Originally from Colombia and later rooted in Florida, Vanessa brings together academic training, clinical experience, and a deep respect for the mystery of human transformation. She began her studies at the University of Miami, where she earned undergraduate degrees in Mathematical Economics and Psychology. Her desire to better understand people and relationships led her to Nova Southeastern University, where she completed both her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and her doctorate.

During her doctoral work, Vanessa focused a significant part of her research on psychedelic integration therapy and is co-creator of a clinical manual to help mental health professionals approach this emerging field with more clarity, care, and ethical grounding. This work eventually became part of a larger mission: to bridge psychotherapy, expanded states of consciousness, somatic healing, and spiritual growth in a way that feels grounded and responsible.

Vanessa has always been drawn to forms of therapy that move beyond conversation alone. Her training includes equine therapy, hypnotherapy, breathwork, ketamine-assisted therapy, and psychedelic-informed integration. Over time, she came to understand that healing is not only something we talk about. It is something we experience in the body, in relationships, and in the nervous system.

As a co-founder of Mindful Therapy Institute, Vanessa works with individuals and couples seeking meaningful and lasting transformation. Her approach is warm, direct, intuitive, and deeply integrative. She helps clients reconnect with themselves, understand their emotional patterns, and access the parts of them that may have been exiled.

In addition to her clinical work, Vanessa has trained therapists in her Mindful Psychedelic Integration Therapy model, supporting professionals in developing the clinical skill, inner presence, and ethical awareness needed for altered states of consciousness work. She also collaborates with facilitators in complementary modalities, reflecting her belief that growth can happen through many doors, including the mind, the body, the soul, and expanded states of consciousness.

Her book, The Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics: Essential Skills and Insights for Psychotherapists, is now published by Routledge on July 2026.