Vanessa C. Staples, MS, PhD

What should your client know about you?

I am easy to talk to and non-judgmental. I have an open mind and pride myself on seeing the good in the folks I work with. I like to help people build on their strengths. I believe that all people can learn and grow over time because I see it every day.

What is your approach to therapy?

I use a mostly cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy. That means that I help people identify thought and behavioral patterns that may not be serving them well. We then work on modifying those patterns so that people can improve their mood and sense of well-being.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Clients should expect to leave sessions with a clearer sense of their goals and plans to achieve those goals. They should expect to leave sessions feeling hopeful, capable, and supported.

What was your path on becoming a psychologist?

My path to becoming a therapist was a little bit roundabout. I majored in Behavioral Neuroscience and minored in Psychology as an undergraduate. Then I very briefly did clinical research for pharmaceutical companies before realizing that I wanted to work with people rather than data. By this time, I had also personally experienced the benefits of individual therapy and I wanted to help other people create the types of lives they wanted to live. So I went to graduate school to learn how to be a psychologist.