- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness practices
- Psychodynamic perspective
About Vanessa
Dr. Vanessa Prestridge Graf is a Doctor of Psychology and a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 29 years of experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationships, parenting, self-esteem, depression, addictions, LGBT concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy issues, eating and sleeping problems, anger, and bipolar challenges. She also focuses on attachment and abandonment issues, body image, codependency, infidelity, and related relationship problems.
Her sessions use cognitive approaches to help people spot and change unhelpful thinking patterns. She asks questions, points out recurring thoughts, and guides clients through reframing those thoughts into more realistic and useful beliefs. She also incorporates mindfulness practices to reduce anxiety and symptoms of depression by shifting attention toward small, working parts of daily life.
Dr. Graf describes psychodynamic ideas about early life experiences as part of how people form beliefs about themselves. She attends to family of origin and blended family issues to trace patterns that affect relationships today. Conversations often move between present behavior and the early beliefs that shaped it.
Expect direct discussion of recurring thinking, practical exercises to try between sessions, and mindful attention skills for immediate relief. She uses clear, plain language and occasional humor to keep sessions grounded. The work asks for honest reflection and steady effort, with the therapist and client exploring what to try next.
Her approach aims to help people replace harmful, automatic thoughts with statements that reflect current reality. That process includes noticing how old beliefs still influence choices and practicing new ways of thinking and relating.
How her approaches translate to online work
Dr. Graf draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy in ways that work well over remote sessions. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through clear, step-by-step exercises and practical homework. It helps with anxiety, depression, relationship patterns, and compulsive behaviors by giving specific tools to test and reframe beliefs.Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention practices to reduce rumination and calm the nervous system. These exercises are short and can be practiced between sessions to ease anxiety or improve sleep and focus.
Choosing an approach is collaborative. She will discuss what feels most useful based on a person’s goals and preferences and adapt the plan as work progresses. The therapist and client decide together which techniques to emphasize and when to try alternatives.
The original profile does not specify session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around classes, shifts, or commute times. Short check-ins, focused skill practice, and written exercises can be scheduled to match a busy routine, and video or audio formats may be chosen based on what suits the client’s schedule and bandwidth.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
29+ years
Listed in
California, Colorado
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationship and parenting issues, self-esteem, depression, addictions, trauma and grief, and related topics like attachment and body image.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses straightforward conversation, cognitive techniques to change thinking, and mindfulness exercises to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 29 years of professional experience working in the field.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with licensure in California and practices in California.
Does she work in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are accepted according to the profile information provided.
What session formats are offered?
The original profile does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and starting the process handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.