how to increase the understanding of what is going on and steps to make it more manageable.

About Ness Ruvalcaba

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Trauma Informed Care

Trauma can be such a complex thing. At times we might not even recognize as trauma because it is our norm. I use trauma informed care to collaborate with you and support you overcome whatever challenges are present by creating safety, awareness, and overall how to overcome the difficulty experiences.

Eclectic

A lot the invidiauls I work with often respond well to Trauma Informed Care, CBT, narrative therapy, and other modalities; my focus is on what the individual needs. Sometimes it may be we focus on changing behaviors and learning skills, other times it may be we dive into experiences and gain insight. Our work together will have a variety of methods based on your needs.

Psychodynamic

I use a psychodynamic approach to to support us gain insight around how early experiences shape us and stand in the way of a more satisfying life. Sometimes, changing thinking patterns, utilizing coping skills, or changing behaviors isn't enough without also further discussing previous experiences. We would not just identify and change symptoms, but understand where they may come from by talking about your unique experience to further alleviate them and support you better manage stressors and triggers in the future.

Psychoeducation

I believe a big part of any work we do, is about empowering you during it. I utilize psychoeducation as a big part of treatment that informs us what is happening, why it's happening, and what we can do about it. Whether is providing information on how to cope, what grief may look like, or how an event from early childhood may have shaped us, psychoeducation provides insight and understanding to support the rest of the work being done based on your specific needs.