Vanessa Martz , LPC

Vanessa Martz is an older female counselor who brings nearly three decades of experience to her work. She is described by clients as having a motherly way, and that nurturing presence is informed by a diverse personal and professional background spanning science, the military, and higher education.

Her life includes service as a veteran, the experience of being the widowed spouse of a veteran, parenting a disabled veteran, and growing up as the daughter of a World War II veteran who struggled with PTSD. She is a mother by birth and adoption to five children and has fostered 26 children over 33 years. These roles have shaped her understanding of family systems, attachment, and the long arc of caregiving.

Vanessa combines her Christian faith with licensed pastoral services in her approach. She has lived through violence and loss, completed extensive grief work for herself, and has guided many clients through grief and related challenges. She has also navigated remarriage and blended family dynamics, which informs her practical experience with stepfamilies and commitment issues.

Clinically, she favors a flexible integration of methods. She uses a substantial amount of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - a practical approach that addresses thoughts and behaviors - alongside Grief Resolution Therapy, and she adapts to meet each client’s needs rather than relying on a single technique. A majority of her clients report that they received help or achieved growth in therapy. Her goal is not to force change but to help clients live with greater peace about their choices and to rediscover joy in everyday life. Vanessa Martz holds the LPC credential, which stands for Licensed Professional Counselor, and she also serves as a licensed pastor.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Vanessa Martz integrates evidence-based methods into online work to address relationship, grief, trauma, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps clients identify and adjust unhelpful thoughts and behaviors so they can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress and build practical coping skills. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating an empathetic, nonjudgmental space where the client’s experiences guide the process - this approach supports self-esteem, decision-making, and personal growth. Emotionally-Focused Therapy targets the emotional bonds between people and can be helpful for couples and families who want to improve communication and repair attachment ruptures.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Vanessa works collaboratively with clients and licensed professionals to determine which methods fit a person’s needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to access consistent care while balancing work, family, and mobility needs. These formats offer flexibility in scheduling, allow therapy to continue across life transitions, and enable clients to engage in therapy in ways that feel most comfortable to them.