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About Vanessa De Jesus Guzman.jpg

Hi! I'm Vanessa.

Nice to meet you!

Who Am I Personally?

Just like other moms, my world is non-stop: helping my tween son with homework, driving him to extracurricular activities, playing with my infant daughter, and in between trying to cook dinner a few times a week (although that doesn’t always happen). I love spending time with my family which includes my goldendoodle - who all drive me crazy, but who I love very much! I enjoy finding mindful moments throughout my day to slow down and fit in self-care... like hopping on the Peloton, salsa dancing, and drinking coffee while it's still hot.

My passions involve helping kids, mothers and educators through therapeutic services and professional workshops. I thrive on helping moms find a balance between traditional "old school" parenting vs. modern day styles of parenting, while keeping cultural values in mind. As a first generation Dominican-American mom I also understand firsthand the stressors mothers face with balancing cultural expectations and career success.

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As Seen In

Vanessa De Jesus Guzman as seen on Today Show
Vanessa De Jesus Guzman as seen on Univision
Vanessa De Jesus Guzman as seen in Parents Latina
Vanessa De Jesus Guzman as seen on Psychology Today
Vanessa De Jesus Guzman as seen in Latinx Therapy
Vanessa De Jesus Guzman as seen in Yahoo! News

Who Am I Professionally?

I am a caring, warm and enthusiastic professional speaker, licensed therapist, podcast host and educator who has had a variety of positions including...

  • tenured teacher

  • highly effective school counselor

  • behavioral assistant

  • in-home clinician

  • group facilitator

  • CEO, founder and private practice owner

  • and my most important role... mom

 

In all of my roles I like to "keep it real" -aka- no fluffy intellectual talk while focusing on helping others embody mindful living - meaning intentionally living a life you love, with peace of mind and ease of heart.  

You may be thinking...
"How would Vanessa  help as MY therapist?"

Whether I'm working with kids, young adults or with moms, I am a genuine and personable professional who takes the time to get to know all facets of you (i.e. background and past experiences, the various roles you play, family, culture, etc.).

 

Throughout our journey together, with much TLC and through open and honest discussions, I will "call you out on your stuff," build on your already existing strengths, and help guide you to use strategies to get past the stress and overwhelm.

I truly love what I do! I'm good at what I do! And I consider it a privilege to work with families and help them achieve their goals. I invite you to book a free 10-minute consultation call to see if we're a good fit to get started!

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Education

Certifications

  • BS in Elementary Education & Psychology

    • The College of New Jersey​

  • MA in Counselor Education​
    • The College of New Jersey​

  • Advanced Counseling Certification
    • Montclair State University​

  • Education Supervisor's Certificate
    • New​ Jersey City University
  • Licensed Professional Counselor​​

    • 37PC00725200

  • National Certified Counselor

  • Year-Long Mindful Schools Program

  • Director of School Counseling Services

  • Supervisor Certificate

  • School Counselor

  • Elementary Teacher, K-5

Professional Affiliations

TCNJ's Alumni Association

The College of New Jersey's Alumni Association Board of Directors 2019-2024

National Board Certified Counselors

National Board for Certified Counselors

Latinx Practice Collective

Latinx Practice Collective Co-Founder

Latino Mental Health Association of NJ

President - 2024 President Elect - 2023 Early Career Professional Chair 2020-2022 General Member 2018-2020

American School Counselor Association

American School Counselor Association 2009-Present

NJ School Counselor Association

New Jersey School Counselor Association 2009-Present

Bergen Co. School Counselor Assoc.

BCSCA K-8 Counselor of the Year, 2012 General Member - 2009-Present Executive Board and K-8 Co-Facilitator - 2015-2020

100 Hispanic Women

NJ Program Board Member - June 2022-December 2023 Secretary - May 2023-Decembeer 2023

Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Volunteer Therapy Dog Team - 2023-Present

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Lifetime Member Gamma Chapter, Fall 2002 Area Supervisor 2004-2007

Chi Sigma Iota

Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society for Professional Counselors, Alpha Epsilon Chapter Inducted May 2009

Girl Scouts of America

Lifetime Member Gold Award Recipient, 1999 National Delegate, 1998

Latinas United for Political Empowerment

Board of Directors 2020-2023

Association for Play Therapy

Association for Play Therapy General Member 2017-2022

NJ Counseling Association

Presented at Annual 2020 Conference General Member 2019-2022

NJ Association for Multicultural Counseling

NJ Association for Multicultural Counseling 2019 - 2022

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