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Therapy for Kids, Teens & Moms
in Ridgefield, New Jersey

When your child is struggling, the whole family feels it. You both deserve a therapist who understands your child and supports you too.

In-Person and Virtual Sessions

English & Spanish Speaking  |  Ridgefield, NJ

Families choose Free to Be Mindful because therapy here supports both children and the parents raising them. With 20+ years of experience as an educator and therapist, I provide culturally attuned, mindfulness-based care and parent guidance that helps families see real progress at home and at school.

TRUSTED BY FAMILIES | RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY

When Your Child is Struggling, You Feel it Too

Teen sitting alone with her arms around her knees, looking withdrawn and overwhelmed

Something Feels Off,
and it's Hard to Name

​On paper your child is doing great... the grades are good and the friends are there.. Despite this, they seem quieter and harder on themselves than they used to be.

Tired mom curled up asleep on her bed, exhausted from carrying everything for her family

You're Doing Everything Right and Still Exhausted

You're holding it together at work and at home, but you're still up at 11pm reading one more article about kids and anxiety. Between the school emails and the work emails, you can't remember the last time anyone asked how you were doing.

Free to Be Mindful therapy office in Ridgefield, NJ with a navy couch and yellow pillows

There is a Way Through

In therapy your child learns to put words to what they're feeling, while you finally get support of your own. Together we figure out what works for the way your family really lives.

Picture a home where your kid opens up to you,

the evenings don't end in a blowup, and you finally get a minute to feel like yourself again because you know what to do.

I'm also EMDR trained, which gives us another way to help kids and teens process stressful experiences. About photo. Alt text: Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, kid and teen therapist in Ridgefield, NJ

Hi, I'm Vanessa De Jesus Guzman!

Licensed Therapist, Former Educator,

and Mom to a Teen & Toddler

I've spent 20+ years working with kids and families who were doing everything right, and still struggling.

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Before I became a therapist I was a classroom teacher and school counselor. That background means I understand how your child is showing up at school, not just in my office. I give you strategies that work in real life, not just in theory. ​

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I bring a deep understanding of the specific pressures that come with raising kids while navigating cultural expectations, identity, and all the things nobody talks about out loud. I'm also EMDR trained, which provides another way to help process stressful experiences.

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I believe every kid deserves to be heard, and so do the moms raising them. I've seen firsthand how much starts to shift when a family finally gets the support they need.

Free to Be Mindful Services & Supports

Therapy for Kids & Teens

I help kids and teens - from age 8 through college - with anxiety, school pressure, and friendships, using EMDR when it's a good fit. Parents reach out for kids under 18, and college students can contact me directly.

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Therapy for Moms

You put everyone else first. When you're ready to make space for yourself, I'm here. Individual therapy for moms, navigating overwhelm, parenting stress, anxiety, identity shifts and the invisible weight of doing it all.

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Educational Consultations

Navigating Early Intervention, a 504 Plan, an IEP meeting, or the I&RS process? I help parents understand the system, ask the right questions, and advocate confidently for their child at school.

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How Does It Work?

Feeling overwhelmed is normal, but getting support doesn't have to be.

1

Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call

We'll talk through what's been going on and what you've already tried, in a relaxed conversation to see if we're the right fit.

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Questions about cost or insurance? See our FAQs.

2

We Make Sure it's
the Right Fit

I want to make sure I'm the right match for your child and your family. If I'm not, I'll be honest and point you toward someone who is so you're not left starting from scratch.

3

You and Your Child
Start Getting the Support You Deserve

We build a plan together based on what you or your child need most. We start with weekly sessions and eventually scale down. 

Why Getting Support Matters

Kids who are quietly struggling don't always ask for help, and the moms who love them rarely ask for any of their own. Starting to feel lighter sometimes takes one conversation with a professional who understands.

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CONTACT:

         Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC

         201.430.5811

         hello@freetobemindful.com

         700 Grand Avenue, Suite 1E

         Ridgefield, New Jersey 07657

         Hours available by appointment

A WEEKLY NOTE WORTH OPENING. Once a week, I send a personal note straight to your inbox... the kind of thing I don't share anywhere else.

 

Written for the woman who's holding it all together and could use a moment where she doesn't have to. It's like a note from a friend... who happens to be a therapist.

Thanks for subscribing! Check your inbox (and promotional folder just in case). Emails come from "Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC" at hello@freetobemindful.com

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