Vanessa is currently completing her Masters in Psychology at Adler Graduate Professional School in Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Psychology from Western University. During her undergraduate degree, she worked in a research lab examining cognitive and academic abilities in young children where she learned how to conduct psychoeducational assessments with youth. Later, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), she supported adolescents with depression and their caregivers as they received a year long intervention. From this role, she gained extensive experience in the assessment of a range of mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, ADHD, and trauma. Most recently, Vanessa completed a placement in a school setting where she provided psychoeducational assessment services to children and adolescents with a variety of learning and academic challenges (e.g., learning disorders, ADHD, autism). She also supported school-based mental health programs at the elementary and high school levels, offering group counseling and consultation services to students facing severe mental health challenges. 

 

Vanessa enjoys working with young children, adolescents, and their caregivers. She draws from several evidence-based therapeutic approaches, such as Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Emotion Focused Therapy for Youth (EFT-Y), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Vanessa believes that clients are the true experts of their own lives, and she is committed to creating a safe and nonjudgmental space for individuals to share their story