FindADHDTherapists

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

LMSW

Vanessa Stafford, LMSW

  • Experience40 years
  • LocationMichigan
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Relationship
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Client-Centered Therapy
View booking options

Check the available next steps for working with Vanessa online.

About Vanessa

Vanessa Stafford is a licensed master social worker with 40 years of experience practicing in Michigan. She welcomes people who want to improve relationships, cope with stress and anxiety, or work through trauma and life changes, and she brings a practical, goal-oriented style to each client encounter.

Background and approach

Vanessa emphasizes helping clients uncover unhelpful patterns and build specific skills that promote healthier connections and greater emotional balance. Her background centers on relationship and family work, trauma and abuse, and related concerns such as grief, addiction, anger, and mood disorders.

Vanessa blends evidence-based methods with a client-centered stance, aiming to help individuals gain insight into past experiences that affect current behavior while learning tools for boundary setting and emotional regulation. Her approach is structured and collaborative, focused on measurable progress and sustained change.

Vanessa values the client as the expert on their own life and supports motivated people who are ready to take active steps toward healing and improved relationships. She offers practical techniques and encouragement, helping clients move from awareness to action so they can build the respect, intimacy, and stability they seek.

Therapeutic Approaches That Translate to Online Care



Vanessa draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to guide online work. ACT helps clients clarify their values and accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that align with what matters most, which can be useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thought and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning, a practical fit for concerns like depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. She partners with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and will adapt methods over time so the plan feels useful and sustainable. The emphasis is on active skill building and measurable progress, with the client guiding which techniques feel most effective.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities, and they support steady progress through regular check-ins and skill practice.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Vanessa address?
Her practice covers relationship and family conflicts, trauma and abuse, mood concerns like depression and bipolar, anxiety and stress, addiction, grief, ADHD, and related issues such as intimacy, sleep, and self-esteem.
What is Vanessa's therapeutic style?
She uses a structured, goal-oriented approach that combines client-centered work with evidence-based techniques to build skills, explore patterns, and support practical change.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Vanessa brings 40 years of professional experience in Michigan, drawing on long-term practice with relationship, trauma, and family concerns.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She holds the LMSW credential and practices in Michigan. Licence details are MI LMSW 6801019488.
Does she provide services in languages other than English or accept international clients?
Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
Which session formats are available for working together?
Clients can connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preferences and scheduling options.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin therapy with Vanessa?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseAnger management

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily problemsFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessMidlife crisisMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

40+ years

Licensed

Michigan

Languages

English

What Vanessa can help with

Vanessa Stafford works with clients on stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and anger management.

Vanessa works with individuals and couples who want to regain or feel fulfilled in their connection with their partner.

Vanessa works with clients who are coping with relationship issues and family conflicts.

How Vanessa approaches therapy

Vanessa's clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Psychodynamic Therapy.

Experience and training

Vanessa is a Licensed Masters Social Worker practicing in Michigan, with 40 years of clinical experience.

Therapy style

Vanessa aims to support & empower you in your journey.