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Amiga Moms Founding Story
In November 2018, I was working as an in-home therapist for at-risk youth and families. While the children were my primary clients, I often found myself connecting deeply with their mothers too.
One afternoon, after arriving at a Spanish-speaking client's home, her mother broke down in tears, a mix of frustration and relief pouring out as she finally had a space to "let it all out." As I left that visit, one thought echoed in my mind: "I'm spending an hour a week helping the kids. But if no one is helping these moms, what good am I really doing?"
That was the moment Amiga Moms™ was born.
Within six months, I created the name, logo, launched on social media, and hosted our first sold-out event in May 2019.
Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC
Just like other moms, my world is non-stop: helping my 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 is also a certified therapy dog. 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.
Professionally I'm a former teacher and school counselor turned Licensed Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with thousands of children and families. My private practice and my podcast are both called FREE TO BE MINDFUL as I truly believe mindful living is the foundation to reducing the overwhelm and finding joy in life. I focus on mindful living, mental health and personal growth in these elements as well as in public speaking engagements. My insights as a therapist and educator have been featured on the Today Show, Univision, Parents Latina and many other national publications.
My life's passion is helping kids and moms not lose their cool, and specifically helping moms find a balance between traditional "old school" parenting vs. modern day styles of parenting while keeping cultural values in mind - this was also part of "my why" in founding Amiga Moms. As a first generation Dominican-American mom of a young child, I understand firsthand the stressors mothers face with balancing cultural expectations and career success.