Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Vann, MA, LPCS.
Hi Lori, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
From a young age, I realized I had a natural ability to listen, understand, and support others – even in elementary school, my peers would come to me with their problems. This early exposure sparked a genuine interest that grew steadily throughout my life. By junior high, I was already leaning towards the counseling field. I wanted to be a counselor. As I took psychology classes in high school and continued with volunteer work, the desire to become a counselor grew.
Having attended Pepperdine University, I was provided with numerous opportunities to serve the community through volunteer work or class assignments at the local state hospital. For graduate school, I attended Chapman University and served those with limited financial means in their counseling clinic. These experiences continued to reinforce that I had chosen a field that felt natural and for which I excelled in.
After graduation, I returned to Texas and started my career. I have worked in non-profits, psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient clinics, served as a professor for two colleges, and have been full-time in my own private practice for 18 years.
My passion is turning the tide on self-injury. I have been privileged to be called by my professional peers “the Guru” and an “authority” on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury. I first started to work and research this behavior that has a 60%+ correlation with suicide over twentyfive years ago, and since then, I have written four books on the topic, created the Self-Injury Prevention & Intervention Program (SIPIP), and founded the Institute for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury. It provides the only exclusively self-injury groups for teens in Texas at Vann Wellness Group in Coppell. I also have online coaching groups that are national for women who self-injure and for the caregivers of those who self-harm.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is no such thing as a smooth road for entrepreneurs. Going into business for yourself is risky. There are no guarantees of success. It is not a 9-to-5 job, and you will work harder and longer hours for yourself than you ever did for an employer. Part of “risk” is investing in your business. Truthfully, there are many things that I tried that did not work out, and it cost me time and money. However, instead of being bitter or afraid to try again, I have learned to frame those as learning opportunities that I can then pass on to my coaching clients. Speaking of coaching, some would see that as a risk. I would counter that it depends on who you hire as a coach. I have had some great coaches, as well as some that were not worth the funds I paid them. Benjamin Franklin said that “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” and when you see your life or business decisions as opportunities to invest, then that helps minimize the risk.
As you know, we’re big fans of Institute for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our Mission Statement: An Institute dedicated to serving the community by providing easily understood and up-to-date information about NSSI, implementable & proven techniques to treat the behavior, and awareness to stop the stigma by starting conversations & providing resources.
The Institute for NSSI is a dedicated organization focused on providing specialized knowledge, support, and education around non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Our mission is to fill a critical gap in mental health care where this deeply misunderstood behavior is often overlooked or stigmatized. We specialize in trauma-informed, compassionate approaches that empower those affected, whether individuals, families, or professionals working in mental health-to better understand and address NSSI effectively.
What sets us apart is our combination of research-backed methods with a warm human approach that is based on over twentyfive years of clinical experience and serving over 650 individuals with a history of the behavior.. We don’t just offer clinical resources-we create a supportive community where healing and education go hand in hand.
We provide individual, family, and group counseling and coaching services. In addition,at the Institute, I lead media interviews, keynote speeches, and author books, backed by a committed team focused on expanding our reach and impact.
I am proud of the work we have done to spread awareness on a local, state, national, and international level, most notably through interviews with Dr. Phil McGraw and Access Hollywood’s, Mario Lopez.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was someone who enjoyed a variety of activities like volleyball, swimming, dancing, volunteering, and spending time with friends. I wouldn’t call myself shy, but I wasn’t exactly outgoing either-I was more of an observer. Because I wasn’t the loudest in the room, I naturally developed strong listening skills and a habit of paying close attention to people around me. Those early tendencies have been invaluable in my career as a counselor, where truly understanding and connecting with people is key.
I also showed early signs of entrepreneurship, finding creative ways to make money-whether by organizing shows I put on, doing chores, or working at my family members’ offices and retail stores. That drive to create and hustle complemented my people skills and shaped my work ethic early on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://institutefornssi.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/institute_for_nssi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/447052129831265
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lori-vann-counseling-speaking-media-consulting-&-supervision/?viewAsMember=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYNU4tRQjRjA49GdzO_HHykJHym9ac6wv
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@Institute_for_nssi
Image Credits
Kevin Gaddis took the picture.
