Vanessa Clarke, AMFT (she/her) is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#149039) supervised by Wendy Denham, PhD (PSY20898). She specializes in infant and early childhood mental health, attachment, and trauma.

Vanessa earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of San Francisco and her master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology. She is currently a fellow in the UC Davis Napa Infant-Parent & Early Childhood Mental Health Fellowship. Her experience includes working in preschools, domestic violence shelters, adolescent residential treatment centers, and therapeutic preschool programs.

In her clinical work, Vanessa has provided trauma-informed, play-based therapy for children ages 2.5–5 with significant emotional and behavioral needs, served as a Wraparound Therapist for children in the foster care system, and collaborated extensively with parents, caregivers, and multidisciplinary teams. She values the power of a coordinated support system—including social workers, attorneys, teachers, OTs, and psychiatrists—in a child’s healing and growth.

Known for her warmth, curiosity, and playfulness, Vanessa follows a child’s lead in therapy, using a “bottom-up” approach to help regulate the nervous system and create a sense of safety and trust. Her work is informed by Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics in Early Childhood and Dr. Brazelton’s Touchpoints Concepts, both of which she is currently pursuing certification in.

Vanessa holds certifications in:

• Parent and Child Interaction Feeding Scale (0–12 months)

• Parent and Child Teaching Scale (0–36 months)

• Newborn Behavioral Observations (0–12 weeks)

• California 40-hour Domestic Violence Counselor

Outside of her work, Vanessa enjoys spending time in the mountains, exploring arts and crafts, and being with her two cats, Pretzel and Taffy.