PuttingFamilyFirst

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VC Portrait of Vanessa Cahuenas
Online therapist

Vanessa Cahuenas

Compassionate care for practical family concerns

Credentials
LMHC
Experience
15 years
Licensed in
Florida
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Vanessa

Vanessa Cahuenas is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing in Florida. She has 15 years of experience offering direct care for people facing stress, anxiety, depression, mood concerns, and relationship or intimacy-related challenges. Her tone is practical and matter-of-fact, focusing on clear steps rather than jargon.

She communicates in English and uses a mix of in-session conversations and skills practice to address problems that feel urgent or overwhelming. Vanessa uses several well-known therapy methods and adapts them to each person’s situation.

Background and approach

She draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also uses acceptance and commitment therapy to help people live more in line with what matters to them. Attachment-based work and Imago relationship ideas are part of her approach when relational patterns are involved.

Sessions can include skill-building, guided reflection, and collaborative goal-setting. Practical tools such as mindfulness exercises, tracking moods, and communication rehearsal are commonly used. The focus is on small, manageable steps that make a difference in day-to-day life.

Vanessa has worked with a wide range of concerns over her career, including trauma and sexual-related issues. She integrates approaches like dialectical behavior therapy when emotion regulation is needed. Treatment plans are tailored to the person’s goals and paced to fit their circumstances.

Her practice offers video, phone, chat, and text-based messaging formats. Fees vary by location and are handled through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

Therapeutic approaches that fit online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, often called ACT, focuses on helping people notice unhelpful thoughts without getting stuck in them and then commit to actions that match their values. It can help when anxiety, depression, or life transitions make it hard to move forward. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches simple skills to shift patterns that keep problems going. CBT is useful for anxiety, mood concerns, and many day-to-day challenges.

Finding the right approach usually happens together. The therapist will review goals, try an approach, and adjust based on what helps most. That collaborative process keeps work practical and tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.

Online formats make regular work easier to fit into life. Video calls let people use verbal and visual cues, while phone sessions remove travel time. Live chat and text-based messaging can be useful for short check-ins, skill reminders, and between-session support. Those options create flexibility for people balancing busy schedules and give multiple ways to practice skills between meetings.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, relationship and intimacy-related issues, trauma and abuse, and a range of other concerns listed in her profile.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style combines talk-based work with practical skill building like mindfulness, thought tracking, and communication practice tailored to each person.
How long has she practiced?
She has practiced for 15 years, bringing experience with mood disorders, sexual-related issues, and trauma among other areas.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, FL LMHC MH18809, practicing in Florida.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; services use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Next step

Talk to Vanessa

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