Based in Austin, TX. I am a bilingual native Texan who believes in the power of healing.
Thank you for taking a leap and making the choice to be on a journey of learning to love yourself just the way you are.
Education
I received my Bachelors in Social Work at Texas Christian University in 2007 and my Masters in Social Work at the University of Houston in 2009.
Professional
Colors of Austin Counseling CEO and Founder Vanessa Newton is on a mission to change the mental health landscape.
A first generation Latina and Entrepreneur, Vanessa has worked in the field of social work for 10+ years, founding Colors of Austin Counseling (2018), the therapist coaching and support organization Brave & Well (2019) and the school-based mental health web tool SocialNote (2015). She has spent over a decade working with teens, survivors of trauma, LatinX women and communities of culture. She has worked as both a school social worker and a medical social worker at Dell Children's Medical Center and Children's Memorial Hermann in Houston, working in the Pediatric ICU with children and families dealing with chronic illnesses. Her training in EMDR and the curriculum of Brené Brown has helped transform the way clients heal.
Vanessa believes in removing barriers of access to mental health treatment for all and finding ways to uplift future generations of therapists so that together we can decolonize the mental health space. Whether it be through the direct provision of mental health services, bolstering and helping grow the practices of younger therapists or creating tools that help support the work of her fellow practitioners, Vanessa is committed to fundamentally transforming how we think about, practice and experience mental health.
Approach to Therapy
The services I provide are highly relational, honest and real. My clients learn to sit in the dark in order to be able to see the light. My work is based on The Daring Way™ curriculum written by Brené Brown and I am a Certified Daring Way Facilitator. I have a passion for working with adults, especially entrepreneurs and millennials, adolescents and women of color. The work I do with clients has helped me navigate some of the darkest times in my life which is why I am devoted to sharing it with the world.
By working with me, you will be able to identify those things that are keeping you from showing up and letting yourself be seen every single day. You will discover how to live an authentic, wholehearted life and believe that you are worthy of love and belonging.