About Vanessa Luxen

Vanessa is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) (#20594) and a regulated member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She holds a master’s degree in counselling psychology and completed her internship at MyLife Counselling under the supervision of our Clinical Director Mark Nixon.

Vanessa’s path to psychotherapy grew from years spent working as an audiologist, where she supported both children and their families as well as adults across diverse communities, including time practicing in New Zealand. While she valued the clinical side of that work, she found the deepest fulfillment in listening to her patients’ stories—young and old—and helping them feel understood. That love for meaningful connection is what brought her to the therapy room, where she now combines warmth, curiosity, and practical problem-solving to help clients of all ages move forward.

Children & Youth (5+) – ADHD, Behavioural Issues, School Challenges, Emotional Regulation

If your child is struggling with big emotions, acting out at home, refusing school, having meltdowns, or showing signs of anxiety, anger, or self-harm—you’re not alone, and early support can make a real difference. Vanessa works with children and youth aged 5 and up who are navigating challenges like ADHD, difficulty focusing in class, trouble making or keeping friends, low self-esteem, bullying, social media pressure, and emotional outbursts that leave the whole family feeling stuck.

As a mother of two kids with ADHD, Vanessa understands these struggles from the inside. She builds trust with young clients by stepping into their world—talking about their favourite games, music, and whatever matters most to them—before introducing practical tools grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Her goal is to help your child build skills for managing emotions, navigating peer conflict, communicating their needs, and feeling more confident at home and at school.

Adult ADHD & Neurodivergence

Are you constantly losing track of tasks, missing deadlines, or feeling like you’re falling behind no matter how hard you try? Many adults and post-secondary students living with undiagnosed ADHD or other forms of neurodivergence spend years wondering why everyday things—staying organized, finishing projects, managing time, keeping up at work or getting through lectures and assignments—feel so much harder for them than for everyone else. Whether you’re a student struggling to focus during class, pulling all-nighters because you can’t start anything until the last minute, or a working professional who feels buried under responsibilities you can’t seem to manage, the result is often a cycle of overwhelm, procrastination, shame, and a quiet belief that you’re somehow failing at life.

Vanessa brings both professional training and personal experience to this work. As a person whose husband is diagnosed with ADHD, she understands the ripple effects of neurodivergence on confidence, relationships, and daily functioning. Using CBT and a strengths-based approach, she helps clients understand how their brain works, develop strategies that actually fit their lives, and begin replacing self-criticism with self-understanding.

Midlife Challenges, Parenting, Burnout

If you’re caught between caring for your kids, managing your career, supporting aging parents, and wondering when you lost yourself somewhere along the way—Vanessa gets it. The middle years often bring a perfect storm of burnout, exhaustion, loss of motivation, relationship strain, financial stress, and physical changes like perimenopause, chronic pain, or sleep disruption. You might find yourself Googling “why am I so tired all the time” or “how to cope with feeling overwhelmed” because something just doesn’t feel right anymore.

Vanessa has navigated her own journey through chronic pain, anxiety, parenting teenagers, and the transitions that come with midlife. She uses a person-centred, strengths-based approach to help you identify what’s still working, rebuild energy around what matters most, and find your way back to a sense of purpose and joy—even when life feels relentlessly demanding.

Personal Background

Vanessa is deeply rooted in the Guelph community, where she lives with her husband of 19 years, two teenagers, and their goldendoodle, Bowie. She is a proud 2SLGBTQIA+ ally and is committed to creating a safe, affirming space for all clients. She’s also a dedicated volunteer—creating art with kids at Hillside Festival, supporting Hope House events, and helping organize gatherings for the Exhibition Park Neighbourhood Group. During the early days of the pandemic, she sewed over 350 masks for the Guelph Mask Squad. A unique highlight of her life was being selected as an Olympic torch runner for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games—an experience that deepened her belief in the power of the human spirit.

Email: vanessa.luxen@mylifecounselling.ca
Phone: 1-800-828-9484 (ext. 145)