Vania Matheus, MA, MS is founder of V. Matheus – Therapeutic & Educational Consulting . In her fourteen year practice as a consultant, Vania has helped hundreds of families allocate appropriate treatment options for teens and young adults struggling with mental and behavioral health issues. Vania is an expert in researching, designing and implementing interventions. Her knowledge of therapeutic programs and resources is extensive.
Her expertise with teens, young adults, and their families comes from experience working in a variety of therapeutic settings, including: Clinical Therapist for the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program and Dual Diagnosis Partial Hospitalization Program at Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center; Child and Adolescent Clinical Social Worker at St. Helena Hospital; and Family Therapist at Caritas Counseling. Vania holds an M.A. in School Counseling from La Sierra University and an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. Having developed a resiliency and strength-based approach to transitioning students home, post-treatment, Vania holds expertise and experience in helping families navigate the challenges young people and their families face when a young person returns home after treatment.
Most recently, Vania was honored by one of her alma maters’ – La Sierra University, with the ‘Rising Star Award’, acknowledging her contributions to the difficult challenges involved in evaluating teens, young adults and their families and developing plans to address developmental, emotional and scholastic growth. Vania’s warm, creative and mindful approach is informed by her regular training and participation in Improvisational Theatre and studying, practicing and teaching Vinyasa Yoga and mindfulness concepts.
vania matheus
founder / ceo
Vania has helped hundreds of families allocate appropriate treatment options for teens and young adults struggling with mental and behavioral health issues. Vania is an expert in researching, designing and implementing interventions. Her knowledge of therapeutic programs and resources is extensive.
Her expertise with teens, young adults, and their families comes from experience working in a variety of therapeutic settings, including: Clinical Therapist for the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program and Dual Diagnosis Partial Hospitalization Program at Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center; Child and Adolescent Clinical Social Worker at St. Helena Hospital; and Family Therapist at Caritas Counseling. Vania holds an M.A. in School Counseling from La Sierra University and an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. Having developed a resiliency and strength-based approach to transitioning students home, post-treatment, Vania holds expertise and experience in helping families navigate the challenges young people and their families face when a young person returns home after treatment.
Most recently, Vania was honored by one of her alma maters’ – La Sierra University, with the ‘Rising Star Award’, acknowledging her contributions to the difficult challenges involved in evaluating teens, young adults and their families and developing plans to address developmental, emotional and scholastic growth. Vania’s warm, creative and mindful approach is informed by her regular training and participation in Improvisational Theatre and studying, practicing and teaching Vinyasa Yoga and mindfulness concepts.
Vania Matheus, MA, MS is founder of V. Matheus – Therapeutic & Educational Consulting . In her eighteen year practice as a consultant,
Kellie Bishop graduated from the University of North Georgia with her BS in Psychology and a minor focus in Sociology. She is planning to receive her Master’s in Marriage and Family Counseling.
Kellie has spent the last 6 years in healthcare staffing, specifically in credentialing services. As a credentialing specialist, it was her responsibility to oversee file compliance across various local, state, and federal standards, as it relates to the credentials of MD’s/DO’s, PA’s, and NP’s.
In her tenure with LocumTenens.com, Kellie was recognized by her sales team, clients, and executive leadership as someone dedicated to going “above & beyond,” who provided innovative solutions for internal and external processes, and successfully navigated the unique obstacles of the healthcare staffing industry. In the last year as Team Lead, she was responsible for three direct reports, ran weekly team meetings, coached colleagues through challenges with internal and external customers, and worked across departments to collaborate on various issues.
While she has always been passionate about the field of therapeutic programs & empowering the individual, this is her first opportunity to see the process hands-on. She has enjoyed interning and informally shadowing various leaders since her father was introduced into the industry in the early 2000’s. She has had the opportunity to observe & learn about various roles within programs, from admissions, treatment, transitioning back from treatment, program staff, and the operations and executive levels. Kellie believes there is no part too small, nor unimportant, within a system.
In her free time, Kellie enjoys reading Nancy Thayer novels, spending time with horses, hiking, hanging out with her four cats & Corgi, and being with her loved ones. She makes her home in beautiful Canaan Valley, WV.
Kellie bishop
administrative assisant
Kellie Bishop graduated from the University of North Georgia with her B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. She is planning to receive her Master's in Marriage and Family Counseling.
Kellie has spent the last 6 years in healthcare staffing, specifically in credentialing services.
In her tenure with LocumTenens.com, Kellie was recognized by her sales team, clients, and executive leadership as someone dedicated to going “above & beyond,” who provided innovative solutions for internal and external processes, and successfully navigated the unique obstacles of the healthcare staffing industry. In the last year as Team Lead, she was responsible for three direct reports, ran weekly team meetings, coached colleagues through challenges with internal and external customers, and worked across departments to collaborate on various issues.
While she has always been passionate about the field of therapeutic programs & empowering the individual, this is her first opportunity to see the process hands-on. She has enjoyed interning and informally shadowing various leaders since her father was introduced into the industry in the early 2000’s. She has had the opportunity to observe & learn about various roles within programs, from admissions, treatment, transitioning back from treatment, program staff, and the operations and executive levels. Kellie believes there is no part too small, nor unimportant, within a system.
In her free time, Kellie enjoys reading Nancy Thayer novels, spending time with horses, hiking, hanging out with her four cats & Corgi, and being with her loved ones. She makes her home in beautiful Canaan Valley, WV.
Each program we work with is researched in-depth. Almost all programs, with the exception of those occasionally needed for more rare situations, have been on the V. Matheus radar for many years. Vania knows the founding body of the schools, their model, therapists, records, staff, and more. Utilizing programs that are research-based is essential. We only recommend programs that value personal growth, emotional regulation, and life skill development--without an institutionalized or pathology-focused feel. Our providers are warm, nurturing, professional care providers and environments that focus on whole person, integrative care.
though no vetting process is perfect, we only recommend programs that have been thoroughly vetted Because your child's emotional and physical safety is always our primary concern
our Vetting process
step 1: investigate
Visiting a program and interviewing students, staff, and parents is a critical component to our vetting process. Each program that we recommend has been visited multiple times and had several interviews conducted with students and staff alike. When at the programs, we take a look at the grounds (Are they clean and well managed? Is staff friendly? What amenities do they have?), we speak to the staff (Why do they work there? What is the turnover like? What are the goals/expectations for the young people in the program?), we interview students 1:1 to get their take on the program, staff, and therapies, and we speak with parents who have previously had their child attend the program to get their perspective.
though no vetting process is perfect, we only recommend programs that have been throughly vetted Because your child's emotional and physical safety is always our primary concern
our Vetting process
step 2: interview
Then, we continuously share information with (and collect information from) other professionals in our industry. There is a group of consultants that meet weekly by zoom to discuss the experiences they are having with different programs, evaluate what is programs are doing well on, and to share what they notice as staff transitions in and out of programs. This has been particularly helpful as Coronavirus has limited the amount of travel and touring consultants have been able to do. Aside from other consultants, we also continue to collect information from staff at the programs, parent references, and students.
though no vetting process is perfect, we only recommend programs that have been throughly vetted Because your child's emotional and physical safety is always our primary concern
our Vetting process
step 3: information exchange
-We believe in hope. We visualize the best possible outcome for your child’s future, then create a solid plan to get there. We are a strength-based, comprehensive service that has the ability to guide you through every step of the process and road to your child’s recovery, so you are not alone, and you have answers. We look for ways to benefit the entire family and help you create lasting, salient change that supports your young person.
-We believe by providing tools for change from the beginning—preparation, education, as well as support, insight and resources. Families will make the lasting changes necessary to help their student transition successfully back into their home and community. We begin with the end in mind.
-We individualize our approach – there are no boilerplate, cookie cutter approaches. Every situation is different, and every child is unique.
Because we won’t compromise our quality of care, we only take clients who are a good fit for our services, and we limit the number of clients we serve at any one time.
-We believe personally connecting with our clients helps us gain an in-depth understanding of their situation. We often meet with clients in their homes or where they are most comfortable.
why we should work together
V. Matheus – Therapeutic & Educational Consulting seeks out warm, nurturing, professional care providers and environments that focus on whole person, integrative care. We search for and only recommend people and programs that value personal growth, emotional regulation, and life skill development – without an institutionalized or pathology-focused feel. We are a strength-based approach.