Kim VanNorman
Counselor/Therapist
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Certifications/Degrees/Licensure:
- Licensed Master Social Worker, NYS
Education:
- B.A. in Women’s Studies from Wells College
- M.A. in Social Work from SUNY Binghamton
Professional interests:
Kim values supporting college students during this important stage of life, helping them identify goals, resources, and areas for growth through a collaborative therapeutic relationship. She integrates approaches such as Solution-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and meditation. She offers tools for use between sessions and collaborates with clients to identify any "homework" that may be helpful. Passionate about supporting the LGBTQ+ community, she was the former LGBTQ+ liaison at CAPS and is currently an active member of the Gender Services team. She continues her advocacy and support for Cornell students navigating sexuality and gender identity. She has co-facilitated a CAPS LGBTQ+ support group and participates in a national group focused on LGBTQ+ student mental health. Additionally, Kim has extensive experience supporting neurodiverse individuals, specifically working with students who identify as Autistic. She has spent the majority of her professional career working with neurodiverse clients and regularly engages in trainings to stay current on strategies that are the most helpful. She aims to make her office a sensory-friendly space for all clients, providing weighted items, fidgets, soft lighting, and comfortable seating.
Personal interests:
Kim has lived in Ithaca for over 20 years, having come to the area to attend college. She fell in love with all that Ithaca has to offer, especially activities such as hiking, kayaking, and swimming. Kim has a deep love of all animals, having grown up on a small dairy farm here in New York. She currently has many pets at home and values the bond that can develop between humans and animals. She’s played many sports over the years, including karate and softball in college, and appreciates the life lessons learned from being engaged in sports and recreation.