We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vanessa Ferandell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vanessa below.

Vanessa, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

After 5 years of acupuncture education at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, one of my closest friends in school, Elena Fiallo(who worked in the Homeless Sector) wrote a grant. After going to school together, you get to know each other pretty well(in classes, and working with patients in our clinic) and we shared this common goal. Working and supporting women. We wanted to help women through trauma, stress, anxieties, women’s issues, really anything, So, she specifically got monies to supporting Latina women who were transitioning from homelessness into housing. It was part of a whole network that would help these women who met the grants criteria. And we it!
This was at Saint Josephs Homeless Center in Venice Beach. It was a wonderful opportunity to serve the community and work with Latinas. I felt so vitalized, grounded and in my element. It was so nice to donate to the community and make connections and serve others.

Vanessa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an acupuncturist, herbologist, massage therapist and a Neuro Emotional Technique(NET) Practitioner for over 14 years now. I got into this industry after a bad car accident, where I was 5mm from dying and found myself alive and asking, “What do I really want out of this life?” And I found that I wanted to live, help others and connect them to fully loving themselves. Is session, I will always ask: What they would like to be true now? How do you want to be feeling now? Because if you cannot imagine it- how will you accomplish it!

I love that through the connection of the body(the acupuncture/massage techniques) and emotions(NET), I can work in supporting the whole nervous system and supporting others in right where they are in their journey of healing. But my favorites are the young ones that come in- always between 3-15. It’s so incredible to see them change after one session and hear from the parents on how something just clicked and they were feeling better about themselves.

I feel like right now, I always attract people who are looking inward to work on loving and honoring themselves more wihtout fear or judgement.

Have you ever had to pivot?

We were in the midst of Covid (middle of 2019), and I was pregnant with my first child and no patients were coming in because everyone was terrified.

So I decided to step away from my practice, which for a workaholic is so difficult. I focus on my new family, spend time with my folks and focus on taking care of myself the best that I could. It was almost perfect timing that I could rest and raise her, while we were in our little bubble. She was truly a bright light in my world for my husband and I. I focused on my new family, spending time with my folks and taking care of myself.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I always feels the easiest way to grow clientele is through relationships and networking with others. When I work on my own traumas and go into classes, that seems to always bring in new clientele. Plus, I am present, gentle and super kind.

In Los Angeles, I feel my clients always want to share their experiences or newest trend with their friends.
And then a great system is having a solid referral system. I have worked with and traded with other practitioners(be it doctors, NET practitioners, doctors of chiropractors, massage therapists, pelvic floor therapists, and so on). We try to help one another. Being in service is truly so worth while and also makes you want to keep up in your own growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vanessaferandell.com
• Instagram: vferandell
• Other: Work phone number: 626.523.1022 Email: vanessa@vanessaferandellgmail.com