Vanessa Cardin LMFT #128077

Vanessa Cardin LMFT #128077 I am a Licensed Marriage & Family therapist, owner of Strong Sense of Self Family Counseling.

Dogs, pancakes, coffee & flowers
04/07/2026

Dogs, pancakes, coffee & flowers

There are a few books I find myself recommending over and over again, both to my clients and in my own life.Not because ...
04/03/2026

There are a few books I find myself recommending over and over again, both to my clients and in my own life.

Not because they offer quick fixes…
but because they help you understand yourself in a deeper, more compassionate way.

Whether it’s learning how trauma lives in the body, understanding your anxiety, or making sense of your relationship patterns, these books offer language to experiences that can feel confusing or overwhelming.

What I love about all of them is this:
✨ they don’t try to “fix” you
✨ they help you get to know yourself

If you’re on a healing journey, you don’t have to read them all at once. Start with the one that resonates. Let it be slow. Let it be supportive.

✨ I share a little more about why I love these books over on my blog-link in bio ✨

💛 Save this for later
📚 Or send it to someone who’s doing the work too

selfgrowth

There’s a lot of information on Instagram about trauma, anxiety, and healing right now.And while some of it can be helpf...
03/26/2026

There’s a lot of information on Instagram about trauma, anxiety, and healing right now.

And while some of it can be helpful… a lot of it is oversimplified, out of context, or just inaccurate.

As a trauma therapist, I often see clients come in feeling confused, overwhelmed, or like they’re doing something wrong-because what they’ve tried online didn’t work.

But healing isn’t something you can reduce to a checklist or a quick tip.

It’s nuanced.
It’s relational.
It’s different for every person.

And most importantly…
✨ It’s not meant to look perfect.

If you’ve felt frustrated with your healing process, it doesn’t mean you’re failing.

It might just mean you need a more supported, individualized approach.

Therapy can help you slow down, understand your patterns, and find what actually works for your nervous system and your experiences.

nervoussystem

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “too much”… this is for you.So many of us carry anxiety, stress, and unresolved trauma i...
03/20/2026

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “too much”… this is for you.

So many of us carry anxiety, stress, and unresolved trauma in our bodies, and when it surfaces, it can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to turn that inward and believe something is wrong with us.

But in therapy, we begin to understand that these reactions are often protective parts of us, not flaws.

Through approaches like IFS (parts work) and a somatic lens, we learn to slow down, create space, and get curious about what we’re holding instead of judging ourselves for it.

🌱 You’re not too much.
You’re carrying experiences that deserve care, attention, and compassion.

👉 What’s something you’ve been carrying lately?

selfcompassion

Confusing feeling special with being loved. It’s not wrong to want to feel special, but when feeling special becomes the...
02/05/2026

Confusing feeling special with being loved. It’s not wrong to want to feel special, but when feeling special becomes the stability, the anchor to being loved, it can be exhausting. A constant need for affirmation and approval. Feeling loved without doing or needing to be anything more than who you already are in this moment. 🧘🏻‍♀️

In therapy, I discovered I was mistaking control for trust, but releasing the need for specific outcomes has given me a ...
01/15/2026

In therapy, I discovered I was mistaking control for trust, but releasing the need for specific outcomes has given me a sense of empowerment!

Small ways that help bring me back to center! What are some things that help you?
01/07/2026

Small ways that help bring me back to center! What are some things that help you?

New year same girl. You’ll still find me at a cute coffee shop in 2026 💅🏽Happy New Year! Excited to continue helping peo...
01/07/2026

New year same girl. You’ll still find me at a cute coffee shop in 2026 💅🏽
Happy New Year! Excited to continue helping people find their most authentic selves and dive deeper into understanding why they do what they do.

Hi 👋🏻 I’ve got some new followers and a lot has changed since my last intro! -I’m Vanessa Manes [Mah-Nez] (went back to ...
12/17/2025

Hi 👋🏻 I’ve got some new followers and a lot has changed since my last intro!
-I’m Vanessa Manes [Mah-Nez] (went back to my maiden name, some of you knew me as Cardin)
-Toast has a brother now! His name is Shadow- added another dog to my life 🐕🐶
-I moved out of Orange County and now I live in San Diego! Offering both telehealth and in person sessions.
-I switched to matcha instead of coffee…but still drink coffee.
-I still love Pilates
-Working on getting somatic certifications and learning more about working with the body. This has helped me in my own healing and I’m excited to start implementing this work with my clients.
-I still stop and smell the roses and I look for butterflies too.

Thank you for following my page! I hope to provide some personal and authentic content to help you along your healing journey. We are on the road together.

For more professional information check out my website! Link in bio 🙃

Internal Family Systems Theory is a great way to look at the different parts of yourself and hold space between you the ...
11/19/2025

Internal Family Systems Theory is a great way to look at the different parts of yourself and hold space between you the Self and the parts of you that are showing up. A great resource to learn more about parts work is the book- No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz

A therapists confession: I’ve been feeling stuck & unmotivated lately. After moving to a new city it’s been hard to find...
11/19/2025

A therapists confession: I’ve been feeling stuck & unmotivated lately. After moving to a new city it’s been hard to find momentum and belonging.
Working on realigning myself and setting new intentions and goals for next year 🧘🏻‍♀️✨

The journey is healing, not being healed.
10/23/2025

The journey is healing, not being healed.

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San Diego, CA

Website

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