Vanessa Irons

Vanessa Irons is a Licensed Professional Counselor whose career has come full circle. "I started my career in community mental health care, and after ten years in private practice, felt the pull to go back to where I started," she shares. Vanessa earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Missouri State University and went on to complete her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute. Over the years, she has provided counseling for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups.

Vanessa's approach centers on strengths, resilience, and genuine partnership. "I love to work with people who have decided they are tired of 'being tired' and have the intention to make positive changes in their life," she explains. She recognizes that life inevitably tests one's grit, and that it's easy to feel like a "failure" along the way. Her goal is to help patients find a different perspective on those setbacks, build on their strengths, and gain the tools and resources that lead to lasting health and wellness. What she enjoys most is the connection and the growth she witnesses: "Meeting so many people from different backgrounds and experiences, and seeing the sense of accomplishment and confidence in my patients after their hard work starts to pay off."

Beyond her clinical work, Vanessa is a respected educator and community advocate. She serves as a graduate faculty at Missouri State University and has facilitated grief groups, anger management workshops, and numerous community outreach presentations throughout her career. She has also served as a board member of CAPE (Child Abuse Prevention and Elimination).