About Vanessa
Dr. Vanessa Prestridge Graf helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, addiction concerns, relationship and intimacy issues, and parenting stress. She also supports people dealing with grief, trauma and abuse, body image and eating concerns, sleeping problems, and LGBT-related issues.
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with many years of clinical work behind her. Her style is direct and practical. She asks clear questions and helps people spot thoughts and habits that keep them stuck.
How Vanessa works
She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify negative thought patterns and to build new, healthier ways of thinking. Mindfulness practices are woven in to help reduce anxiety and improve day-to-day coping. Dr.
Graf also draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at patterns formed early in life. She helps people see how childhood beliefs can shape current choices and relationships. That perspective can be useful when problems keep repeating or when deeper emotional wounds are involved.
Sessions focus on achievable changes. People learn to reframe unhelpful thoughts, try small experiments in behavior, and practice noticing what is working. The goal is clearer thinking, steadier mood, and better functioning in daily life.
Across nearly three decades of work, she has guided many people through shifts in thinking and behavior. She blends practical tools with reflective conversation and a warm, straightforward approach.
Vanessa lists 3 ways of working on the entry:
What Vanessa works with
The areas below are the ones Vanessa selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Parenting issues
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | LMFT |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 29 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How her approaches translate to online therapy
CBT helps people spot harmful thought patterns and test new ways of thinking. Online CBT sessions often include specific exercises and homework to try between meetings, which can speed up progress for anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns.Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus. These exercises can be practiced during phone or video sessions and then repeated throughout the day to manage stress and sleep problems.
Psychodynamic Therapy looks at how early experiences shape current patterns. In online sessions this means gently tracing recurring themes and emotional reactions to uncover deeper roots of anger, attachment issues, or abandonment fears.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with clients to choose or combine methods based on their goals, needs, and preferences. This is a shared process that may shift over time as progress is made.
Online formats - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - give practical flexibility. Video is useful for full conversations and exercises that benefit from face-to-face interaction. Phone sessions can be easier on bandwidth and fit into a quick break. Live chat or text are helpful for brief check-ins, written reflection, or when a shorter touchpoint is needed. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with VanessaWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What concerns does Dr. Graf address?
What is her therapeutic style like?
How much experience does she have?
What are her credentials and location?
Which languages and international options are available?
What session formats does she offer?
How is cost handled?
How do I begin working with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions