Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC
Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC is a Board-Certified Licensed Professional Counselor, speaker, and educator whose career has been shaped by a single conviction: that Latino communities deserve mental health support that sees them fully.
A first-generation eldest daughter of Dominican parents, Vanessa has spent more than 20 years working in and alongside the communities she serves - first as a public school teacher and middle school counselor, and now as the founder of Free to Be Mindful, a private practice in Ridgefield, NJ specializing in children and families.
Her advocacy extends well beyond the therapy room. Vanessa served on the LMHANJ Executive Board for six years - as Early Career Professional, President-Elect, President, and President Emeritus - and co-founded the Latinx Practice Collective, a community dedicated to building and sustaining private practice success, which powers the Connect Therapy Directory. She is also the founder of Amiga Momsâ„¢, a coaching platform helping high-achieving Latina mothers move beyond overwhelm and reconnect with themselves.
Vanessa hosts the Free to Be Mindful Podcast. With over 300 episodes, it has been recognized as the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast for 2026. Her work has been featured on the Today Show, Univision, and national publications, and more importantly, it's been felt by the families, students, and professionals she's walked alongside.
At home, she is a wife, a mom to a tween, a toddler, and goldendoodle. A firm believer in living with intention, her version of mindful living looks like yoga, salsa dancing, and playing on the floor alongside her kids.
