Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa McElreath.
Hi Vanessa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’d say my draw to service began as a kid. My parents did foster care and had a total of 24 kids during my childhood. At a young age I was privy to the harsh realities of the world and it helped foster both empathy and an awareness of how much pain there was in the world. I became a therapist in my 20’s after experiencing therapy for myself and seeing the value. I signed up to be a volunteer with the Red Cross in 2017 to help with hurricane Irma, that experience helped me connect with a part of myself I hadn’t yet met, my “calm and clear in a crisis” part and I was instantly hooked. Thus began my career with disaster and crisis response. Soon after, I began responding to mass casualties both with the red cross and other organizations which continues to be a role that means a lot to me. Working with some of our countries most vulnerable people, whether in a shelter or after a crisis, is, I’d say, what my life has called me to do. It gives me tremendous meaning and purpose and getting to love others in this way makes me a better human too.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In some ways it’s been rough. Being able to do this work with the Red Cross matters a great deal to me and it can be difficult to do as a single mom of three kids. When I respond to a disaster or mass casualty I go for a few weeks as a volunteer which means finding a place for my kids to hang and losing out on pay from my clients in private practice. I’ve made it work though! I have a great community of friends who help us out and my kids and clients are also happy to share me with disaster/crisis victims, they feel grateful to be “doing their part” in this way 🙂
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Vanessa McElreath Psychotherapy (my private practice) and Regional Disaster Mental Health Lead for the Red Cross?
I’m a part of an awesome private practice in east Nashville called Sessions Psychology. I work with organizations after a crisis/death/layoff/disaster to help them process the event and transition back to work. I’m also the Disaster Mental Health lead for TN with the Red Cross. I get called in to respond to mass casualty’s with the Red Cross doing disaster mental health either with victims and their families,, first responders, law enforcement, other Red Cross staff and volunteers. I have found that people often don’t understand how I’m able to show up and support others in horrific tragedies and honestly, I don’t really know how I’m able to. I do think it has something to do with my childhood and being close to suffering and pain with my foster brothers and sisters, but it might also just be who I am. I don’t have a brand but I’m proud that I keep listening to my heart and the ways it calls me to serve and love and proud that I’ve, somehow still been able to show up for my kids and our little single parent family.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Pain and suffering doesn’t discriminate, it is a great equalizer. It has the power to pull apart but also has the power to bring together. When so much can feel hopeless in the world, watching humanity show up with courage, resilience, vulnerability and community is sometimes the only thing tethering us to hope.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sessionspsychology.com
