Vanessa Reina

Vanessa Reina (They/She) is a licensed social worker in New Jersey and New York. She has over 4 years of experience working with BIPOC adolescents and young adults in both therapeutic and community-based settings. They started with Team Wilderness as a junior hiking guide looking to gain more experience working with youth in wilderness settings in 2021; inspired by personal experiences with their own mental health and nature. They eventually went on to create and kickstart our North Star Project in 2023, a free therapeutic nature informed counseling program for youth in Hudson County, New Jersey. Vanessa's goal is to provide a safe and courageous space for youth to connect with one another, themselves, and nature. They constantly seek to uplift their autonomy, freedom of choice, and consent while maintaining a trauma-informed approach. Therapeutic interventions that inform Vanessa's work with youth include: Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, DBT Skills, CBT, and ACT.

Vanessa is certified in Wilderness First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Adult/Child CPR & AED, Advanced First Aid. She has also taken trainings in QPR, Foundations of Wilderness Therapy, and SEL informed Yoga. Vanessa received their Bachelors degree in Communication from Rutgers University - New Brunswick and their Masters from New York University Silver School of Social Work.