Vanessa Howson, MSN, PMHNP-BC

PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER

(she/her/honey)

documentary enjoyer, cloud watcher, world traveler

Vanessa grew up in Chicago and began her career in storytelling, earning a bachelor’s degree in Film and Television from Boston University and studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. She spent a decade in New York City working in media, eventually rising to a corporate executive role. But over time, she felt called toward a different kind of story; one centered on healing and human connection.

Her path of self-discovery led her to travel and volunteer abroad, including at a holistic health clinic in Mysore, India. That experience, combined with becoming a mother of two, sparked a profound shift toward healthcare. Vanessa returned to school to earn a second Bachelor degree, this time in Nursing at Wayne State University. She then went on to work for five years as an ICU nurse, supporting patients and families through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnessing both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit deepened her commitment to mental health and inspired her to pursue advanced training. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Michigan to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Vanessa’s approach to care is informed by her rich and varied life experiences as a mother, daughter, former corporate leader, ICU nurse, massage therapist, art educator, and now psychiatric nurse practitioner. She brings both scientific rigor and soulful curiosity to her work, blending the precision of psychiatry with the wisdom of lived experience. Passionate about supporting women and families through life’s many transitions, Vanessa views her work as a collaborative process, one that helps clients uncover their strengths, restore balance, and reconnect with their innate capacity to heal.

Outside of work, you’ll often find Vanessa cheering on her kids from the sidelines, reorganizing a cozy corner of her home, gazing at the sky, or getting lost in a good documentary.

Insurances accepted: BCBS, BCN