Vanessa Bentley
LPC-MHSP
About Vanessa
License #: 3419Folks, I'm a therapist who hates therapy culture. I don't speak psychobabble, and I don't see you through the lens of a diagnosis that needs to be treated. I see you as a human being who needs to be heard and healed. People generally come to see me and the therapists in my practice when they're ready to change and face the root causes of what is keeping them stuck or in pain. I treat your history like the story of your life, because that is, in fact, what it is. Every relationship, decision, and trajectory you've lived is telling the story of who you are, what matters to you, and what you actually value. That is where we start. Then we ask: what is in conflict? What do you value that you have not lived out? What do you truly desire, is that healthy for you, and what has kept you from experiencing it? Then, we tackle the stuck places. The entrenched beliefs. The behavioral habits. The trauma that may need to be processed so that whoever you truly are can emerge. What we're doing is facing reality: what really happened and who you became as a result. That has to be faced. And we're embracing humanity: we're seeing your choices through the lens of being a human being who was trying to meet their own needs every step of the way. You are not a diagnosis. You're a human being. We start there.
My Therapeutic Approach
My approach is mostly described above, but I will add here: in my practice we offer radical compassion, but we will also challenge you. When there are contradictions, we gently, respectfully address them. If the narrative changes, we explore that. When you're not treating yourself with compassion, we will invite back into the human race. When you're in denial (which is normal where there is hardship), we're going to gently try and face the truth with you. We're on YOUR side, we want to see you healed and free. But to do that, we have to face some hard things together. So my approach technically has roots in psychodynamic theory and schema therapy, but at the ground level, I'm skilled at helping other people see themselves accurately, face the feelings that come, and bravely face what it will take to heal.
Who I Help Best
I work best with middle aged adults who have lived a little, lost a little or a lot, learned some lessons the hard way, and have the willingness to do deeper work. Looking at the root cause of mental and emotional distress isn't easy, but if you can face that layer, we'll do amazing work together. I see individuals, couples, and families. If you see yourself through the lens of a diagnosis, we likely won't work well together.
What a First Session Is Like
Your first session with me is 90 minutes. We will go over your paperwork, take a detailed history, and then we're up and running.
Areas of Expertise
Populations Served
Office Location
Therapy Space - Midtown
210 25th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37203
Insurance & Fees
Session Rates
Individual Therapy
$250
per 50-minute session
Couples Therapy
$250
per 50-minute session
Insurance Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanessa specializes in Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Life Transitions, Holistic Therapy, Grief & Loss, PTSD & Trauma, Relationship Issues, Sexual Abuse, Self-Esteem, Christian Counseling. Vanessa works with adults, couples, families.
About Vanessa Bentley, LPC-MHSP
Vanessa Bentley is a licensed therapist (LPC-MHSP, License: 3419) practicing in-person therapy at Therapy Space in Nashville, TN.Vanessa specializes in Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Life Transitions, Holistic Therapy, Grief & Loss, PTSD & Trauma, Relationship Issues, Sexual Abuse, Self-Esteem, Christian Counseling and accepts Self-Pay.Therapy Space provides private, HIPAA-compliant office spaces for mental health professionals.