Vanessa, a Certified Child Life Specialist, Board Certified, Registered and Licensed Art Therapist, and Registered Play Therapist, has over 15 years working in the field. Vanessa is currently the Director of Child Life, Recreation and Volunteers at Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center in New York where she utilizes her experience to help residents and families navigate their medical journey. When working with families and children, Vanessa uses her expertise in trauma-informed and family-centered care to focus on family strengths while building resilience. Vanessa has had extensive experience helping families navigate grief, loss, trauma, and coping and is the founder and owner of her private practice, Imagine Me Shine, where she sees clients weekly. Vanessa is also the current Treasurer for Child Life of Greater New York as well as an adjunct professor at Bank Street College of Education. She enjoys teaching immensely as it keeps her current in the field and allows her to help students navigate their path to becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist.