Vanessa Manes

34th Italian Inspired Birthday Dinner A few nights ago, I sat around a table surrounded by people I love, celebrating another birthday. As I looked around the room, I couldn't help but think... dinner parties hit different in your 30s. Maybe it's because the conversations have changed. They're a little slower. A little deeper. We spend less time trying to impress each other and more time genuinely wanting to know how each other is doing. We celebrate promotions, new babies, new homes, and the...

One of the most common questions I hear in therapy is: How do I know if it's my intuition or my anxiety? The truth is, it can be difficult to tell the difference. especially if you've spent years navigating anxiety, trauma, or relationships that have taught you to question yourself. When fear has been driving the car for a long time, it can become hard to recognize the sound of your own voice. In my experience, anxiety tends to feel urgent. It wants answers right now. It tells us to prepare...

There are certain books I find myself coming back to again and again- both personally and in the work I do with clients. Not because they offer quick fixes, but because they help us understand ourselves more deeply. They give language to experiences we’ve felt but haven’t always known how to explain, especially when it comes to anxiety, trauma, relationships, and healing. Many of these books share a common thread: healing isn’t about fixing yourself-it’s about understanding yourself. Books...