About Me

Your child looks fine on the outside - gets good grades and holds it together at school - but at home you see what nobody else does. The meltdowns after small mistakes, or the quiet weight of never quite feeling like enough. You know there's more going on beneath the surface, and you're looking for someone who can get underneath it with them in a way that understands your child, your family's values, and your culture.

I'm Vanessa, a former classroom teacher and school counselor turned therapist. I've spent 20+ years working with kids and families who were doing everything right and still struggling. That background means I understand how your child is showing up at school, and I give you strategies that work in real life, not just in theory.

Using EMDR, play therapy, sand tray, bibliotherapy, and biofeedback, I make therapy safe, engaging, and meaningful... so kids ages 8+ process their big feelings and build skills they can carry for a lifetime. Families choose Free to Be Mindful because therapy here supports both children and the parents raising them, with culturally attuned care and parent guidance that creates real progress at home and school, not just in the therapy room.