Influential Woman · Mental Health
Vanessa Molina
Licensed Marriage And Family, New Dawn Healing and Wellness, LLC
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Her Story
About Vanessa
Vanessa Molina is a licensed therapist based in Miami Beach, Florida, with six and a half years of experience in the mental health field. Her main areas of expertise include working with couples and families, along with specialized training in trauma through EMDR. She holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy earned in 2023 and is currently pursuing her PhD. Ms. Molina completed a three-month EMDR training through EMDRIA and has additional experience in school counseling as well as trainings for first responders and firefighter wellness. She attributes her professional success to resilience and grit. In her work, Ms. Molina values community, honesty, ethics, and integrity. She advises being mindful of not stretching oneself too thin in the mental health profession to avoid overextending. Among the challenges in her field, she notes unstable finances due to slow seasons in summer and lower pay for those under supervision in Florida, though she finds the career rewarding for its long-lasting impact on clients and opportunities for continuous learning.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Vanessa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say resilience and grit. I've fallen in different ways many times, and I've chosen to keep going. I would say that none of my accomplishments have been handed to me. I have worked hard for them, I have invested years of my life while having to play in this game called "Life". Therefore I believe that resilience and not giving up on the things that I've wanted have allowed me to achieve all that I've wanted.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When I was an intern, my supervisor at the time told me that I had to be mindful of stretching myself too thin, especially in the mental health profession where it's a profession to give and to help others, and to be mindful of overextending myself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Know their value, know their worth, know their knowledge, and remind themselves of their worth, their value, and all that they've had to do to get to that place, which makes them more than qualified. Especially to overcome imposter syndrome that impacts how we show up.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Finances can be unstable due to slow seasons in summer when families travel or kids are out of school. Pay for those under supervision in Florida is not the best, making it difficult to sustain lifestyle and pay student loans. Supervision lacks clear structured curriculum. But it's rewarding as you help shape lives and have long-lasting impact, and you never stop learning.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community is a big one for me. Honesty, kind of encapsulating ethics and integrity.
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