New to Grow
Hi, I’m Vesna Kresanovic, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing therapy for individuals and couples in Texas & Wisconsin. I work with people who feel overwhelmed, emotionally disconnected, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve them—often after stress, trauma, relationship challenges, or major life transitions. My approach is supportive, practical, and relationship-focused. I draw from evidence-based methods like CBT, Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and trauma-informed care to help clients better understand themselves, regulate emotions, and strengthen their relationships. Therapy with me is collaborative and paced to feel safe and manageable, not rushed or judgmental. I believe meaningful change happens when people feel truly seen and understood. My goal is to create a space where you can be honest, build insight, and develop tools you can use in everyday life—whether that means improving communication, healing from trauma, or reconnecting with yourself or your partner. If you’re looking for a therapist who is warm, grounded, and focused on real, lasting change, I’d be honored to support you.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In your first session with me, the focus is on getting to know you and understanding what brought you to therapy. We’ll talk about what’s been weighing on you, what you’re hoping to change, and any concerns or questions you have about the process. There’s no pressure to share everything at once—this is a starting point, and we move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. I’ll ask thoughtful questions to better understand your experiences, background, and what’s important to you, but the session is conversational and collaborative, not an interrogation or checklist. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, respected, and heard from the very beginning. We’ll also talk about how therapy works, what my approach looks like, and what support might be most helpful for you right now. If there are immediate stressors or safety concerns, we’ll address those together and make sure you leave the session feeling supported. By the end of the first session, most clients have a clearer sense of what’s going on, what therapy with me might look like moving forward, and next steps. You don’t need to prepare anything special—just come as you are.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
What stands out about my approach is the balance between warmth, structure, and effectiveness. I focus on helping clients feel emotionally safe and understood while also offering clear direction and tools that support real change. Therapy with me isn’t just about talking—it’s about understanding patterns, building insight, and learning how to respond differently in everyday life. I integrate evidence-based methods such as CBT, Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and trauma-informed care in a way that feels personalized rather than rigid. This allows us to work both at the surface level—improving communication, managing anxiety, reducing emotional overwhelm—and at a deeper level by addressing the emotional and relational patterns underneath. Clients often tell me they feel more grounded, more connected, and more confident navigating challenges after working together. They gain clarity around their emotions, improved communication in relationships, and practical skills they can use outside of session. I pay close attention to pacing, safety, and collaboration so therapy feels supportive, not overwhelming. Ultimately, my goal is to help clients create lasting change—not quick fixes—by strengthening emotional awareness, resilience, and connection to themselves and others.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I’m best positioned to work with individuals and couples who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or emotionally disconnected and are ready for meaningful change. Many of the people I support are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship conflict, trust issues, or major life transitions and want more than just surface-level coping—they want clarity, healing, and tools that actually work. I’m a good fit for clients who are open to self-reflection and willing to look at patterns, even when it feels uncomfortable at times. You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly what you want to work on—just a desire to feel better, more connected, or more grounded in your life or relationships. I work especially well with couples who want to improve communication, rebuild trust, or reconnect emotionally, as well as individuals who want to better understand their emotions, heal from past experiences, and build healthier relationships moving forward. Many of my clients appreciate a therapist who is warm, direct, and supportive, while also offering structure and guidance. If you’re looking for a therapy space that feels safe, collaborative, and focused on real progress—not judgment or quick fixes—you may be a great fit for working together.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is one of the core tools I use in my work, and I appreciate it because it’s both practical and empowering. Many of my clients come in feeling stuck in cycles of anxiety, self-doubt, overthinking, or emotional overwhelm—and CBT gives us a clear, supportive way to understand what’s happening and how to change it. In my practice, I don’t use CBT as a rigid formula or a “just think positive” approach. Instead, we gently look at the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, especially the patterns that developed over time to help you survive difficult experiences. Together, we identify the thoughts that may be increasing distress and learn how to challenge them in a realistic, compassionate way. I use CBT collaboratively and at your pace. We focus on real-life situations, not just theory—what’s happening in your relationships, your work, your family, and your inner world. I often combine CBT with emotion-focused and trauma-informed techniques so the work feels supportive rather than overwhelming. What I love most about CBT is that it helps clients feel more in control. You begin to notice patterns sooner, respond rather than react, and build tools you can actually use outside of session. My goal is always to help you understand yourself better and feel more confident navigating life—not to “fix” you, but to support the strengths you already have.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy is a central part of how I help individuals and couples heal, especially when relationships feel disconnected, painful, or stuck in the same patterns over and over again. Many of the people I work with don’t struggle because they don’t care—they struggle because the emotional connection feels unsafe or broken. EFT helps us get to the heart of that. In my practice, I use EFT to help clients understand the emotional patterns underneath conflict, distance, anxiety, or shutdown. Rather than focusing on blame or “who’s right,” we slow things down and look at what’s really happening emotionally—often fear, hurt, or unmet needs that haven’t had a safe place to be expressed. I create a supportive, non-judgmental space where emotions can be explored without being overwhelming. We work on identifying emotional triggers, understanding attachment needs, and learning how to communicate in ways that foster closeness instead of defensiveness or withdrawal. This approach is especially powerful for couples, but it’s also deeply helpful for individuals who want to understand their emotional world and relationships more clearly. What I love about EFT is that it helps people feel seen and understood at a deeper level. Clients often tell me they feel more connected—to themselves and to the people they care about—rather than just learning techniques to “manage” emotions. My goal is to help you feel emotionally safe, understood, and more secure in your relationships so real, lasting change can happen.
Gottman method
The Gottman Method is one of the primary ways I help couples strengthen their relationship and move out of patterns that feel painful, repetitive, or exhausting. Many couples don’t come to therapy because they don’t love each other—they come because communication has broken down, trust has been shaken, or conflict keeps escalating in ways they don’t know how to stop. The Gottman Method gives us a clear, research-based roadmap for change. In my practice, I use the Gottman Method to help couples understand their unique relationship dynamics and build practical skills that support long-term connection. We focus on improving communication, managing conflict more effectively, and rebuilding emotional safety and trust. Rather than trying to eliminate conflict altogether, we work on learning how to handle it in healthier, more respectful ways. I blend structure with compassion. Sessions often include learning concrete tools—like how to have difficult conversations without escalating, how to repair after conflict, and how to strengthen friendship and intimacy—while also making space for the emotions underneath those moments. Everything is tailored to the couple in front of me, not a rigid formula. What I appreciate most about the Gottman Method is that it’s hopeful and practical. Couples leave sessions with a clearer understanding of each other and tools they can actually use at home. My goal is to help couples feel more connected, more understood, and more confident in navigating challenges together—so the relationship becomes a source of support, not stress.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Trauma-Focused CBT is an approach I use when experiences from the past are still affecting how someone feels, thinks, or relates in the present. Many clients come in knowing something happened, but not fully understanding why they feel on edge, emotionally overwhelmed, shut down, or triggered in ways that don’t always make sense. TF-CBT helps us gently connect those dots in a way that feels safe and manageable. In my practice, I use TF-CBT to help clients understand how trauma impacts the nervous system, beliefs about themselves, and emotional responses. We work at a pace that feels supportive—not rushed—and focus on building stability and coping skills before ever going deeper into traumatic material. Safety and emotional regulation always come first. This approach combines practical tools with compassionate exploration. We look at thoughts shaped by trauma, such as self-blame or fear, and gently challenge them while also honoring the emotions underneath. I also help clients learn grounding techniques, emotional regulation skills, and ways to feel more present and in control when trauma reminders show up. What I value most about TF-CBT is that it offers structure while still leaving room for healing and connection. Clients often tell me they feel less overwhelmed by their past and more confident navigating their lives now. My goal is to help you feel safer in your body, clearer in your thinking, and more empowered moving forward—without reliving trauma or feeling defined by it.