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My background has been shaped by walking alongside people through some of life’s most difficult and vulnerable experiences. I began working in hospice care, where I learned the importance of presence, compassion, and creating space for grief and meaning at the end of life. From there, I moved into intensive case management and addiction counseling in a methadone clinic, supporting individuals navigating substance use, trauma, and significant life challenges. Over time, my work has focused more deeply on individuals living with complex trauma, dissociation, personality disorders, severe mental illness, and experiences of domestic violence. These experiences have taught me how important it is to move gently, build trust at a pace that feels safe, and truly meet people where they are. I bring a steady, nonjudgmental presence into the therapy room, with the understanding that healing often begins in feeling seen, understood, and not alone.

With over 20 years of experience supporting individuals through a wide range of life’s challenges, I know how difficult the decision to seek help can often be. I have helped clients with issues from day-to-day stressors to the complexities of serious mental illness and addiction. I work with clients 13+ with a wide variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, and compulsive behavior, among others.

I specialize in working with Christians who desire to integrate their faith into their treatment. This brings the best in evidence-based practice in line with the essential role of faith in their lives.

My clients are often standing at the edge of something new—sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance. They may be adjusting to a major life transition: a marriage or a divorce, the birth of a baby, a new diagnosis, a career shift or a personal loss. Some are navigating moments of crisis or reckoning. Others come to therapy not because something obvious has changed, but because they need something to change.

What they share in common is a sense that their old tools are no longer working the way they used to. Maybe what once helped them feel in control—over-functioning, people-pleasing, avoiding conflict—is now creating more disconnection than relief. Maybe the strategies that used to help them cope are starting to feel brittle or self-limiting. They might be asking: Why is this so hard now? Why am I feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or off-center in a season when I thought I should be thriving?

If you’re in a season of transition—or longing for one—I welcome you to reach out. Therapy can be a steady place to land while you find your footing again.

Vanessa Ivins is a dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She obtained a Bachelor's and Master's of Social Work from Rutgers University. Vanessa has eight years of clinical mental health experience serving the child, adolescent, and adult populations. To ensure she provides the most effective and up-to-date therapeutic services, Vanessa completes continuing education training annually. Most of Vanessa’s experience was garnered through working in community behavioral health by facilitating individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. She is bilingual and enjoys showing cultural awareness and support to Spanish-speaking clients.

Vanessa uses a variety of therapeutic practices to meet the needs of her clients. To meet the needs of children and adolescents, she prefers the use of traditional talk therapy along with play therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies. Vanessa is trauma-trained and uses a combination of traditional talk therapy approaches as well as EMDR strategies to meet the needs of her adult clients. She specializes in treating adults impacted by domestic violence. Vanessa provides everyone with a safe and confidential environment where they can talk about the most difficult experiences affecting their life. Vanessa empowers all of her clients to face whatever challenges come their way and to persevere through no matter the level of difficulty.

Vanessa is currently accepting clients of all ages with availability for 60-minute therapy sessions. All sessions are facilitated using a HIPAA-compliant virtual platform. Vanessa is available for early morning therapy sessions several days per week. Her hours of availability consist of early morning, evening, and weekend hours.

I take a warm, empathetic, and direct approach to working my clients. I believe that people can be incredibly resilient when they put their minds to it. Together, we can tap into your potential to strengthen your competence and tackle your goals. I will fight for you to rid yourself of unhelpful patterns and narrow the gap to the life you desire.

I love what I do, and I know why I do it. Since 2007 my focus has been coming along side of people and assisting them with challenges they face in life to become the most authentic and genuine person they were meant to be. In my own journey I've come to accept and appreciate the gifts I've been given, even if they're seemingly unrelated. I love my work as a therapist and I will always be passionate about performing music. How the two coexist within me is the journey I'm on. My focus has been in becoming a better therapist each day ... but I also know I'll never stop playing guitar and performing music, it's part of who I am.

Hola! I Bienvenido/Welcome to my practice. I am honored to support you on your healing journey. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), fluent in both English and Spanish, with a passion for helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and discover their inner strength. I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from Moravian University and a Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the Catholic University of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. As a Latina therapist, I am committed to creating a space that feels culturally responsive and safe. In our sessions I bring a mix of warmth and honesty, paired with evidenced-based approaches all through trauma-informed lens. I am a therapist who believes healing happens when the mind, the soul and body are integrated.