Vanessa Talley, Phd, Lcsw, cctp-II
Licensed - Safe - Competent
Vanessa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate, Certified Trauma Therapist, Certified Women's Mental Health Specialist, Educator, Consultant, and Founder of Mindful Life Connections, PLLC. Vanessa currently practices in North Carolina and South Carolina. She is also the creator of SOFTNESS™, a healing framework grounded in safety, embodiment, mindfulness, and compassionate care.
Vanessa is an EMDRIA-approved EMDR therapist and has received advanced training informed by Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Therapy, and Internal Family Systems (IFS).
Vanessa earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work and completed a PhD in Holistic Counseling. She is currently completing her Doctorate of Social Work (DSW). Her clinical and scholarly interests include trauma, spirituality, the mind-body connection, mindfulness, and the impact of the Strong Black Woman schema on healing and mental health.
Since 2013, she has gained experience across hospitals, non-profit organizations, community agencies, and private practice settings. She has supported individuals navigating chronic illness, addiction, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. Drawing from more than 20 years of mindfulness and meditation practice, she integrates trauma-informed, somatic, and holistic approaches to healing.
Her work is especially centered on supporting women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals in moving from survival mode toward greater self-connection, resilience, emotional safety, and embodied healing.
Authentic healing begins with the shift from survival and nervous system dysregulation toward embodiment and restoration.
Mindfulness and meditation practitioner
My Mindfulness and Meditative Practice
For over 26 years, I have cultivated a dedicated meditation and mindfulness practice that continues to shape both my personal life and professional work. What began as a path toward inner peace has evolved into a deeply embodied way of being, one rooted in presence, awareness, and compassionate self-connection.
My practice is not separate from my work, it is the foundation of it. Through meditation, I have learned to listen to the body, honor stillness, and create space for healing that is both gentle and transformative. This lived experience informs how I support others in reconnecting with themselves, regulating their nervous systems, and reclaiming softness in a world that often demands otherwise.