Session with Vanessa

About The Host

I'm Vanessa Spagnolo—a Certified Peer Support Specialist, registered alcohol and drug technician, and trained CalMHSA peer support instructor. My work is grounded in lived experience: I've navigated recovery from substance use, rebuilt my life after incarceration, survived domestic violence, weathered multiple devastating losses, and managed PTSD, anxiety, and depression. That journey taught me something I couldn't have learned any other way: how to sit with someone in their darkest moment and help them see a way forward. Talk therapy saved my life. Having a safe space to be honest without judgment—to cry, to rage, to be broken and be met with compassion—changed everything. Now I create that space for others. I'm here for you whether you're navigating grief, rebuilding after addiction, healing from trauma, managing mental health, figuring out parenting, or just need someone who truly understands. My experiences weren't wasted on me—they're now a resource for you.