When I walked into Vanessa Katz' office 8 years ago I thought that all you needed was strength to cope with your problems. I was very skeptical about the idea of therapy. I had to try something though, because I was in the most difficult and painful place I had ever been. Vanessa made me change my mind about the value of therapy. From my first session it was clear that Vanessa was deeply caring, intelligent, and intuitive. This made me respect her immediately. Soon she won my trust and became my partner in working to a healthier, better place. Vanessa has quiet strength: she makes you work and never hands you answers, but she does it in a supportive and guiding way, not a forceful way. Vanessa can tell when I am taking the easy way out, and she calls me on it. That no-nonsense, honest approach is perfect for a strong-willed person like me. My problems did not melt away over night, but my time with Vanessa became a safe haven for me while I did the work to make things better. It paid off. Not only did Vanessa help me with things I explicitly asked to work on, but over time she helped me change other things for the better too. My 8 years with Vanessa helped me develop a wide range of techniques to cope with anxiety and difficulty--no more just "gutting it out". I believe I am a better, healthier person overall now, and I have to give Vanessa credit and sincere thanks for helping me make that happen.

I worked with several therapists before Vanessa, but once I started with Vanessa, therapy took on a different meaning. Vanessa is a nurturing therapist – very warm and caring. I never felt she was distracted or rushed. She would remember small details that were important to me. The work was productive and I could see changes in my every day life. I can honestly say I don’t know if I would have chosen my spouse (my best decision to date), had I not worked through some tough issues with Vanessa’s guidance. Once I had children, unpredictable challenges came my way. I developed the best tool of all with Vanessa’s help: I know I can get through hard times. I have faith in myself. I have tools. In Vanessa's space, I was vulnerable and answered the tough questions. Getting this honest helped me better my current life, not just take a walk through memory lane. Vanessa is the best therapist I ever had.

I have seen Dr. Vanessa Katz off and on for a total of 4 years. I credit her for helping me (finally**) do the hard work of reaching deep within myself and letting go. Yes, letting go! I'm a happier, healthier and more well rounded person because of Dr. Vanessa Katz.

She helped me realize that my past is not my future and I can work through anything that comes my way to become my BEST me. Because I deserve it. And so do you. Which is why I would recommend the most thought provoking therapist that I have ever met. If you are ready for your life to really begin, go see her.

When my mom and I first met Dr. Katz we had recently suffered an attempted murder in our own home. My mom was physically, emotionally and mentally devastated and portrayed it with fearing everyone around her and could not go about her day without me near her. I on the other hand had no emotion what so ever. Dr. Katz was patient with us and taught us how to go on with our lives again. She never rushed us and listened to us patiently and attentively. She would show understanding and at the same time would help us push through the negativity that we were left with. Dr. Katz taught us that we cannot erase the bad things that happen to us but rather learn to live with it and many times turn the negative into a positive. Currently we are not being seen by Dr. Katz but we use the lessons taught by her to live and surpass any obstacle that may come our way.

When I started therapy I didn't know what to expect and didn't really have an agenda except that I knew I was having a rough time and I tried everything I knew to get through it. I figured some help couldn't hurt—it wasn't a life commitment and could always stop as I was in the drivers seat.

Vanessa gave a new meaning to being in the drivers seat. Vanessa opened my eyes that therapy will work as much as I let it work and what is accomplished is entirely up to me. I had to be open to learning about myself which was not my previous view of therapy; I thought it would be about working through how others had wronged me and help me to get through tough times like a cure or magic potion. But what I learned was so much better than a quick fix. I learned about myself in ways I didn't know—my reactions, my patterns, my decision making and how to leverage my strengths as well as work through my weaknesses. When I came to Vanessa I was at my lowest point with a broken relationship, new baby, demanding job and alone with no support system during a very tragic life situation. Visiting with Vanessa allowed me to grow stronger—which is how I always saw myself—but I really grew because I gave myself forgiveness for not being perfect and flexibility in learning from my decisions. Vanessa was an invaluable part of me making it through that part of my life and to this day I hear her voice in my head and the questions she would ask to help me find my way. I tell people all the time in conversation that I thought therapy was for the weak people who couldn't handle life but in reality therapy saved me and made me the person I am so proud of today. You can't control others only yourself and your reactions to others, YOU CAN say NO and it is OK! I am so thankful for Vanessa and her gift of being a therapist. Making the decision to get help through therapy was the best decision I ever made for myself, my then new baby, my now husband and all future relationships and struggles I would have in life. I am better prepared and have the tools I need to endure what comes my way thanks to therapy and allowing myself to be open to help and, of course, Vanessa's support!

We all have stories that we tell ourselves. Sometimes those stories are helpful and sometimes they aren’t. Therapy was a great way to explore the stories I was telling myself. Some of them were outdated and needed to be revised, some of them were holding me back from doing what was best for me. Dr. Katz was an integral guide through my journey to understanding my motivations and feelings. She was able to listen and give feedback unlike anyone else in my life at that time. I’m thankful for our sessions together and I’m excited about the directions I’ve moved in since. Everyone could benefit from a deep exploration of their own stories, and Dr. Katz is an exceptional mentor on such journeys.