The Positive Directions Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that Vanessa Wilson, MA, LMFT has joined the organization as Executive Director, effective July 6, 2021.
Vanessa brings a wealth of experience as a clinician and manager after ten years of work at YWCA Greenwich, Domestic Abuse Services, where most recently she was the Manager of Operations. In that role, Vanessa managed a team of professional counselors and ensured seamless delivery of high-quality services to victim-survivors of domestic violence. Vanessa holds an MA from Fairfield University and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist trained in several models of family therapy such as structural, strategic, narrative and solution-focused.
Gail Kelly, Positive Directions’ newly elected Board President, notes that “Vanessa’s background in mental health and domestic violence has helped shape her trauma-informed leadership style. We are thrilled that she will bring her expertise and collaborative leadership skills to our agency. She will lead our dedicated and experienced clinical and prevention teams as they fulfill our mission of providing comprehensive behavioral healthcare, treatment for addictive behaviors, and prevention leadership with the goal of improving the lives and mental health of individuals and families.”
Vanessa is happy to be joining Positive Directions at this critical time. “The past 18 months has dramatically demonstrated the tremendous need for accessible and comprehensive mental health care. More than ever Positive Directions’ services are essential, and I look forward to helping the agency further meet the needs in our community. Whether through individual counseling services or through partnerships and collaborations with other members of the community, I’m excited to be part of this caring agency, dedicated to ensuring that individuals and families have the support, skills and resources they need to lead healthy lives. I look forward to meeting our community partners, donors and clients in the days ahead.”
Please join us in welcoming Vanessa to our community! You can reach her at vwilson@positivedirections.org or 203-227-7644 extension 823.