Vanessa

Mrs Vanessa Barnes

Educational Psychologist

An experienced psychologist working with people across the lifespan, with a special interest in anxiety & trauma. Ego State Therapy, BrainSpotting, Body Spotting,Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, EMI, EMR trained.

About Me

I am a registered Educational Psychologist with over 18 years of experience working with trauma, anxiety, burnout, depression, and chronic pain. My approach integrates Brainspotting, somatic therapies, and parts-based work to address both the psychological and physiological impact of stress and trauma. I work with adolescents and adults to understand the protective patterns driving their symptoms and to build regulation, insight, and long-term resilience. Therapy is collaborative, structured, and grounded in neuroscience.

Approach

If anxiety, trauma responses, or chronic stress continue to resurface, it often means the body has not fully processed the original experience. My work focuses on identifying and processing these stored responses using Brainspotting, somatic therapy, and structured ego state work. We move at a pace that supports regulation and integration, ensuring that therapy strengthens stability rather than overwhelms it.
Contact Vanessa

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Services


Services Offered:

  • Brainspotting

    A therapy that uses fixed eye positions to access and process unresolved trauma stored in the brain and body.

    Learn more about Brainspotting
  • Brain Working Recursive Therapy

    A therapy that works with the brain's natural response patterns to change unwanted reactions before they reach conscious awareness.

  • Trauma Counseling

    Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.

    Learn more about Trauma Counseling
  • Hypnosis

    A therapeutic technique that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to access the subconscious mind and facilitate positive change.

    Learn more about Hypnosis
  • Psychotherapy

    In-depth therapeutic work that explores patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships to produce lasting psychological change.

    Learn more about Psychotherapy
  • Somatic Psychotherapy

    A form of therapy focused on the connection between mind and body, using body awareness and movement to release held tension, trauma, and emotion.

  • Individual Therapy

    One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.

    Learn more about Individual Therapy
  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy designed for teenagers, using age-appropriate methods to address issues like anxiety, identity, peer pressure, and family conflict.

    Learn more about Adolescent Therapy
  • Expressive Arts Therapy

    A therapeutic approach that combines visual art, music, movement, writing, and drama as channels for emotional expression and processing.

Works With:

  • All ages
  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Individuals

Area of Expertise


Scope of Practice:

  • Trauma Therapy

    Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.

    Learn more about Trauma Therapy
  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • PTSD

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that develops after a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.

    Learn more about PTSD
  • Autism (ASD)

    A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and behaviour patterns, with a wide range of presentations and strengths.

  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout
  • Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma
  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss, varying widely in duration and expression.

    Learn more about Grief, Loss & Bereavement
  • Depression

    A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.

    Learn more about Depression

Professional Title:

  • Educational Psychologist

    A psychologist specialising in learning, development, and educational needs of children, adolescents, and young adults.

Qualifications


M.Ed. in Educational Psychology

Residency

University of Johannesburg

Year: 2012

B Ed Honours Educational Psychology

University of Johannesburg

Year: 2008

Bachelor of Education Senior Phase

University of Johannesburg

Year: 2007

Registrations


Health Professions Council Of South Africa (HPCSA); Board of Health Funders (BHF)

Psychologist

Service Area


VisioMed Office Park

In-person & Online

Blackheath

Johannesburg, Gauteng 2195

South Africa