- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- ACT and CBT methods
- Mindfulness practice
About Vanessa
Vanessa Thomas is an AASW social worker with three years' experience based in Australia. She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship and family difficulties, and other challenges such as sleep problems, career strain and parenting concerns. Vanessa also supports people dealing with trauma and complex mental health issues and those managing compassion fatigue and bipolar-related concerns.
She uses an approachable, person-centred way of working. Sessions focus on what matters now and on small, practical steps people can try between meetings. Vanessa draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mindfulness methods where these fit the person's goals.
Vanessa describes her practice as trauma-informed and strengths-based. She usually begins by listening to the current problem, then co-creates goals and choices about which methods to use. That might include values work, mindfulness exercises, motivational interviewing or parts-based techniques depending on the person's needs.
Her background includes supporting people recovering from abuse and others living with complex mental health challenges. Vanessa pays attention to communication problems, codependency, avoidant personality patterns, dissociation and issues around guilt, shame and self-harm when these appear in sessions.
Sessions aim to help with day-to-day coping and longer-term shifts in patterns. People who want to start are asked to use the site's matching process to schedule a first meeting and to confirm session options and timing before booking.
How Vanessa uses EFT, ACT and CBT online
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and naming hard-to-reach emotions and on changing unhelpful interactional patterns. It can help when people notice recurring reactions in relationships or difficulty expressing feelings clearly.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasises values and committed action. It helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, clarify what matters to them, and take small steps that align with those values. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and offers practical exercises to test and change unhelpful thinking patterns.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Vanessa will talk with the person about priorities, try methods in session, and adjust the plan together. That collaborative process helps match EFT, ACT or CBT to the presenting concern and to the person's preferences.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings around work, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when a quick review is needed. Discuss timing and format during the matching process so sessions fit into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Vanessa help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship and family difficulties, trauma and related issues such as sleep problems and workplace strain.
What therapeutic style does she use?
Vanessa uses a person-centred, trauma-informed approach and draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside ACT, CBT and mindfulness techniques as relevant.
How much experience does she have?
She has three years' experience working as an AASW social worker in Australia.
Which credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is listed with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and works from Queensland, Australia.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.