Vanessa Sutera, AMFT

Vanessa Sutera, M.A. (AMFT122910), a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, under the supervision of Dr. Elena Bagourdi, PhD (PSY22542). She received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles and interned at Airport Marina Counseling Services (AMCS), Los Angeles. She attended a year program at Los Angeles Institute & Society for Psychoanalytic Studies (LAISPS) that provided her with an in-depth study of theoretical issues in psychoanalytic techniques. Vanessa speaks Spanish fluently and works with families, couples, individuals, and children of various multicultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Her areas of expertise are life transitions, PTSD, grief, loss, familial or interpersonal relationship problems, anxiety, depression, or feelings of being stuck.

Vanessa is passionate about helping each individual reach their moment of empowerment through the therapeutic journey. Vanessa will meet her clients where they are at and create a safe space to explore their thoughts and feelings to address internal or external conflict better, seek personal growth, and restore balance in her clients’ lives. She implements a variety of therapeutic styles to accommodate what works best for each individual. She believes the human lived experience shapes our experiences of self and others. Her main focus is on building trust. Through her empathy, attunement, and understanding, she supports clients with uncovering how their past affects their future. Vanessa works on boundaries, communication, coping skills, and tools to deconstruct negative thinking patterns and cycles. Self-acceptance and compassion towards one’s self and others are key elements in the healing process.