Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC at Free to Be Mindful

Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC at Free to Be Mindful Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor, Mom Coach, Speaker & Host of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast.

Helping Kids & Moms Reduce the Overwhelm, Find Joy and Live Life Intentionally through Mindful Living, Mental Health & Professional Growth. Specializing in working with Children and Mothers, with the following areas of specialty: ADHD, Anxiety, Behavioral Issues, Coping Skills, Mindfulness, Mistreatment, Parenting, Peer Relationships, Racial identity, School Issues, Self-Esteem, Stress & Resilience. Vanessa also provides professional development opportunities, trainings and workshops to children, educators and families centered on mindfulness, social-emotional learning, identity, trauma-centered care, and coping skills.

03/19/2026

When students apply for the Futuro Fund, they don’t just talk about the financial support. They talk about finally having mentors who understand their stories, who have walked in their footsteps.

That sense of belonging is sometimes just as powerful as the scholarship itself, and it’s exactly why the Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey created this fund.

If you are a Latinx graduate student in mental health in New Jersey, or you know someone who is, this fund was created for you.

Link in bio to learn more about how to apply or donate. 💛

She didn’t have the words for her big feelings then.No one handed her a roadmap for the overwhelm, the worry, the moment...
03/19/2026

She didn’t have the words for her big feelings then.

No one handed her a roadmap for the overwhelm, the worry, the moments that felt too heavy to carry alone. She navigated it the hard way, quietly, without the tools she deserved.

But that little girl grew up, did the work, and made it her mission so that you wouldn’t have to figure it out the same way.

Little me would have thrived in a space where she felt seen, understood, and equipped... surrounded by kids who got it too. That’s exactly why Social Skills Groups exist.

Now she’s the one you call when you and your kids are deep in the big feelings and you don’t know what to do next.

If your child is ready to build those tools alongside other kids who truly understand, enrollment for Free to Be Mindful’s Social Skills Groups is open right now.

Enrollment closes on April 10th. Share with a friend. 💛

www.freetobemindful.com/groups

With 20+ years of experience working with kids, I know firsthand the skills so many kids are missing... and how much it ...
03/17/2026

With 20+ years of experience working with kids, I know firsthand the skills so many kids are missing... and how much it affects every part of their lives.

That’s why I believe in the power of social skills. I’m excited to announce that Free to Be Mindful’s 8-Week Social Skills Group is now enrolling for Spring 2026.

This group is for children in grades K–8 who are ready to find their voice and learn how to navigate the social world in a fun, supportive, small-group setting.

📅 Tuesdays, April 21st – June 9th
📍 In-person · Ridgefield, NJ
⏰ Enrollment closes April 10th

If you know a family who could benefit, or work with kids who struggle socially, I’d love for you to share this or reach out directly.

Because leadership training starts now. 😉

www.freetobemindful.com/groups

Grateful to have been part of last week’s Equity in Practice Forum in NYC.Thank you to .inc for hosting such a thoughtfu...
03/12/2026

Grateful to have been part of last week’s Equity in Practice Forum in NYC.

Thank you to .inc for hosting such a thoughtful and timely event, and to all of the co-sponsors who helped make the day possible.

One of the biggest takeaways from the day was this: equity in private practice is not theoretical, it IS possible. It shows up in the decisions we make about leadership, mentorship, compensation, and how we structure our teams.

And just as important, the conversations and connections throughout the day were a reminder that none of us are meant to figure this out alone. Community matters.

03/11/2026

YOU ARE NOT LAZY. You are DEPLETED.

Depletion does not always look like crying on the bathroom floor. Sometimes it looks like snapping at your kids over something small. Sometimes it looks like scrolling your phone for an hour because your brain is too tired to do anything that actually fills you up. And sometimes it looks like going through the motions of your own life and feeling nothing.

If reading this is telling you something important or if any of this sounds familiar, I’ve created something for you.

The Reset Experience is a small intimate gathering for moms who are ready to finally exhale. It’s a guided 90-minute experience where you walk in carrying everything, release what has been weighing you down, and walk out actually feeling like yourself again, with tools that stick.

The Reset Experience is this Sunday, March 15th from 1-2:30PM in Ridgefield, NJ. There a few spots are still open. DM me AMIGA for the link to register.

I’m proud to share that I have successfully completed the 6-month Entrepreneur Program! 🎉As a “first gen everything,” I...
03/06/2026

I’m proud to share that I have successfully completed the 6-month Entrepreneur Program! 🎉

As a “first gen everything,” I know firsthand how much courage it takes to show up, be vulnerable, and invest in yourself. I’m grateful programs like this exist to help women know that their journey is possible.

To my cohort leader , thank you for your transparency and for sharing your knowledge! And thank you to for sharing this wonderful opportunity with me.

Congratulations to the multiple cohorts of incredible women across the country who also completed this program.

I deeply believe that when we rise, it is our responsibility to hold the door open for those who come behind us. That is why programs like Mujeres de HACE matter so much!



Returning to the Latino Mental Health Association of NJ Annual Conference this year as a participant and speaker feels f...
03/03/2026

Returning to the Latino Mental Health Association of NJ Annual Conference this year as a participant and speaker feels full circle.

After six years of active service on the Executive Board of the Latino Mental Health Association of NJ, and now as Past President, I have had a front-row seat to the growth, leadership, and direction of this association. I am incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and the vision we continue to build together!

After attending as a participant, serving on the board, last year leading a panel, this year I’m excited to lead a student workshop called “My workshop, From Classroom to Career: Building Your Professional Identity in the Mental Health Field”, is designed specifically for students.

Many emerging clinicians leave with strong theoretical foundations, yet quietly wrestle with imposter feelings, uncertainty around visibility, and questions about how to show up in systems where they may not see themselves reflected.

This workshop is a space to examine how professional identity is shaped not just by credentials, but by intention. There is real power in helping students understand that confidence does not come before visibility... It grows because of it.

If you’re a student entering the field, I look forward to being in that room with you!

And if you’re further along in your career, who helped you step into your professional voice early on?

Women’s History Month reflection for high-achieving women who are used to holding everything together...Before this mont...
03/03/2026

Women’s History Month reflection for high-achieving women who are used to holding everything together...

Before this month fills up with panels, posts, and responsibilities… pause.

Not to add something new, but to think with intention.

Reclaim - What part of yourself have you quietly placed on the shelf?

Restore - What has been draining you that you’ve normalized?

Rise - Where are you still waiting for permission?

Intentional living doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we stop long enough to notice where we are operating on autopilot.

Take this month to celebrate the women that came before us, the women we admire today, and to celebrate yourself!

Pour into your own personal development by pausing, reflecting, and living intentionally.

03/02/2026

We are really good at celebrating Women’s History Month for everyone around us.

The panels. The posts. The nominations. The statements.

And somewhere in the middle of all of it, we forget to let any of it land on us.

So I’m asking a different question today... not what are you doing for Women’s History Month, but WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY MEAN TO YOU? Let me know in the comments.

🎧Episode 302 of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast is out now on YouTube and all podcast platforms. It’s written for all women leaders!

Service Animal vs. Emotional Support Animal vs. Therapy Dog… totally different!This weekend I completed formal training ...
03/02/2026

Service Animal vs. Emotional Support Animal vs. Therapy Dog… totally different!

This weekend I completed formal training to ethically provide Emotional Support Animal documentation, and I’ll admit... it’s much more nuanced than I originally thought!

As someone who has a therapy dog as part of my practice, I know firsthand how beneficial dogs can be. They offer companionship, emotional regulation, routine, grounding. The impact is real.

But having an ESA isn’t just about loving your dog.

For example...

It should only be considered for existing clients with an established treatment relationship of at least six months of care.

The client must have a qualifying diagnosis and be clinically assessed as needing an emotional support animal.

The animal should be under active veterinary care and each letter is valid for one year from the date it is written.

There’s definitely ethical and clinical responsibility behind every signature (not to mention our professional license).

Super grateful for this training!

We spend so much time looking ahead…To the weekend, to vacations, to the next big thing. And yes… to the Benito Bowl tod...
02/08/2026

We spend so much time looking ahead…

To the weekend, to vacations, to the next big thing. And yes… to the Benito Bowl today 😉

There is definitely joy in the anticipation as looking forward gives us something to hold onto during busy weeks and full days.

But when the moment arrives, let’s not miss it.

Unlike the song says… actually put the phone down. Smile with your people. Laugh a little louder. Be fully there for what you were waiting for.

And when it’s all said and done, pause and give thanks - while taking your time - for the moments you got to live, not just the ones you hoped for.

THIS is mindful living. 💛

Address

700 Grand Avenue Suite 1E
Ridgefield, NJ
07657

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 4pm - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 4pm - 6pm
Friday 4pm - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+12014305811

Website

https://www.amigamoms.com/

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Free to Be Mindful

In a world where we are free to be anything... it is a nice reminder to know we are always Free to Be Mindful.

As a former teacher, school counselor, licensed counselor and mom I understand the demands and challenges kids, parents and educators face daily. Through my services participants learn more about themselves which helps them to grow as people and inspire others to do the same.

​I'm passionate about helping kids become emotionally healthy through a focus on mindfulness, and am dedicated to helping parents and educators learn ways to strengthen relationships with their kids. Let me help YOU practice mindfulness, develop a positive mindset, and build genuine connections with the children in your life… and with yourself!

You and your child deserve it!