In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa welcomes back Naihomy Jerez, a certified integrative nutrition and hormone health coach. Naihomy specializes in supporting women of color to heal their bodies and balance hormones through food and lifestyle choices. She previously joined us to discuss relationships with food, and now, for World Menopause Month, she returns to share her expertise on perimenopause and menopause. Naihomy sheds light on the hormonal shifts that occur during ...
Oct 14, 2024•42 min•Season 6Ep. 216
The Consult a Counselor Series is a subset of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, where host and therapist Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC answers parenting related questions so that you can be present and at ease with your child, and live life mindfully. TODAY’S QUESTION: What should I do if my child has a learning disability? Send us a text 120 COPING SKILLS https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills CULTIVATE CALM CHALLENGE https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-cultivatingcalmcha...
Oct 10, 2024•6 min•Season 6Ep. 215
In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman dives into the topic of mom shaming and the pressure that many parents face in today’s world. Drawing from her experience as a middle school counselor and as a mom, Vanessa highlights how behaviors we often see in children—like teasing and bullying—can carry into adulthood as mom shaming. Whether it’s a casual comment about your parenting choices or unsolicited advice, these judgmental moments can leave moms feeling ...
Oct 07, 2024•13 min•Season 6Ep. 214
The Consult a Counselor Series is a subset of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, where host and therapist Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC answers parenting related questions to help moms reduce the overwhelm, find joy and live life intentionally. TODAY’S QUESTION: What should I do if my child is being bullied in school? REFERENCED LINK: Confessions of a Former Bully SEL Book Review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT07B3R0eFg Send us a text 120 COPING SKILLS https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast...
Oct 03, 2024•10 min•Season 6Ep. 213
In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful podcast, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman has a heartfelt conversation with Michelle Choairy, a dedicated mother and advocate for complex children. Michelle opens up about her personal experiences raising a child with a rare genetic disorder, sharing the challenges, emotional hurdles, and inspiring triumphs she has encountered along the way. Michelle's story highlights the power of mindfulness in fostering resilience, self-compassion, and gratitude amidst th...
Sep 30, 2024•36 min•Season 6Ep. 212
SHOWNOTES: The Consult a Counselor Series is a subset of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, where host and therapist Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC answers parenting related questions to help moms reduce the overwhelm, find joy and live life intentionally. TODAY’S QUESTION: My kid doesn't want to join any extracurricular activities and just wants to be home on the computer. What can I do to help? Send us a text 120 COPING SKILLS https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills CULTIVATE C...
Sep 26, 2024•9 min•Season 6Ep. 211
In this episode, Vanessa celebrates her birthday by sharing personal reflections on how birthdays evolve as we grow older. From the excitement of gifts and cake as a child to a deeper focus on peace, connection, and personal growth as an adult, Vanessa reflects on the shift from getting to giving. Tune in as she explores how birthdays become less about material things and more about the impact we have on those around us—especially our kids. Vanessa discusses how showing up as the best version of...
Sep 23, 2024•13 min•Season 6Ep. 210
The Consult a Counselor Series is a subset of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, where host and therapist Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC answers parenting related questions to help moms reduce the overwhelm, find joy and live life intentionally. TODAY’S QUESTION: My middle schooler wants to join so many clubs this year! Any tips? Send us a text 120 COPING SKILLS https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills CULTIVATE CALM CHALLENGE https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-cultivatingcal...
Sep 19, 2024•10 min•Season 6Ep. 209
In this episode, we're joined by Tanya Chavez, a facilitator, speaker, and leadership expert whose journey is as exhilarating as it is inspiring. From the U.S. Air Force Academy to executive coach for top firms like Google and PayPal, Tanya's path has been anything but ordinary. Discover how her experiences in indoor skydiving have shaped her unique approach to leadership and personal growth. Tanya shares her incredible story of overcoming fear and embracing discomfort, both on the ground and in...
Sep 16, 2024•42 min•Season 6Ep. 208
The Consult a Counselor Series is a subset of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, where host and therapist Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC answers parenting related questions to help moms reduce the overwhelm, find joy and live life intentionally. TODAY'S QUESTION: School has started and we're already fighting about screen time. Help! Send us a text 120 COPING SKILLS https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills CULTIVATE CALM CHALLENGE https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-cultivating...
Sep 12, 2024•8 min•Season 6Ep. 207
In this day and age, parents experience stressors from technology and social media, the youth mental health crisis, the loneliness epidemic, and the hyper-intense culture of comparison we live in, on top of the more traditional challenges experienced. In other words? It's a lot! In this episode, we're exploring how to navigate parental pressures and how to maintain internal peace in these intense environments to show up for ourselves and our children. Join Vanessa as we discover how to lighten t...
Sep 09, 2024•15 min•Season 6Ep. 206
The Consult a Counselor Series is a subset of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, where host and therapist Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC answers parenting related questions to help moms reduce the overwhelm, find joy and live life intentionally. TODAY'S QUESTION IS: The new school year is about to start. How can I help my child manage her anxiety? READ THE BLOG: Helping Your Child Manage Back-to-School Anxiety: Practical Tips for Parents https://www.freetobemindful.com/helping-your-child-manage-...
Sep 05, 2024•7 min•Season 6Ep. 205
We're thrilled to welcome you back to a brand-new season of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast! Kicking off season 6, Vanessa shares some personal updates and exciting changes to our podcast format. In this season we're diving deeper into topics that resonate with moms specifically, with more stories, tips and guest interviews twice a month. We're also bringing back the Consult a Counselor Series, which answers parenting related questions to help you reduce the overwhelm and live life intentionally....
Sep 02, 2024•9 min•Season 6Ep. 204
To close off our season, we celebrate and replay our top three listened-to episodes of Season 5! Holding the number one spot is: From Adversity to Triumph: Mario B's Journey of Resilience . This episode holds weight because it shows the power of hustle and grind, building authentic relationships, and having faith in ourselves and the journey. Founder of SalsaFever on2 Dance Academy and guest resident lecturer at ASU, Mario Gonzalez, better known as Mario B, is a visionary creative with over 25 y...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 203
To close off our season, we celebrate and replay our top three listened-to episodes of Season 5! Holding the number two spot is: A Year in Review. We think of the new year as new beginnings; but before we can look onward to see where we're going, we must take the time to look back and reflect on where we've been. Our experiences serve as a baseline for tracking our growth for the future. Whether you're tuning in at the end of the year or during any other moment, the insights shared are timeless ...
Jun 17, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 202
To close off our season, we celebrate and replay our top three listened-to episodes of Season 5! Holding the number three spot is: Finding Your Life's Purpose Through Passion with Rhina Lopez. Through personal stories, Rhina showcases how to look good and feel good, enhance how beauty is more than skin-deep, and use mindfulness as a tool to build confidence and take care of ourselves and others. “I love to enhance the natural beauty of a woman and help them see their true beauty for themselves. ...
Jun 10, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 201
Cue the confetti—we're closing off Season 5 with Episode 200! In this 'season finale' episode, we celebrate and reflect on some of our podcast accomplishments and experiences, and how the guiding word I chose for the year—grace— can impact personal and professional journeys. This episode demonstrates how to use grace as an actionable tool to embrace the journey with kindness and awareness, recognize the signs that we may feel "stuck" and reclaim our lives. Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman in celebra...
Jun 03, 2024•15 min•Season 5Ep. 200
Happy 5th birthday to Free to Be Mindful! Celebrating the big wins and milestones of Free to Be Mindful is a beautiful gift. However, the growth over the years isn't just dedicated to the end results. It's credited to all of the steps taken on the journey, from the therapy practice, the podcast, Amiga Moms, the amazing feedback from our listeners, and all the behind-the-scenes work, This episode highlights why small wins drive large impacts, by diving into the psychology of celebration, the impo...
May 27, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 199
For May's Mental Health Awareness Month, we featured our short Mental Health Awareness series, where we dove deep into the diverse experiences of the therapeutic world with mental health professionals. To cap off this series, this episode highlights the topic of mental health in kids. Discover how the developmental stages of children impact how they express and experience emotions, how caregivers and teachers can help them manage and regulate their emotions, and tips to ensure the best therapeut...
May 20, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 198
For May's Mental Health Awareness Month, we're featuring our short Mental Health Awareness series, where we will delve deep into the diverse experiences of the therapeutic world with mental health professionals. In the last installment of our series, we welcome healer, activist, and agent of change, Dr. Tina Onikoyi, the founder of a private practice called Wellness Meets World and a Licensed Professional Counselor with multiple degrees in clinical psychology and mental health counseling. During...
May 15, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 197
For May's Mental Health Awareness Month, we're featuring our short Mental Health Awareness series, where we will delve deep into the diverse experiences of the therapeutic world with mental health professionals. On our second episode of the series, we welcome a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Financial Social Worker Jasmine Ramirez, who supports BIPOC communities through individual and couples' financial coaching and speaking engagements. During this conversation, she highlights he...
May 06, 2024•33 min•Season 5Ep. 196
For May's Mental Health Awareness Month, we're featuring our short Mental Health Awareness series, where we will delve deep into the diverse experiences of the therapeutic world with mental health professionals. On our first episode of the series, we welcome a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, private practice business coach, and founder of the Latinx Practice Collective, Kathy Acosta, LCSW who is on a mission to blend passion with purpose. During this conversation, she describes her mental healt...
Apr 29, 2024•45 min•Season 5Ep. 195
Teachers have a profound impact on the lives of students' success. But technology is constantly growing, and many teachers are shifting from traditional learning styles to the future of education. This episode shares various AI tools that can help accelerate processes, highlights the evolutionary journey of AI in education, and explains the pros and cons of AI. Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman in a discussion on the impact of AI on society today, and how to use the tools for learning without being o...
Apr 23, 2024•16 min•Season 5Ep. 194
Advice is everywhere—from influencers on TikTok sharing their take of the day to old-fashioned advice from our social circles and professional networks. Wondering how to navigate unsolicited advice like a pro? From understanding how and when to take advice to learning ways to make our own feedback more positive, this episode shows us how to apply our decision-making skills in an effective way. Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman in today's topic of advice and mindful living, and how bringing awareness ...
Apr 15, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 193
Have you ever felt overwhelmed with responsibilities or like you are carrying the weight of your burdens all by yourself? It's time to learn to lean! This episode encourages you to embrace vulnerability and connection. By investing trust in our relationships, we invest in our personal growth, combat isolation, and embrace our potential to tackle challenges. Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman in this episode that inspires you to use this concept of "leaning" to foster support, build trust and community...
Apr 08, 2024•18 min•Season 5Ep. 192
Whether it's spiders or making a life-changing decision, we all have fears—and instead of looking at our fear as a barrier and letting it isolate us further, we can lean into the fear to prosper in our professional and personal journeys. This episode explores where our fear comes from as well, shares a valuable framework for conquering fears, and offers key insights on leaning into fear to embrace our confidence potential. Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman on a journey that inspires you to take rein ...
Apr 01, 2024•15 min•Season 5Ep. 191
There's no rulebook or manual to life—so using planning as a decision-making tool can help guide the way. But what if things happen not according to plan? It's okay to redirect ourselves! This episode explains our bodies' emotional and physical responses through the science of planning, a framework for coping once things don't go as planned and understanding the universe's plan. Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman in navigating uncertainty, acceptance, compassion, and other important emotions that come...
Mar 25, 2024•19 min•Season 5Ep. 190
May the luck be in your favor! Have you ever heard of the debate between luck and hard work, and wondered how much chance vs. choice truly plays a role in your journey? This episode dives into the phenomenon of luck, ways to develop our motivation and hard work, and ways to build on our success and positive mindsets. In this special St. Patrick's Day-themed episode, join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman in a journey highlighting the importance of personal development by putting your best foot forward. Se...
Mar 18, 2024•11 min•Season 5Ep. 189
International Women's Day is a global day dedicated to celebrating women and their accomplishments and showcasing awareness of any issues of gender inequality that still might exist. And womanhood is a beautiful superpower—but with the power and progress, challenges and expectations also exist. Womanhood is a testament to resilience, leadership, and inspiration—a testament to roles as leaders, mothers, and more. This episode explores the deconstruction of the glass ceiling, highlights some of th...
Mar 11, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 188
Inner intuition is the compass that guides us through life's uncharted waters. Whether we think of it as an inner voice, a subconscious decision, an innate understanding, or a gut feeling, inner intuition is key to self-awareness and decision-making: so it's just as important to discover how to hone in on it. This episode explores the psychology behind inner intuition, the various types of intuition, and ways we can tap into our intuition to understand ourselves and the experiences/connections a...
Mar 04, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 187
