Vanessa Clark, MSW, LCSW
Owner

Loss comes in many forms, and grief events can create sustained feelings of sadness, anxiety, and pressure to do it the way society tells us to. Grief is not “one size fits all.”

After growing up as a 5th generation Montanan, Vanessa felt the pull of combining her intimate knowledge of life and loss from a rural background in Montana with her innate desire to help others.

Her passion led her to the University of North Dakota, where she earned her Masters of Social Work. This accomplishment is accompanied by a Masters of Science in Public Relations with an emphasis on Health Communications.

“I offer all of my clients a safe, judgement-free space to take emotional inventory - to experience, process, and release. I am influenced by multiple approaches, including strengths-based, person-centered, narrative, CBT, acceptance, motivational, and others.

I would very much appreciate the opportunity to learn more about you and your goals and visit about how we can work together to achieve positive growth, benefit, and healing.”

  • Certifications and experience include:

    • Advanced Social Worker in Gerontology

    • Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker

    • 7+ years of Hospice experience

    • 5+ years of experience working at Career Transitions as a work experience placement and intake coordinator for TANF WoRC program

    • Experience with teens and adolescents

    Visit my Psychology Today profile HERE.

  • Grief and Loss, Medical Illness, Life Transitions, Caregiver Stress and Fatigue, Elderly Persons Disorders, Depression and Anxiety.

Donna Gardner, MSW, LCSW
Collaborator

Donna Gardner

I am a licensed clinical social worker/therapist specializing in grief and loss, caregiver stress and fatigue, chronic illness, relationship issues, and work/school stressors. My goal is to provide emotional support and compassion to help my clients regain hope, security, connections and trust. I provide a warm, trusting, nonjudgmental atmosphere where my clients can feel safe to share, be heard, and feel accepted.

In addition, I work collaboratively with individuals to help them focus on their values and realize their strengths, practice kindness and self-compassion, and develop a path to meaningful change.

I feel honored in my work to share in the stories of others, as I am continually reminded of the strength and resilience of humanity. I truly believe we all have the strength within ourselves to heal emotionally. Whatever the reasons for seeking help, I greet clients with warmth, authenticity, and compassion as we work together in their process.

  • Certifications and experience include:

    • License: State of Montana

    • Attended Denver University, MSW, Graduated 1990

    Visit my Psychology Today profile HERE.

  • Anxiety, Caregiver Stress, Chronic Illness, Coping Skills, Dementia, Depression, Grief, Life Transitions, Relationship Issues, School Issues, Self Esteem

Accepted Insurance

Aetna, Allegiance, BlueCross and Blueshield, CHIP Children’s Program, Cigna, Humana, Medicaid, Medicare, Optum, PacificSource, UnitedHealthcare, Out of Network.

Why Dandelions?

Early in her career, Vanessa a lesson on resiliency from a hospice patient who used to weed dandelions in her yard every summer morning and night. The dandelions always grew back, and the patient never faltered in her attention to them until she moved into a facility. That patient was incredibly loving and gave the warmest hugs. Her beautiful strength and determination to honor others was something this patient carried always, beyond her significant history of trauma and well into her end of life decline. Vanessa likes to think she sees this patient's resilience in every dandelion she comes across and feels a strong alignment with the strength and resiliency of every client she has the honor of working with.