Trauma therapy intensives in Lancaster, PA. Clients travel from Philadelphia PA, Pittsburgh PA, Baltimore MD, Washington DC, Northern Virginia VA, New York NY, and nationwide.
Vanessa Simmons, LPC, SEP
Trauma-informed, body-centered therapy for thoughtful, high-functioning adults carrying relational and attachment patterns that remain despite insight or prior therapy.
Warm, patient, and body-centered in her approach.
Vanessa works with thoughtful, high-functioning adults carrying relational and attachment patterns that remain despite insight or prior therapy. She integrates mind and body approaches to support deep exploration of relational anxiety and trauma.
Some patterns require extended time to explore fully. Intensives provide space for continuous, focused sessions without the interruption of the weekly format, deep exploration that doesn't have to stop when the hour ends, and integration of nervous system and relational learning in real time.
- MS in Clinical Psychology, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Pennsylvania
- EMDR Certified Therapist, EMDRIA
- EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), Somatic Experiencing International
- Registered Play Therapist (RPT), Association for Play Therapy
- Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator
- Deep Brain Reorienting, Levels 1 and 2
- EMDR Sandtray Specialist Intensive Program, AGATE Institute
- Foundational and advanced sand therapy trainings
- Internal Family Systems Therapy, IFS Institute, Level 1
- Interpersonal Neurobiology, Mindsight Institute (36 hours)
- Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapists, Modules 1-3 (Kathy L. Kain, PhD)
- Filial Therapy Intensive Training (Dr. Rise VanFleet)
- Intensive Trauma-Focused Therapy Training, Trauma Institute and Child Trauma Institute
- Trauma-Informed Care, Drexel University College of Medicine (50 hours)
This site doesn't feature client testimonials. That's not a gap; it's intentional.
The APA, ACA, NASW, and AAMFT all prohibit licensed clinicians from soliciting testimonials from clients, specifically because of the power differential inherent in the therapeutic relationship. Clients are in a vulnerable position, and asking them to provide marketing material creates an implicit pressure that the profession has determined is incompatible with ethical practice.
What you'll find here instead: transparent information about credentials, training, approach, process, and pricing, and a consultation call where you can ask anything you want directly.
- Licensure verification through Pennsylvania's state licensing board
- EMDRIA certification, verifiable at emdria.org
- The consultation call itself, how the conversation feels, what questions get asked, whether the approach makes sense for what you're carrying
Curious about the intensive format? See what a Trauma Reprocessing Intensive includes. Traveling from out of state? See the Visiting Lancaster guide.
People who are thoughtful, self-aware, and ready for something different.
A significant portion of the people who come here are themselves therapists, counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Doing personal work outside your professional network, with someone who understands the clinical and relational dynamics involved, is both ethically appropriate and clinically wise.
Vicarious trauma and the particular pressures of the helping professions are well understood here, and the work is held with corresponding discretion.
Vanessa takes readiness seriously. Not every person is ready for every kind of work at every point in time. Part of her job in the consultation call is to assess what the nervous system can actually tolerate and integrate. If the intensive format isn't the right fit at this time, she will say so directly and help you think through what might serve you better.