Vanessa Lemminger, M.A., Marriage and Family Therapist

A little bit about my work:

Vanessa Lemminger is a psychotherapist and bereavement specialist.  She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC 53937.  She is also a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.  Vanessa completed a B.S. in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where she was an active member of the university’s psychology club and Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.  She then moved to California to complete her M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego. 

During her time at the University of San Diego, Vanessa completed an internship program with the Center for Grief Care and Education at San Diego Hospice and the Institute of Palliative Medicine, specializing in grief counseling with individuals, children, couples, and families.  During this time she successfully completed 75 hours of Intern Bereavement Counselor Training at the Center for Grief Care and Education while also completing over 1,000 hours of the total 3,000 required for clinical licensure.  Over 700 of these hours were gained in direct client contact with individuals, couples, and families in an outpatient setting.  Vanessa’s experience also includes providing Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and children with cognitive/developmental disabilities. 

Vanessa’s passion for therapy is centered around grief/loss, prebereavement issues, emotional issues surrounding disabilities of all types, emotional issues surrounding chronic medical conditions and illness, emotional issues surrounding terminal illness, and themes of isolation.  There are many things in life we cannot control (loss, disease, disabilities, developmental challenges) that can leave us feeling isolated and at times helpless.  We need to change our focus from what we cannot control to what we can control.  Helping others understand our unique experiences will create connections and Vanessa finds it greatly rewarding to help others in the journey towards building those connections.  Vanessa has also developed interests in areas including emotional and spiritual health, marriage counseling, couples counseling, issues surrounding disabilities, end of life counseling, shame and identity issues, life transitions, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and academic/occupational stress. 

Each individual is unique, thus Vanessa uses a variety of therapeutic models and techniques to help each individual along their path of self-understanding in a way that is most appropriate to each individual’s personal preferences.  She also places great value on the relationship between therapist and client.  Regardless of theoretical orientation, she believes the most productive work in therapy is done when an individual feels a sense of comfort and understanding, and strives to achieve that relationship with every individual she works with. 

Vanessa Lemminger M.A., MFC 53937
Marriage and Family Therapist