Los Angeles, California, United States
Vanessa Blackstone, ACSW, is a leader in chronic pain recovery and the executive director of the Pain Psychology Center, where she oversees a team of 45 clinicians dedicated to transforming pain through Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT). As co-author of The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook, an interactive guide to overcoming chronic symptoms, Vanessa’s work has reached countless individuals seeking recovery beyond traditional pain management. With a strong commitment to advancing education, Vanessa has trained hundreds of providers in pain recovery techniques and led workshops, summits, and conferences on PRT and mind-body approaches. Her leadership centers on cultivating a culture of growth, accountability, and collaboration, ensuring that each clinician at PPC is empowered to support clients with innovative and effective recovery methods. An early practitioner of Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Vanessa combines her extensive expertise with a deeply empathetic approach rooted in her personal recovery journey. She remains dedicated to advancing PRT through her thought leadership and her work in training, educating, and inspiring clinicians across the field. Vanessa’s expertise and passion for mind-body healing are rooted in her personal experience with chronic pain, adding depth to her role as an educator and mentor. She continues to influence the field through her thought leadership, training programs, and commitment to advancing effective treatment for pain-related symptoms.
Train and provide consultation to physicians, clinicians, and coaches on the application and approach of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT).
Provide onset wellness mental health support, coaching, and advocacy to cast and crew on set for television and film.
-Openly share personal experiences with the foster care system with a variety of audiences -Actively engage in educating the community on issues related to foster youth -Eagerly mentor other current and former foster youth
"To enhance the well-being of children and families in partnership with our community." -Routinely facilitate life skill development with current participants in transitional housing programs -Actively support current and former foster youth by building their self advocacy skills -Regularly speak to other community partners regarding services provided for current and former foster youth
- Works as a part of USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work's implementation of a county-wide needs assessment of youth experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. - Report to Youth Count Administrator and Demographic Count Administrator. Schedule and coordinate youth homeless count planning meetings in specific regions of Los Angeles. - Adhere to established study protocols in order to identify and interview individuals experiencing homelessness. - Complete all associated study data collection that is complete and accurate.
Mentor to an undergraduate student in the First-Generation Mentorship Program.