If your child or teen is struggling to manage big emotions or make sense of who they are, Vanessa might be the right therapist for your family. Her work with kids and teens is relational and client-centered: she knows how to balance playfulness and structure, softness and accountability, fun and focus. She is joyful and energetic, grounded in a steady therapeutic presence that helps young people feel safe enough to be honest. Vanessa works with children and teens who are navigating behavioral issues, emotional dysregulation, identity confusion, or difficulty with boundaries, communication, and relationships. Her work is trauma-informed and attachment-focused, with an emphasis on helping clients feel more regulated in their bodies and more connected to their values. Whether your child is lashing out, shutting down, or simply overwhelmed by life, Vanessa offers a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where healing can begin—one small step at a time.
Vanessa’s clinical presence is gentle, curious, and empowering. She meets children and teens where they are, attuning to the energy underneath their words, behaviors, and emotional reactions. Her sessions move at the pace of trust—always oriented around safety, regulation, and relationship. Vanessa uses a blend of play, cognitive, and somatic-based interventions to help clients reconnect with their bodies, calm their nervous systems, make sense of thoughts and emotions, and process unresolved distress in a way that feels manageable. Vanessa creates space for lasting transformation to take root.
For families seeking a therapist who shares their Christian faith, Vanessa offers a calm and caring presence rooted in spiritual integrity. While she never imposes her beliefs, many parents feel reassured knowing their child or teen’s therapist holds a Christian worldview and is able to engage spiritual values as they naturally arise in the therapy process. For for families who do not share the same beliefs, her therapy remains respectful, inclusive, and centered on what’s best for the client.
If your child or teen is struggling to manage big emotions or make sense of who they are, Vanessa might be the right therapist for your family. Her work with kids and teens is relational and client-centered: she knows how to balance playfulness and structure, softness and accountability, fun and focus. She is joyful and energetic, grounded in a steady therapeutic presence that helps young people feel safe enough to be honest. Vanessa works with children and teens who are navigating behavioral issues, emotional dysregulation, identity confusion, or difficulty with boundaries, communication, and relationships. Her work is trauma-informed and attachment-focused, with an emphasis on helping clients feel more regulated in their bodies and more connected to their values. Whether your child is lashing out, shutting down, or simply overwhelmed by life, Vanessa offers a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where healing can begin—one small step at a time.
Vanessa’s clinical presence is gentle, curious, and empowering. She meets children and teens where they are, attuning to the energy underneath their words, behaviors, and emotional reactions. Her sessions move at the pace of trust—always oriented around safety, regulation, and relationship. Vanessa uses a blend of play, cognitive, and somatic-based interventions to help clients reconnect with their bodies, calm their nervous systems, make sense of thoughts and emotions, and process unresolved distress in a way that feels manageable. Vanessa creates space for lasting transformation to take root.
For families seeking a therapist who shares their Christian faith, Vanessa offers a calm and caring presence rooted in spiritual integrity. While she never imposes her beliefs, many parents feel reassured knowing their child or teen’s therapist holds a Christian worldview and is able to engage spiritual values as they naturally arise in the therapy process. For for families who do not share the same beliefs, her therapy remains respectful, inclusive, and centered on what’s best for the client.
Children and 7+
Individuals 18-22
Children
Teens
Young Adults
Emotional Regulation
Behavioral Issues
Coping Skills
Self-Esteem
Confidence
Bullying
Autism
ADHD
Stress
Split-Home Issues/Adjustment
School/Peer Issues
Social Struggles
CBT Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Play Therapy
Art Therapy
Attachment Theory
Somatic Psychology
$100/hr
6891 N Oracle Rd Tucson AZ 85704
Tuesdays 3pm-7:15pm
Wednesdays 12pm-7pm
Fridays 3pm-7:15pm
Saturdays 9am-4pm
LAC-08245T AZ Licensed Associate Counselor
MPC Master of Science in Professional Counseling
BA Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Under Clinical Supervision
of Shari Kirschner, LCSW
and Rachel Lohrman, LPC
Vanessa works with children and teens who are navigating emotional overwhelm, behavioral challenges, identity development, and boundary confusion—often when the usual strategies at home or school just aren’t working. Her approach is rooted in the understanding that behavior is communication, and that beneath every outburst, shutdown, or defiance is a nervous system trying to find safety. Vanessa helps young clients name and understand their emotions, explore what’s underneath their reactions, and learn how to express themselves in ways that feel healthy and respectful—both to themselves and the people around them.
In sessions, Vanessa uses developmentally appropriate tools like expressive play, conversation, body-based awareness, and creative exploration to help children and teens feel seen, regulated, and understood. She brings clarity and calm to moments of chaos, helping her clients move from reactive patterns to more intentional ways of relating. Whether she’s helping a child learn to identify their feelings, guiding a teen through communication skills, or supporting a caregiver through parent coaching, Vanessa approaches her work with steadiness, empathy, and a belief that growth is always possible.
Much of Vanessa’s work also centers on identity and values—supporting young people in figuring out who they are, what they believe, and how they want to show up in the world. This is especially helpful for teens navigating questions around autonomy, social stress, or pressure to fit in. Vanessa creates space for clients to explore these questions in a way that feels safe, grounded, and aligned with their values—often giving them the confidence to make decisions and set boundaries from a more connected place within themselves.
Vanessa often uses play therapy with younger clients, because she knows that for children, play is not just fun—it’s how they communicate, learn, and make sense of their world. Through play, children naturally express what they don’t yet have words for, including fears, frustrations, and unmet needs. In Vanessa’s office, play becomes a bridge to trust and self-awareness. Whether through art, storytelling, movement, or imaginative play, children begin to feel safe enough to explore their emotions, practice new skills, and build confidence in themselves. As they grow more regulated and expressive, they also become more capable of navigating relationships, boundaries, and big life transitions outside the therapy room. Play helps healing happen from the inside out—and Vanessa is skilled at using it with purpose, care, and joy.
Vanessa loves working with teens who are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world. Adolescence can be a time of confusion, pressure, and emotional intensity—and Vanessa offers a grounded, nonjudgmental space where teens can explore their identity with curiosity and courage. She helps them untangle the messages they’ve internalized from peers, parents, or social media, and begin to ask deeper questions: What do I care about? What do I believe? What kind of person do I want to be? Through this process, teens learn to name their values, build emotional resilience, and advocate for what they need. Vanessa also supports them in setting meaningful goals and building the confidence to pursue them—so they don’t just survive this stage of life, but begin to move through it with clarity, purpose, and a stronger sense of self.
A Note to Teens: If you’re reading this, maybe life feels a little overwhelming right now. Maybe you’re dealing with stress, big emotions, family stuff, or just trying to figure out who you are—and it’s a lot. I want you to know this: therapy isn’t about being “fixed” or judged. It’s a space where you get to be fully yourself. I’m here to listen, not lecture. We’ll work together to help you understand what you’re feeling, why it matters, and how to express it in ways that actually feel good and true to who you are. You don’t have to have it all figured out—I’ll meet you where you are and walk with you as you grow into who you’re becoming.