Vanessa Rios, LMHC, LPC, NCC

Vanessa M. Rios, founder and owner of Freedom Journey Mental Health Counseling PLLC (FJMHC), is a bilingual New York native, born and raised in Chelsea NY. Living in the midst of one of the most diverse cities in the world, and currently licensed in both New York and New Jersey, she utilizes a holistic and integrated approach when helping her clients. Through the integration of a spiritual perspective and scientifically proven techniques Vanessa is able to offer her clients tailor-fit treatment that is culturally sensitive and affirming.

Vanessa is passionate about educating her communities on all things Mental Health. As an orator and conference speaker, Vanessa has welcomed invitations to district and local fellowships, giving educational conferences on topics such as grief and loss, depression, anxiety and suicide awareness. As a former Substance Abuse Clinician at the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai (AIMS) she has gained invaluable experience in the treatment of addiction, mood and personality disorders; and is a former Mental Health Counselor at Kind Counseling located in Brooklyn, NY where she worked with neurodivergent children, children presenting with behavioral difficulties and women and men of all ages presenting with various struggles and disorders.

Anchored in a psychodynamic approach, solution-focused, and with over 10 years of mentoring experience, Vanessa has helped women and men of all ages and backgrounds work through the traumas and anxieties that have imprisoned them and kept them from achieving some of their life-long goals and dreams. It is her desire to walk alongside of you to help you heal, process the trauma, manage your anxieties and insecurities, while supporting you plan realistic achievable goals that will guide you towards realizing some of your dreams, step-by-step, blueprint-by-blueprint.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”

Specialties

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Family/Couples Therapy

• Substance abuse

• Grief & Loss

• Issues with self-esteem

• Trauma/PTSD

• Personality disorders

• ADD/ADHD

• Adjustment disorders

• Addressing mental health in the chronically ill.

Techniques

• Psychodynamic

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• Solution-focused Therapy

• Acceptance & commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Narrative Therapy

• Faith-based Therapy

• Group Therapy