Vanessa Blandford LPC, LCDC

Embracing Luna's philosophy of meeting clients and families where they are, Vanessa Blandford believes treatment and therapy are not "one size fits all." Instead, she bases treatment on clients' strengths and interests, utilizing interventions such as meditation, mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy.

Vanessa is also trained in other modalities, such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Person-Centered Therapy, existential/humanistic theories, and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, she specializes in trauma, substance use disorder, women's issues, life transition, and family of origin issues.

A former teacher, Vanessa is known for planning creative activities for group therapy and growing Luna's graduate school counseling and social work internship program. She appreciates Luna's support for work-life balance, which enables her to be the best counselor she can be.

Vanessa received her B.S. in education and M.Ed. in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling from University of Houston. She interned with The Women's Home, where she gained experience counseling women with substance use and other mental health disorders.

A lifelong Houstonian, Vanessa enjoys cheering on local teams with her husband and son. She also loves being outdoors, exploring Houston's diverse food scene, and visiting local attractions. A longtime volunteer with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, she is a captain on the Parade Committee. Vanessa also carries on a 50-year tradition by leading her family's team in the annual HLSR World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.