About Breyta Psychological Services
At Breyta, we create a unique fusion of heart and science that is grounded in the acknowledgement that all trauma, no matter its form, impacts not only individual lives, but society at large. By balancing clinical intervention with compassion and connection, we act as a lighthouse for all who are lost or stranded in the tides of trauma.
Trauma-Informed Care for Every Stage of Wellness
According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, “Trauma is a near universal experience of individuals with behavioral health problems.” Trauma is incredibly pervasive in our society. Nearly 90% of American adults will experience a traumatic event in their lives. There is a high likelihood that you will experience some form of trauma in your lifetime. Individuals are impacted by trauma in different ways, but there is always an impact. Working with a trauma-informed psychologist increases the likelihood that you will receive the right type of care for your needs.
Moreover, trauma-informed care means that you can rest assured that your provider will be able to recognize what has been traumatic for you and can put any difficulties you are facing into this very important context. Often if you work with a provider who does not have the necessary expertise in trauma and PTSD, common post-traumatic behaviors can be unfairly pathologized and met with the question “what’s wrong with you?”. Trauma-informed care providers are able to ask the very important question of “what happened to you?”. This changes the whole dynamic of how you relate to yourself and your problems.
We believe that healing is relational. The wounds we carry—whether from childhood, trauma, or painful life experiences—often take shape in the context of our relationships. That means the right kind of relationship—one built on trust, safety, and genuine connection—can be the foundation for healing.
Trauma is trauma. There’s no ranking, no measuring stick, no need to compare. If you’re struggling, it matters—period. There’s no such thing as “not traumatic enough.” Trauma isn’t defined by how it looks from the outside—it’s defined by how it reshapes your world. Some wounds come from a singular, life-altering event. Others are woven into the fabric of your upbringing—slow, steady, and insidious, making you question what’s normal, what’s safe, and whether your needs matter. We know that healing isn’t about justification—it’s about recognition. If something has left you feeling broken, lost, or stuck, it’s worth addressing. You don’t have to minimize it, and you don’t have to face it alone.
We see you as a whole person, in context—your story, your past, your pain, and your resilience. There’s a reason why this is so hard. There’s a reason why you’re struggling. But there’s also a path forward. Change is possible. At Breyta, our role is to help you move toward the change you want to see. Whether that means breaking free from patterns that no longer serve you, reshaping your beliefs, or processing experiences that still weigh on you, we’re here to guide and support you through the process.
And it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
We adhere to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) best practices for Trauma-Informed Care:
The Four Trauma-Informed Assumptions
Realizing the widespread impact of trauma and understanding potential paths for recovery
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system
Responding by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices
Resisting re-traumatization
Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
Safety
Trustworthiness & Transparency
Peer Support
Collaboration & Mutuality
Empowerment, Voice, & Choice
Cultural, Historical, & Gender Issues
Want to learn more about
our mental health services?
Our approach generates great results.
Trauma-Informed Care
Our every interaction comes from the sensitivity of a trauma-informed lens. Rather than asking, “What’s wrong with you?” we want to know, “What happened to you?” so we can address the source of your pain and help you heal.
Process-Based Psychotherapy
We gain a comprehensive understanding of what makes you who you are and what is keeping you stuck. We then develop a tailored plan of evidence-based approaches to foster meaningful change.
Commitment to Continued Education
Our team of doctoral-level psychologists never stop learning. We are dedicated to ensuring we’re always informed of the latest developments in the field, providing you with the most effective therapeutic methods.
Client-Centric Practice
Our client-centric approach places you at the center of your care. Our therapy is personalized and evolves with you as you heal and grow throughout treatment. We want to help you live better, not just feel better; creating lasting change that you can trust.
Our Mission & Vision
Trauma is ubiquitous in the experience of human suffering. Whether we realize it or not, we all experience it, as it is woven into our shared human experience and can be passed down through generations. The ripples of trauma are often more far-reaching than the experience itself, affecting everything from how we relate to others to our ability to experience joy. Our emotional well-being is deeply linked to the people, communities, and systems around us. True healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it’s shaped by the way we engage with the world and the way the world engages with us.
The inevitability that we will all likely experience some form of trauma in our lives demands specialized care. At Breyta, we acknowledge the impact of trauma on the individual and society, and we work to heal its effects. We provide evidence-based care to our clients, educational opportunities to providers and the community, and strive to increase awareness of trauma-related mental health issues, reducing shame and stigmas and creating the waves of change we hope to see in the world.
The authenticity of our proprietary approach has echoes throughout our region. Breyta has been at the forefront of the field long before trauma-informed care became popular. Our psychologists are more than just trauma-informed – we are true trauma specialists highly trained in trauma-specific care. We take great pride in our history of quietly shaping the field with intention, integrity, and clinical excellence. Breyta is the first and most established private trauma specialty clinic in North Carolina. You can see our influence woven into the fabric of trauma-informed care from the mountains to the sea of NC. In training and mentorship of many providers over the years, Breyta has made long standing contributions to the evolving conversation around trauma; setting the standard that others now follow. If you see similar verbiage or approaches in the community, it’s probably because they started here. With Breyta, you are getting the source – where we pioneer a fusion of heart and science, basing our expertise on depth, not just credentials.
Furthermore, we deeply care about the citizens and communities of North Carolina. We are not a faceless giant corporation backed by venture capital that only offers telehealth. We are clinician owned and led. We live here. We care about our neighbors. The work we do is foundational in directly improving the lives of our fellow North Carolinians, their families, and their causes.
We know the waves of life will knock us all down at some point. Healing is about illuminating the immeasurable propensity of the human spirit for resilience and flourishing in spite of them. We help you rediscover the aspects of yourself that trauma attempted to drown out, we don’t just treat the symptoms. Your ability to rise—anchored, whole, and fully present—is something we believe in. Instead of hurrying to shore, this work teaches you to trust the current, move with the tides, and intentionally regain your strength. You are not drifting if you have found your way here. You’re arriving. And it is a privilege for us to accompany you as you forge your own route to more tranquil waters.
Meet the founder
Vanessa H. Roddenberry, Ph.D., HSP-P
Licensed Psychologist, Executive Director
Vanessa Handsel Roddenberry, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and founder of Breyta Psychological Services. She offers third wave Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and psychological assessment to help individuals and couples discover lasting and meaningful change. She is skilled in treating a wide range of clinical problems and disorders, such as depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, family-of-origin issues, and interpersonal or relationship issues.
Dr. Roddenberry is a trauma specialist and excels in treating all forms of trauma and PTSD. She has worked with many types of trauma survivors from combat veterans and first responders to survivors of interpersonal violence and survivors of childhood trauma. Her hope and vision is to heal those who have suffered traumatic experiences of all kinds, and to bring greater awareness to the reality and effects of trauma, creating positive change in our world, one ripple at a time.
Meet Our Team of Trauma-Informed Therapists
Experience the union between heart and science with our compassionate doctoral-level psychologists. Our deeply caring team of specialized trauma-informed mental health professionals in Raleigh have the passion and the knowledge to help you process through your pain and create meaningful change.
