Biography
Vanessa is a warm, compassionate counsellor and experienced coach whose work is grounded in the science of positive psychology and evidence-based methodologies such as CBT. She believes that healing and growth begin by recognising the strengths and inner resources we already possess.
Her approach focuses on creating a safe, empathetic space where clients can explore their experiences and work comfortably through their challenges.
Her work is shaped by evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Person-Centred Therapy, and Positive Psychology interventions, as well as powerful coaching tools. She will help you uncover blind spots and confront unhelpful patterns that are keeping you stuck and sometimes in pain, creating awareness, resilience, and clarity.
As a coach, she has supported adults facing different kinds of challenges and life transitions. In the corporate world, she has worked extensively with executives and leaders across small businesses and global corporations, helping them manage: work satisfaction, career transitions & new roles, leadership development, work-life balance, stress & burnout and cultural & workplace challenges.
A unique aspect of Vanessa's coaching approach is her training in ontological coaching through the renowned Newfield Network. Ontological coaching is rooted in the study of “being” and focuses on a person's core way of perceiving, acting, and showing up in the world. In practice, your “way of being” shapes your world and it influences what you see as possible, how you respond to challenges, and what results you're able to create. By working with Vanessa ontologically, you'll explore and intervene in three key domains:
Language: the internal and external conversations that shape your reality.
Emotions: your habitual moods and how they empower or limit you.
Body: your posture, presence, and physical state as part of meaningful change.
This integrative approach allows deep, lasting transformation, not just in what you do, but in who you are becoming. However, she will choose the approach that better fits your needs and personality.
More about Vanessa
Vanessa was born in Mexico City, has lived in the US, France, Singapore (for 13 years) and Spain. Each experience abroad was in a different stage of her life, so she has experienced firsthand different challenges of the expat life. Her background in business consulting facilitates her understanding of the challenges her clients face in the business world. When she was a consultant in strategy and organisation in a global firm, she was introduced to coaching as a tool for cultural change and implementation of new organisation structures. That is how she found her new calling.
With a deep appreciation for cultural diversity, Vanessa tailors her work to honour each client's values, background, and identity. She believes culture plays a vital role in how we experience and overcome life's challenges, and her approach always reflects that understanding.
Vanessa offers sessions online in English and Spanish, and is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Areas of focus
- Adult Counselling
- Depression & Anxiety
- Stress & Burnout
- Trauma & PTSD
- Grief & non-death losses
- Relationship Difficulties
- Life Transitions
- Cultural Identity & Adjustment
- Expat Counselling
- Life Coaching
- Leadership & Executive Coaching
- Career Counselling
- Parenting Issues
- Career Coaching
Specialisations
Client testimonials
Vanessa is truly one of the most remarkable therapists I have ever had the privilege of working with. Her approach is refreshingly insightful, bringing a level of clarity and direction that I had been missing for years. She has a rare ability to keep me focused while creating a space filled with warmth, understanding, and deep compassion. I feel genuinely supported in a way I never have before, and her guidance has been life-changing. Vanessa, your dedication and wisdom have made an incredible difference in my journey, and I am endlessly grateful to have you as a source of light and support.
I have been attending therapy sessions with Vanessa for the past two months on a weekly basis, and the experience has been truly transformative. From the very first session, Vanessa’s warmth and compassionate approach made me feel at ease, creating a safe and comfortable space to share my thoughts and struggles. Her keen insight and thoughtful questions have helped me articulate my ideas more clearly and identify the root causes of my challenges. With her extensive coaching background, she offers valuable perspectives and alternative approaches, allowing me to see problems in a new light. Vanessa’s wisdom, calmness, and sense of humour make each session not only insightful but also uplifting. She has guided me toward deeper self-awareness and personal growth, rekindling my confidence in my own thought process. I am truly grateful for her support and highly recommend her to anyone seeking a skilled and compassionate therapist.
Vanessa has honestly been such a big help to me, even though I only worked with her for a short while. I’ve seen other counsellors before, but none made me feel as comfortable and at ease as she did. She really listens without any judgement and always had a bunch of helpful strategies that I actually enjoyed trying out. I found myself looking forward to our sessions because I always left feeling lighter and more positive after our sessions. Even the homework she gave was useful and made a difference. I feel really lucky to have had the chance to work with her!
“Working with Vanessa as a career coach opened my eyes to discovering my strengths, interests and passions. I always knew deep down there was something important driving me to succeed, but always wondered why I felt unsatisfied at most of my jobs. Vanessa was able to identify and help me untangle the root causes of my job dissatisfaction with insight, patience and empathy. I am thankful for our sessions and would recommend her services for anyone feeling stuck in their careers.”