
She/Her
Vanessa Guerrero
MA, NCC, LCMHC
I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can exhale — not perform. My work is rooted in helping people reconnect with themselves after years of shrinking, surviving, people-pleasing, masking, or carrying the weight of expectations that no longer fit who they are. My work is grounded in a social justice lens, recognizing that mental health does not exist separately from systems, identity, community, and lived experience. I value advocacy both inside and outside of the therapy room and believe healing is not only personal, but also deeply connected to feeling empowered, supported, and seen within the world around us. I am passionate about helping clients navigate the impact of oppression, stigma, marginalization, and societal pressures while honoring their resilience, voice, and individuality. As someone with a background in theatre and performance, I also understand the unique pressures of constantly feeling on, as well as the vulnerability that comes with wanting to be truly seen. My creative background informs the way I connect with clients and deepens my appreciation for storytelling, expression, identity, and the many ways people learn to adapt in order to survive.
MY APPROACH TO THERAPY
My therapeutic approach integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Person-Centered Therapy, and Art Therapy interventions. I value balancing practical coping tools with deeper emotional exploration, helping clients build resilience while also reconnecting with meaning, authenticity, creativity, and self-compassion. I see therapy as a collaborative process where clients are viewed as whole people — not problems to be fixed. I am especially passionate about supporting individuals navigating anxiety, chronic illness, burnout, identity exploration, self-esteem struggles, life transitions, emotional overwhelm, and relationship challenges. I have a strong commitment to working with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ clients and strive to create a therapeutic space that feels affirming, collaborative, culturally aware, and genuinely safe to show up in fully.
FUN FACTS
I enjoy theatre and am often acting in community theatre productions. I create art. I love spending time with family, my dogs, and my chickens.

EducaTiOn & cErTificaTiOns
Masters in Mental Health Counseling, Lenoir-Rhyne University 2020
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Minor in Psychology, Florida State University 2012
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, North Carolina 2024

SPECIALTIES & AREAS OF FOCUS
ACT
Person-Centered Therapy
Art Therapy
DBT
Chronic Illness
Burnout
BIPOC
LGBTQIA+
Life Transitions
Self-Esteem
Identity Exploration
People Pleasing
