Therapy for life’s ups and downs
Your therapist
Therapy for your season of life
Vannessa Gharbi, LCSW
I am here because of YOU! I became a therapist because I believe in the power of healing, recovery, and transformation.
Having worked in home-based, community, hospital, and medical clinic settings, I have been privileged and humbled to witness the strength, courage, resiliency, and transformation of hundreds of clients who invited me into their worlds to hear their stories and walk with them on their healing journeys.
I work from a holistic framework and will work to help you address healing and wellness in various areas of your life based on your goals.
Things I love helping with:
I enjoy incorporating research-based approaches into our work together because they allow me to assist you in:
Addressing intense emotions through mindfulness and skill building
Increasing psychological flexibility to improve coping skills and quality of life
Building on individual strengths, talents, and ways to harness joyful living
Addressing unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviors and developing new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving
Addressing symptoms that affect personal, professional and intimate relationships
Clarifying your values and boundaries that are important to you for empowered living
My Approach, My Style, My Vibe
Not everyone approaches life’s challenges in the same way, so I am here to meet you where you are.
So, whether you want to take baby steps towards a small goal, work out a plan to address a few pressing challenges, tackle a long-standing issue, or grab life’s challenges by the horns and show them who’s boss, I am ready to work with you in a manner that makes sense to you.
It is here you get to be yourself – no putting on airs – and no trying to say what you think I want to hear.
I enjoy creating a warm, sensitive, and meaningful experience using an approachable and relaxed conversational style. I view my role as a compassionate and supportive guide to improve your ability to draw from your expertise and bring helpful changes and healing to your life.
A bit about my training, education, and experience:
My professional journey began after receiving my Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I then went on to complete my Master of Social Work degree at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, where my super independent-dive-in-head-first younger self suddenly realized home-sickness was an actual thing!
My experiences include direct clinical work, advocacy, case management, lactation consulting, university teaching, and managing mental health services across multiple medical clinics in two counties as part of a senior leadership team.
I am currently pursuing my PhD -minus home sickness- and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the states of North Carolina and Virginia.
Outside the therapy room:
I am a creative soul and an outlier – and I embrace those descriptors fully! I bring humor, creativity, and an insatiable zest for joy to my work.
My perspective, worldview, and respect for all people from all walks of life have been influenced by my own healing journey and my multicultural upbringing and family life.
I love the outdoors, gardening, reading too many books at one time, and I thrive in bright sunny places. In my free time, you’ll find me exploring, laughing, walking, creating, having loads of fun with my three kiddos, hanging out with friends and family, and enjoying time with my hubby of 14 years.
Also, coffee and dark chocolate are my super-foods!
Therapy is an investment in you.
You are absolutely worth the investment of time, money, and emotional energy needed to embark on a therapy journey! You are ready to see improvements in your life, and you are ready to start now. Because as the saying goes, if not now - when? Your time is now! Contact me today to begin your journey.