Meet DR. Vanessa Persaud
My Approach
I believe that everyone's story and experience is unique. My goal is to allow you to openly share your stressors, gain awareness, and assist you in building the confidence to find the solutions to your struggles. I will work with you to explore your thought process and emotional patterns by using a series of techniques from various approaches. I will, also, create a secure atmosphere where you will feel appreciated and will obtain the highest quality of care while working towards achieving emotional independence.
Specialties and Expertise
Top Specialties
- Grief
- Trauma and PTSD
- Addiction
- Faith based (Christian) counseling
Expertise
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Behavioral Issues
- Career Counseling
- Child
- Coping Skills
- Counseling Students, Therapists, Permit Holders
- Depression
- Geriatric and Seniors
- Indo-Guyanese and South Asian population
- Life Transitions
- Marital and Premarital
- Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
- Peer Relationships
- Relationship Issues
- Self Esteem
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Substance Use
- Thinking Disorders
Previous Experience
While working in the psychiatric unit and outpatient settings, she has observed and worked alongside many counselors who struggle to understand and accept the norms associated with minority ethnicities like the Indo-Guyanese culture. This usually leads to clients of this ethnic background leaving counseling services prematurely. For this reason, Vanessa has expanded her counseling services specifically for minority cultures such as the Indo-Guyanese and East Indian populations dealing with death, bereavement, adjustment issues, and other life struggles related to these cultural norms but may feel misunderstood by clinicians who do not identify with these cultures in the counseling field.
Background
Dr. Persaud is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. She also has her certification in alcohol and substance abuse counseling, trauma counseling, and grief counseling. She is a multicultural counselor who seeks to enjoy creating positive relationships for individuals struggling with life stressors, adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety, grief, eating disorders, and trauma. Vanessa aids individuals struggling with burnout, self-care, and wellness-related issues. She also assists adults in dealing with addictive behaviors by teaching them how to avoid triggers and prevent relapse.
Counselors-In-Training
Additionally, Vanessa has worked very closely with counselors-in-training and has experience in coaching and providing supervision and support to counseling students. She aids counseling students and permit holders in minimizing their anxiety about working in the counseling field, decreasing fear and uncertainty, minimize stress over preparing for the NCMHCE and NCE exam and increase awareness in self-care within a counselor-in-training's personal and professional life.
Work with Substance Issues
As a clinician, Vanessa's goal is to support her clients in reaching sobriety and reaching their full potential while under her care. She works primarily with adults (18 years and older) helping them cope with stressful events in their lives. In therapy, she will work with clients to explore their thought processes and emotional patterns by using a series of techniques from various approaches. This can include cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and/or motivational interviewing approaches. Vanessa will create a safeatmosphere where clients will feel cared for and will obtain the highest quality of care. This includes being respectful, sincere, and compassionate in each client's struggles to achieve emotional independence.
Academic Training
St. John's University, Queens, NY
M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2015
Capella University, Minnesota, MN
Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision, 2022
Teaching Experience
St. John's University
Molloy College
Thomas University
Research
- Grief and bereavement issues among counselors and counselor educators
- When grieving clients of Indo-Guyanese descent seek counseling: Recommendations for counselors in the clinical setting
- Between avoidance & problem-solving: Resilience, efficacy and social support-seeking
Languages Spoken
English
Counseling Books
I wrote a book!
I wrote a faith based book for grieving children.
How Jesus Helped Me With My Grief
By Dr. Persaud, PhD
How Jesus Helped Me with My Grief is a tool that can be used to give a sense of hope to those grieving the loss of a loved one. It explains challenges that children may face, think, and encounter while trying to process a loss in their lives. This awesome simple read can be used as a form of bibliotherapy for those who are struggling with death and loss that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This book is based on a true story of a little girl grieving the loss of her father. It can be used as a reminder to teach children how to lean on God in the darkest of times.
Pick up your copy today.
Available for purchasing on iTunes, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.
Click below to buy the book!
