I'm an older female counselor. I have a motherly way about me, according to my clients. I have had a very diversified career in science, the military, and in higher education. I'm a veteran, the widowed spouse of a veteran, the mother of a disabled veteran, and the daughter of a WWII veteran who suffered with PTSD. I am a mother, both by birth and adoption, to five children. I have fostered 26 children over 33 yrs. I am a Christian and I am a licensed pastor and provide pastoral services. I have experienced violence and loss and have a deep empathy for those who have experienced these things. I have done a lot of grief work myself and with my clients. I have remarried and have dealt with blended family issues. My life experience has increased both my empathy and my understanding, and has allowed for my spiritual growth. I will challenge your spirituality at some point in our process. If you are not wanting to look at your spiritual beliefs, another therapist would be a better match for you. Humans are often helpless, but never hopeless. I have found that a combination of varied therapeutic methods works for me and my clients. I use a good deal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combined with Grief Resolution Therapy, but I do not limit myself to certain methods and I expand to meet my client's needs. The majority of my clients feel they have received help, or have acheived some growth in therapy. My therapeutic goal is not to force a change on my client, but to enable my client to feel at peace with the choices they make each moment they live on this earth. In addition I hope to help my clients embrace the joy of living. Van Martz, LPC
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Depression, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Blended family issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual disability, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Narcissism, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Personality disorders, Phobias, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
AL LPC LPC01770
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Vanessa Martz. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Vanessa has been placed in my life by God. She has been exactly what I needed.
Written on May 06, 2024 after therapy with Vanessa for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, and intimacy-related issues
Vanessa has been an absolute God Send in so many areas of my life. She has challenged me in unexpected ways & validated some life experiences for me so I can work towards moving past them & even help me sort through some unhealed childhood trauma. I would recommend her to anyone I know. Thank you Van for everything!!
Written on Oct 21, 2022 after therapy with Vanessa for 10 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
very easy to talk with, and she has insight, while being uplifting
Written on Jun 18, 2022 after therapy with Vanessa for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, and self esteem
I have been very pleased with my experience with Vanessa as my therapist. In just two sessions she has helped me a great deal.
Written on Jun 11, 2022 after therapy with Vanessa for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and adhd
Vanessa is Awesome! She is helping me through a really rough time right now. Job insecurity, a break up, a reconnection with my kids. Take your pick. But she has definitely helped me through it and I’m continuing to make progress
Written on Jun 05, 2022 after therapy with Vanessa for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and relationship issues
Ms Martz was able to provide me with her expert opinion and advise within moments of speaking with her. What my expectation was, from past experiences with about 5 former therapists were that (most often) they sat and listened, rarely saying a word or providing specific feedback. I had sessions in which I thought, this person could be anyone off the street with no credentials as far as I could tell. But that is not the case with Ms Martz. I am excited to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience she brings.
Written on May 19, 2022 after therapy with Vanessa for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes