Have you been struggling with life choices or relationship difficulties and need a safe place to work through these challenges in your individual counseling? Do you, your partner, or close others need support to repair your relationship? You may feel lost, overwhelmed, and emotionally exhausted from trying different things to improve your circumstances, but nothing seems to work. Tired of feeling the way you do, you realize your time is now. You are ready to begin working with all of the parts of you to heal, grow, and flourish. Vanessa is here to help you navigate these challenges and improve your situation. Providing the space to process experiences, explore choices, and develop new skills and tools.

Vanessa works with teens and adults experiencing anxiety and depression, including individuals with traumatic experiences in their past, and enjoys providing couples and relationship counseling.

Vanessa creates a safe and comfortable atmosphere for her individual counseling clients to share their experiences without fear of judgment. With attention to each client’s unique needs, she uses an individualized approach to therapy that includes various evidence-based strategies to help clients move toward their goals. Vanessa has worked extensively with teens and adults, connecting with these clients in ways that promote improved emotional responses, better communication, and family dynamics, resulting in resiliency. For her couples and relationship clients, she values developing open communication and shared meaning for the couple to find deeper satisfaction in their relationship. With all clients, she invites a broader look at the systems they interact with, influence, and are influenced by to close gaps and strengthen these pathways.

Whether you are a teen needing support and emotional regulation skills, an adult seeking satisfaction in life and understanding of the past, or a couple seeking greater intimacy, Vanessa approaches her clients with expectancy and enthusiasm and continuously grounds herself in research.

Vanessa received her Bachelor’s in Human Services from Northwest Missouri State University and her Master’s in Social Work from Park University. She has completed Level 1 training in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy. She is eager to begin working with individuals using EMDR soon! Vanessa is clinically supervised by Lauren Wood, LSCSW, LCSW in Missouri.