Vanessa Sanford is a bilingual and bi-cultural therapist who has 10 years experience working with families in crisis.  Mrs. Sanford was awarded the 2007 Texas Mental Health Professional of the Year for Child Advocacy Center's of Texas. Vanessa graduated with her Master's of Science in Rehabilitations Counseling from the University of North Texas.  Vanessa is licensed professional counselor currently working with victims of child abuse and their families through play therapy, individual, group, and family therapy at the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. Vanessa is also the chair for the Dallas County Drug Endangered Children Alliance, as well as on the Steering Committee and a Regional Team member of the Texas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. Vanessa previously worked as a Children's Counselor at the Betty Ford Five Star Kids program working with kids who are affected by their parent's addiction to drugs and/or alcohol.  Vanessa has experience working with Parkland Oncology Unit as well as the Dallas Independent School District Youth and Family Centers Special Education students and their families. Mrs. Sanford also worked as a Milieu Therapist at Children's Medical Center Inpatient Psychiatric Unit specializing in working with eating disorders, emotional disturbance, and autism. Mrs. Sanford also was involved in research studies at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School involving high-risk adolescents. 

Mrs. Sanford has spoken locally, statewide, and nationally on topics such as Drug Endangered Children, Keeping your Kids Safe, Expert Testimony for Therapists, Animal Assisted Therapy, Therapeutic Interventions for Traumatized Children, Children of Alcoholics/Addicts and Sexual abuse.