About Me
Striving to Encourage, Empower, and Equip individuals to be their best self.
Vanessa Manes, M.A., LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego and owner of Strong Sense of Self Family Counseling. She specializes in working with individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, self-esteem challenges, and life transitions - with a deep commitment to helping people build a strong, grounded sense of who they are.
Vanessa is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), the leading evidence-based approach for trauma and PTSD, and brings a trauma-informed, strengths-based lens to all of her work.
In addition to her private practice, Vanessa serves as the Mental Wellness Manager at Just in Time For Foster Youth, where she leads the mental wellness program and provides clinical supervision to pre-licensed therapists working with transition-age foster youth. She is a California BBS-approved clinical supervisor, bringing the same warmth and intentionality to growing the next generation of therapists that she brings to her clients.
Vanessa also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Hope International University and The Chicago School of Psychology, and has partnered with the Bloom Foundation to create a self-esteem journal for young girls who have experienced bullying.
She received her Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University in 2017 and her Bachelor's Degree in Interpersonal Communication from Vanguard University in 2014.
Vanessa is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #128077 with the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Little more about me...
Outside of my work, I value the small things that help me feel grounded and connected. I love spending time with my dog, Toast, who keeps life light and fun. You can usually find me doing Pilates or boxing, moving my body in ways that feel both strong and supportive. I’m also a big fan of matcha and lattes, those quiet, simple moments that create a sense of calm in the middle of a busy day.
“Writing from the perspective of someone who's been lucky enough to be mentored by Vanessa, I would highly recommend working with her! She has a wonderfully unique warm, open, joyful compassion to her style that creates authentic hope and grounding for those she counsels, in any capacity. She also LOVES this work (you'll often hear her say "it's the best job in the world!"), something so important to seek in a counselor! Vanessa brings a confident command of her craft to fit each client's unique needs and would be a fantastic choice of therapist."
Stephanie L.