Vanessa comes to ROP having previously worked with adolescents and young adults in crisis and transition. Vanessa is originally from Michigan, and has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan State University. She is currently working on both a Masters of Social Work and a Masters of Science in Kinesiology, focusing on Outdoor Education at the University of New Hampshire.
She is incredibly passionate about the outdoors and is dedicated to the field of adventure therapy. She has worked as a counselor and a guide with at-risk youth in wilderness programs and in residential treatment. She has also worked wilderness therapy with young adults in transition. She comes with practice doing casework in a homeless shelter. She has experience working with addiction, trauma, mood disorders, and learning disorders.
Vanessa enjoys mentoring students and helping facilitate change in their lives. She also has a variety of experiences in the outdoors. She has been rock and ice climbing for 8 years, and has worked as a climbing and canyoneering guide. She also loves scuba diving, paddle boarding, caving, snowboarding, cat photos, and electronic music.