Our Mission
We are dedicated to educating and empowering youth, families and individuals through high-quality comprehensive counseling services, substance abuse treatment options and the promotion of behavioral health awareness and community collaboration and partnership.
Providing holistic care for families, youth, and individuals
Extensive Prevention Intervention Counseling Services (EPICS) is a professional counseling practice that strives to promote personal goal attainment through our holistic counseling approach. Our team helps families, youth and individuals build on existing strengths to expand problem-solving skills, develop coping and conflict resolution mechanisms and improve relationships to decrease the impact of behavioral health challenges and substance-related disorders.
Therapeutic Approaches
Our experienced and qualified team recognizes that people need and respond to different therapeutic interventions and approaches, and our evidence-based treatment is tailored to meet the needs of each client.
- Solution-focused therapy
- Motivational enhancement therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Person-centered therapy
- Reality therapy
- Rational emotive behavioral therapy
Meet Our Team
At EPICS, our experienced team consists of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), licensed clinical social workers, certified anger management specialists, Men's Domestic Violence Facilitator, and more. Our qualified group of professionals collaborate and partner with community organizations and businesses to help youth, adults, and families become more productive citizens in their communities.
Vanessa Cox, MA, LPC, CAADC
Founder & CEO
Vanessa Cox is the Founder and CEO of EPICS Counseling Services LLC, a professional counseling practice, and the Founder and Board President of EPICS J. R. Foundation. The driving force behind her lifework has been a personal mission to live with integrity and make a difference in the lives of others.
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LaDawna Alford Thomas, LMSW
Office Manager
Petty Larceny & Victim Impact Panel Facilitator
LaDawna Alford Thomas is a licensed master social worker and native of St Louis. She previously served as a case manager for St. Louis Caring Communities; Deputy Juvenile Officer with St. Louis County Family Court; Director of the Independent Living Apartment Program and more.
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Chris Elliott, LCSW
Men's Domestic Violence Facilitator
Chris Elliott, LCSW earned both his bachelor's and master's of social work from Saint Louis University. After graduate school, he was selected to participate in the highly competitive Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, where he learned the value of cultivating positive relationships.
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Colette Crawley, MPS, MSW
Consultant & Coach
Facilitator & Trainer
Colette Crawley is committed to public service. For more than 30 years she has worked with children and families through child welfare, social services and non-profit agencies and school systems. Her passion for making a difference in the lives of others has guided her professional journey on a path to making service provisions in the states of Missouri, Washington, Virginia and Tennessee, where she currently serves as director for one of Tennessee’s state departments.
Read MoreBeyond EPICS
Connecting Our Community with Valuable Resources
At EPICS, we seek to go beyond our mission to provide comprehensive counseling services and substance abuse treatment options by increasing access to these resources. Through our foundation and community support funds, we strive to connect underserved community members with opportunities to receive mental and behavioral health services.
REAL TALK TIME: A FORUM FOR MEN & WOMEN
EPICS J.R. FOUNDATION
The EPICS J. R. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization established to support underserved youth, adults and families in need. Through your support, they are granted opportunities to receive reduced rates for mental health counseling services, including domestic violence education/support groups; alcohol and drug education; anger management; and individual, group and family therapy.
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND
Our team is committed to making a difference in the community. Throughout the year, we accept donations for supporting families who are in need. Your support enables us to provide extensive intervention and professional therapy services on a sliding scale basis.
THE HUSTON MARTIN FUND
In memoriam of Huston Martin, our beloved staff member, co-worker and friend, EPICS J.R. Foundation established “The Huston Martin Fund” to help supplement the cost for those participating in our Batterer’s Intervention Program and provide individual counseling services at an affordable cost.