Hello! My name is Vanessa and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas. I received my masters in Professional Counseling from Amberton University. I have been practicing counseling for 3 years, and have enjoyed every minute of it! I enjoy working with adolescents and young adults who are dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, Bipolar disorder, Borderline Personality disorder, and trauma.
The first sessions are simple and all about getting to know each other. Expect a warm hello with a smile. My top priority is ensuring that my clients feel safe and secure enough to be their authentic selves. This is a place where you can step away from the pressures of reality, take a breath, and recharge before getting back into the real world. I know trying something new can be awkward, but I will do my best to make the session easy.
I enjoy challenging my clients to look at different perspectives of a thought or situation. As an empath, I believe I can feel and understand to a depth that is relatable. I'm here to guide you in finding your own solutions, helping you navigate through your challenges with a deeper understanding and fresh viewpoints. Together, we can explore new ways of thinking and foster personal growth.
This is a modality I use often. It is evidence-based and I used this form of therapy to identify negative thoughts and learn how to reframe the mindset to a more neutral/positive way of thinking through cognitive restructuring. I teach particular skills such as stress management, relaxation techniques, mindfulness techniques and other ways to manage difficult emotions/thoughts.
This form of modality is used when focusing on trauma a client has experienced. With this modality, I focus on skill building related to coping skills, cognitive processing through the use of narratives. I will use exposure techniques when need that allows a client to gradually and controlled exposure to trauma reminders. TF-CBT is structured and typically short-term, making it an effective treatment for reducing trauma-related symptoms, improving emotional and behavioral functioning, and enhancing overall well-being
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors. It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices. I use this technique hand in hand with CBT. I focus on building skills with this modality by focusing on mindfulness techniques while implementing distress tolerance skills, emotional regulation skills, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.
Grief therapy is a form of counseling designed to help individuals cope with the emotional, physical, and psychological reactions to loss. This type of therapy can be particularly beneficial for those struggling to move forward after the death of a loved one, a significant life change, or any other form of deep personal loss. Things that I focus on when using this modality is enhancing coping skills related to CBT and DBT techniques. I look to address unresolved issues related to the loss of a loved one/relationship. I use storytelling to evoke positive memories and ways to keep those positive memories as time passes.
Psychoeducation in therapy sessions involves providing clients with information and understanding about their mental health conditions, treatment options, and coping strategies. I believe it is important for client and therapist to be on the same page. I enjoy enhancing the understanding of diagnoses and symptoms. This form of modality facilitates open communication between therapist and client while helping client's learn to reduce relapse of a behavior by recognizing early warning signs.