Hi. I’m Vanessa (she/they), a social worker from Pennsylvania now based in sunny Florida. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from a university in South Carolina and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. My diverse experience includes working in community health clinics, hospitals, and outpatient therapy practices.
I adopt a person-centered approach to mental health, aiming to meet clients where they are with warmth and compassion. My practice is informed by an awareness of systemic injustice and the intersectionality of identities. I have worked with adolescents and young adults in life transitions, adults managing chronic health challenges, and older adults experiencing grief. I have a particular passion for supporting those who have faced trauma within the medical system.
My professional background includes working in a psychiatric hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic, a pivotal experience that underscored the importance of a safe and therapeutic environment. I specialize in trauma-informed care, utilizing modalities such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing (MI). My CBT training includes Trauma-Focused CBT, and I am exploring the integration of expressive arts into therapy.
I believe creative expression can transform pain into beauty and facilitate deeper healing. I look forward to meeting you and building a supportive therapeutic relationship. It is an honor to be part of your journey.
“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.
When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The
people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”
― Fred Rogers
