Vanessa Osmer, MA, LCPC, NCC
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Master of Arts in Counseling
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor National Certified Counselor Co-Director of Clinical and Business Operations Co-Owner; OakHeart, Center for Counseling, Mediation, and Consultation To make an appointment with Vanessa, please call 630-570-0050. You can also email [email protected].
Specializes In:Feeding and Eating Disorders, Exposure Based Treatment of Anxiety Disorders (OCD, Social Anxiety and Phobias) and Mood Disorders (e.g., Depression, Bipolar Disorder)
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Professional Experience
I received my Bachelor of Science Degree from Arizona State University. While at Arizona State, I was a Research Assistance for a study on Stereotype Threat for women in STEM fields. I received my Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University. I completed my practicum experience at Clearbrook, working with developmentally delayed adults in a therapeutic day school. In addition, I completed my limited professional license supervised work while in a community mental health setting. During that time, I was a member of the specialized eating disorder and non-suicidal self-injury team. I have also worked with detainees in a county jail, running skill acquisition groups and treating individual mental health needs.
If you are considering becoming a client of mine for counseling or mediation services, please set up an intake session to explore if we would be a good fit for one another.
If you are considering becoming a client of mine for counseling or mediation services, please set up an intake session to explore if we would be a good fit for one another.
Specializations and Treatment Approach
I currently treat:
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Worry)
Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia
Specific Phobias
Depression
In my practice, I invest most of my clinical time seeing adolescents and adults with feeding and eating disorders and anxiety disorders. In addition, I regularly participate in continuing education to maintain the highest quality care with the most up-to-date research. I am a member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp), the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and the Association for Depression and Anxiety Disorders of America (ADAA). I am also a trained divorce mediator.
I would describe my therapeutic orientation as a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I strongly believe in the behavioral exposure component of CBT and ACT treatment approaches. Furthermore, I am trained in using Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) treatment for adults and adolescents.
These types of treatments typically include completing a functional analysis where the client and therapist collaborate to identify feared consequences, triggers, and counterproductive responses. Clients are then given the opportunity to confront those feared consequences without responding in previously unhelpful ways. This provides clients with the opportunity to gain inhibitory learning and build their self-confidence and competency. Often, clients come to therapy because they recognize that they are not living a fulfilling life. They constantly avoid the hard stuff, which takes up too much of their time and energy, our most valuable resources.
I also integrate other treatment modalities, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), into my practice when appropriate. Success in therapy is contingent on developing a solid therapeutic alliance between the client and their therapist. I am fully invested in guiding clients toward a more fulfilling life, whatever that may mean for the clients I work with. I am proud of my work and feel honored when clients trust me to be part of their journey.
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Worry)
Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia
Specific Phobias
Depression
In my practice, I invest most of my clinical time seeing adolescents and adults with feeding and eating disorders and anxiety disorders. In addition, I regularly participate in continuing education to maintain the highest quality care with the most up-to-date research. I am a member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp), the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and the Association for Depression and Anxiety Disorders of America (ADAA). I am also a trained divorce mediator.
I would describe my therapeutic orientation as a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I strongly believe in the behavioral exposure component of CBT and ACT treatment approaches. Furthermore, I am trained in using Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) treatment for adults and adolescents.
These types of treatments typically include completing a functional analysis where the client and therapist collaborate to identify feared consequences, triggers, and counterproductive responses. Clients are then given the opportunity to confront those feared consequences without responding in previously unhelpful ways. This provides clients with the opportunity to gain inhibitory learning and build their self-confidence and competency. Often, clients come to therapy because they recognize that they are not living a fulfilling life. They constantly avoid the hard stuff, which takes up too much of their time and energy, our most valuable resources.
I also integrate other treatment modalities, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), into my practice when appropriate. Success in therapy is contingent on developing a solid therapeutic alliance between the client and their therapist. I am fully invested in guiding clients toward a more fulfilling life, whatever that may mean for the clients I work with. I am proud of my work and feel honored when clients trust me to be part of their journey.
About Me
What are your professional and personal values:
Several of my core values are authenticity, integrity, generosity, adventure, hard work, curiosity, and spirituality. In my opinion, authenticity is one of the most significant gifts you can give yourself and others around you. To be unapologetically real and to let others see you as the most genuine version of yourself is not only connecting but also honest. In a world where it seems like integrity is hard to find, I have found that doing the right thing, even when no one is there to see it, makes a world of difference internally. Generosity is something that I highly value. Giving to those in need is my essential gratitude practice. I am incredibly adventurous and love to travel and explore new cultures and places. Hard work has gotten me far in life and continues to guide my practice. When I see something I initially do not understand, I work hard to understand it better. I enjoy learning new things and being curious about the world around me. Spirituality helps me make sense of those things that don’t quite make sense. Finally, having a strong spiritual relationship with my higher power is the glue that holds me together as a human.
What are some adjectives you would use to describe yourself and why:
I would describe myself as resilient, fiery, humorous, empathetic, and casual. Generally speaking, it is safe to say that if you are a human, you have overcome some pretty challenging obstacles in your life. Being a therapist doesn’t mean you are void of those obstacles. I have a lot of grit, and I am not a sugar-coater. I tend to tell it like it is, but when needed and appropriate, I like to use a little humor to connect and break up the serious moments. I am incredibly empathic, I think it is the art part of this job, and I would describe myself as more of a Monet (see that humor there?). I am casual in my language and dress, so don’t be surprised by the jeans. I enjoy feeling comfortable when sitting across from someone and something I often hear from clients is an appreciation for my willingness to be real with them.
What are some of your favorite self-care activities:
I enjoy traveling, good food, taking my dogs for walks in new places, good coffee, spending time laughing with friends and loved ones, hiking, and friendly competition. I can make a competition out of anything, and I am usually the one to say something like, “hey, I bet I can throw this stone closer to that tree than you can.”
What is your favorite quote/some of your favorite quotes:
Two of my favorite quotes are “I am not here to be right. I am here to get it right”- Brene Brown and “Your brain isn’t your friend”. I would be lying if I said I have any idea who I should credit the second quote to, so in the unlikely chance, you are reading this and upset that you are not getting credit, sorry, and shoot me an email! In all seriousness, the first quote speaks to my soul. When I think of what this quote offers, it reminds me of the importance of truly listening, seeking understanding, and the importance of assimilating new information into beliefs. Clients are the experts of their lived experiences, and my job is to get it right with them. I love the second quote, and if you have ever worked with me, you are probably saying, “yep, Vanessa says that a lot .”It is so true, though! Your brain is not your friend. It is not there to make you feel warm and fuzzy. It is there to identify danger and protect you from it. The more clients understand that their brain is just doing its job and they have to override the danger cues manually, the easier it becomes for them to challenge their danger signals to violate their expectations and develop new beliefs about situations and circumstances.
What’s the most profound, meaningful, or interesting thing you’ve learned or experienced as a mental health professional? Why do you love being a mental health professional:
The most profound and meaningful thing I have learned from being a mental health professional is how courageous people are. It is a humbling experience to have someone sit across from you and trust you enough to be perhaps the only person in this world with whom they can truly be honest and vulnerable. The importance of knowing that your therapist truly is rooting for you can help you face the darkest experiences of your life. I love being a provider because I seriously enjoy those sessions full of reminders of how far clients have come, and the joy of watching clients embark upon their dreams at the end of therapy is priceless. Knowing I left a little thumbprint on their hearts makes it all worth it.
Several of my core values are authenticity, integrity, generosity, adventure, hard work, curiosity, and spirituality. In my opinion, authenticity is one of the most significant gifts you can give yourself and others around you. To be unapologetically real and to let others see you as the most genuine version of yourself is not only connecting but also honest. In a world where it seems like integrity is hard to find, I have found that doing the right thing, even when no one is there to see it, makes a world of difference internally. Generosity is something that I highly value. Giving to those in need is my essential gratitude practice. I am incredibly adventurous and love to travel and explore new cultures and places. Hard work has gotten me far in life and continues to guide my practice. When I see something I initially do not understand, I work hard to understand it better. I enjoy learning new things and being curious about the world around me. Spirituality helps me make sense of those things that don’t quite make sense. Finally, having a strong spiritual relationship with my higher power is the glue that holds me together as a human.
What are some adjectives you would use to describe yourself and why:
I would describe myself as resilient, fiery, humorous, empathetic, and casual. Generally speaking, it is safe to say that if you are a human, you have overcome some pretty challenging obstacles in your life. Being a therapist doesn’t mean you are void of those obstacles. I have a lot of grit, and I am not a sugar-coater. I tend to tell it like it is, but when needed and appropriate, I like to use a little humor to connect and break up the serious moments. I am incredibly empathic, I think it is the art part of this job, and I would describe myself as more of a Monet (see that humor there?). I am casual in my language and dress, so don’t be surprised by the jeans. I enjoy feeling comfortable when sitting across from someone and something I often hear from clients is an appreciation for my willingness to be real with them.
What are some of your favorite self-care activities:
I enjoy traveling, good food, taking my dogs for walks in new places, good coffee, spending time laughing with friends and loved ones, hiking, and friendly competition. I can make a competition out of anything, and I am usually the one to say something like, “hey, I bet I can throw this stone closer to that tree than you can.”
What is your favorite quote/some of your favorite quotes:
Two of my favorite quotes are “I am not here to be right. I am here to get it right”- Brene Brown and “Your brain isn’t your friend”. I would be lying if I said I have any idea who I should credit the second quote to, so in the unlikely chance, you are reading this and upset that you are not getting credit, sorry, and shoot me an email! In all seriousness, the first quote speaks to my soul. When I think of what this quote offers, it reminds me of the importance of truly listening, seeking understanding, and the importance of assimilating new information into beliefs. Clients are the experts of their lived experiences, and my job is to get it right with them. I love the second quote, and if you have ever worked with me, you are probably saying, “yep, Vanessa says that a lot .”It is so true, though! Your brain is not your friend. It is not there to make you feel warm and fuzzy. It is there to identify danger and protect you from it. The more clients understand that their brain is just doing its job and they have to override the danger cues manually, the easier it becomes for them to challenge their danger signals to violate their expectations and develop new beliefs about situations and circumstances.
What’s the most profound, meaningful, or interesting thing you’ve learned or experienced as a mental health professional? Why do you love being a mental health professional:
The most profound and meaningful thing I have learned from being a mental health professional is how courageous people are. It is a humbling experience to have someone sit across from you and trust you enough to be perhaps the only person in this world with whom they can truly be honest and vulnerable. The importance of knowing that your therapist truly is rooting for you can help you face the darkest experiences of your life. I love being a provider because I seriously enjoy those sessions full of reminders of how far clients have come, and the joy of watching clients embark upon their dreams at the end of therapy is priceless. Knowing I left a little thumbprint on their hearts makes it all worth it.
Professional Experience
Professional Memberships:
International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp)
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
Association for Depression and Anxiety Disorders of America (ADAA)
Special Certificates and Trainings:
Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) Certified - Pediatric OCD
Board Certified Telehealth Professional Level II
Divorce Mediation Training Program
Invited Talks:
Eating Disorder Treatment using ERP
ACT, The Nuts and Bolts of Treatment
Eating Disorder Assessment and Treatment 101
Self-Care for Teachers
Eating Disorders and Navigating the Holiday Season
International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp)
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
Association for Depression and Anxiety Disorders of America (ADAA)
Special Certificates and Trainings:
Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) Certified - Pediatric OCD
Board Certified Telehealth Professional Level II
Divorce Mediation Training Program
Invited Talks:
Eating Disorder Treatment using ERP
ACT, The Nuts and Bolts of Treatment
Eating Disorder Assessment and Treatment 101
Self-Care for Teachers
Eating Disorders and Navigating the Holiday Season
Videos
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Enjoy listening and learning while Vanessa Osmer, MA, LCPC, Co-Owner and Clinician at OakHeart Center for Counseling, introduces Intuitive Eating for Love Your Body Week 2020.
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Enjoy listening and learning while Vanessa Osmer, MA, LCPC, Co-Owner and Clinician at OakHeart Center for Counseling, continues discussing the principles of Intuitive Eating for Love Your Body Week 2020.
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Enjoy day three of Love Your Body Week while listening and learning as Vanessa Osmer, MA, LCPC, Co-Owner and Clinician at OakHeart Center for Counseling, shares more principles about Intuitive Eating.
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It is day four of Love Your Body Week! Enjoy listening and learning while Vanessa Osmer, MA, LCPC, Co-Owner and Clinician at OakHeart Center for Counseling, continues talking about Intuitive Eating.
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It is the final day of Love Your Body Week! Enjoy listening and learning while Vanessa Osmer, MA, LCPC, Co-Owner and Clinician at OakHeart Center for Counseling, continues talking about Intuitive Eating.
Vanessa's Blogs:
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Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. While ERP is usually associated with treatment for OCD specifically, the foundations of the treatment itself can apply to several other disorders, including other anxiety disorders and eating disorders. ERP is considered a gold-standard treatment for OCD. It involves asking clients to either trigger or allow obsessions to exist (this part is called exposure). During the exposure, clients are directed to resist pushing the obsessions away and are discouraged from engaging in compulsions or other forms of avoidance (this part is called response prevention). I am sure this sounds hard and scary, and for someone with OCD, it really can be. For this reason, therapists and clients work collaboratively in a safe environment to develop a gradual, systematic approach. Working together helps to increase the chance that clients are successful and have the best chance at learning safety...(to read more, click on the link above).
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When it comes to eating disorder recovery, the holiday season can be a significant stressor. I work with several of my clients in recovery on developing an action plan for their holiday experience, specifically their holiday gatherings that may be triggering for them. When my clients and I discuss planning, we usually write a plan that can be reviewed when emotions are more intense or uncomfortable. Unfortunately, people struggle with accessing these plans from their memory when emotions are high, so I always encourage my clients to write them down or put them in the note section of their phones for easy access...(to read more, click on the link above).
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When you have an eating disorder, learning how to interact and make room for those pesky and uncomfortable internal experiences, such as thoughts and feelings, can be difficult. The eating disorder usually jumps into the "rescue," leaving the person feeling a massive sense of relief, control, and maybe even comfort. The truth is that when someone is chronically "rescued" from their own internal experiences, they lose their sense of self-efficacy, and their tolerance for those uncomfortable thoughts, sensations, and feelings reduces dramatically. Self-efficacy is a person's belief in their own capabilities to navigate situations and perform specific tasks. As you can imagine, if you already have it in your head that you won't be successful or that you can't handle the situation or internal experience, it could be easy to give in to the directives of the eating disorder, earning a huge sigh of relief...(to read more, click on the link above).
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