Therapists in Asheville, NC

Currently Accepting Clients ( Telehealth Only)-My name is Vanessa Guerero and I am a clinical therapist with Winter to Spring Wellness. Prior to being in Asheville for almost a decade, I originally hail from Miami, Fl. I am a proud daughter of Cuban immigrants and a first-generation college student. As a teen I had my own battles with physical and mental wellness, difficulties with acculturation as well as struggled with cultural stigma in regard to mental health care. Through my own work, I have been able to find healing and am now honored to support others who struggle with their own mental wellness and similar issues.

I’ve always found that authenticity is the only path to true connection. For those wanting support in transition(s), processing loss or trauma, living with chronic illness/disability, or simply unable to find your way forward; You deserve a counselor who will see you as a person first, not defined by your struggles but someone deserving of validation, support, and care. I pay close attention to the systems in which you are surrounded, the relationships that factor in your wellness, how the past informs the present, and the strengths you have within yourself to make a meaningful life.

My treatment focuses on people with chronic illness, trauma, especially people with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, other autoimmune disorders and those who love a person with chronic illness. If you are struggling adapting to a new diagnosis of diabetes, or with the rigors of long-standing diabetes self-management, you are not alone. Diabetes distress and burnout have been well-defined and are treatable. If you love someone with chronic illness, and you find it difficult to manage your anxiety or have burnout yourself, please consider psychotherapy.

Have you experienced a life-altering medical condition? Are you experiencing difficulties regulating your mood, including depression and anxiety? Let me help you find ways to manage your emotions and your health more effectively! I would love to help you on a journey to finding more peace and happiness.

Do you feel stuck, lost or overwhelmed? Perhaps you feel like you have to invest so much energy but still feel unfulfilled and empty. Do you struggle with intense worry, self doubt or shame? You might not know where these feelings come from, what you are needing or perhaps, you are in a painful situation, relationship or job. You might struggle with chronic illness and have the added stress of navigating your physical health when you already feel drained. Perhaps you are deeply impacted by past wounds or trauma. It is possible to feel better and it's possible to have healthy relationships both with yourself and others.

None of us are immune to life's challenges and we also don't come with instructions on how to navigate these. We often carry our past experiences and stress without realizing it— to the point where we feel it not only emotionally, but also in our physical bodies. Research confirms the mind and body aren’t so separate after all, but more of an interdependent unit greatly influencing one another. Past traumas, anxiety, depression, feeling stuck, chronic illness, difficult life transition, caught in the cycles of shame + self criticism; these are all labels and struggles many of us identify with at some point, but they don't define us.

Taking new clients in March. Seeking emotional support takes courage. I specialize in supporting those who struggle with sadness, anxiety, illness and past trauma (EMDR trained). I am certified through Postpartum Support International (http://www.postpartum.net/) to better understand and treat pregnant and postpartum persons and their families. An awareness of what you want to change will lead us to find what is working and not working for you and work towards your goals. I look forward to welcoming you and providing a safe space for you to explore yourself and find emotional peace.

As someone who has experienced past sexual / physical abuse, or chronic illness, do you often wonder how you can move past the overwhelming shame and pain? Have you tried “everything” but nothing seems to alleviate the flashbacks or unwanted memories. Do you want to stop dissociating? Do you long be free of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts; longing for connection, worthiness, and to tell your story with a safe, non-judgmental person. Are you willing to examine thoughts, emotions, behaviors and learn how to utilize your whole self, develop shame resilience—transforming the way you live & love in your current relationships?

My calling and expertise is to help women better manage anxiety, worry, and stress in order to cultivate and connect with their inner peace and joy. The pace of life seems to quicken with time, along with the multiple demands to be a good mom, wife, woman, and professional. It can seem impossible to find moments of rest and happiness while balancing “all of the things”. I have found that when women try to "do it all" it can lead to burnout, resentment, depression, and chronic illness. Are your nerves shot? Are you tired but wired? Are you struggling to reign-in unhealthy habits? You've come to the right place!

I currently have a waitlist. I am a clinical social worker and registered yoga teacher who empowers people using the guiding principles of empathy, curiosity, cultural humility, and collaboration. I take an integrative, somatic, and highly relational approach and work to understand how the intersection of your unique experiences impact today. I remain committed to working with people as they face a range of experiences, including multicultural concerns, oppression, identity exploration, trauma, anxiety, depression, queer/LGB+ concerns, trans and gender identity related concerns, relationship concerns, chronic illness, and grief.

Being a young adult female in high school, college, or in the beginning of your career can be both an exciting and terrifying time. Whether it be anxiety, perfectionism, self-esteem struggles, issues adjusting to and balancing new schedules/demands, or just figuring out who you are and what feels right in this stage of life… I am here to help you sort it out and find healthy coping patterns that work for you.

My passion is people and the therapeutic effect of authentic human connection. It's from a socially safe platform that we begin to really heal. By exploring the lens we're used to, we make space for new perspectives. Learning how you're wired creates opportunity make decisions about what you think, how you feel and what you can and are willing to do about it in order to connect to the self and heal. My clinical lens is rooted in the understanding of and respect for the gut-brain/heart-immune-mind axis, making my approach truly holistic. People deserve to be fed while learning to fish and I love treating people, not diseases.

There are good days, bad days, and days that are completely overwhelming. You have never thought so much about your body in your life, and now you struggle with it every day. You remember when you trusted your body. There were times when you felt ill, but you recovered before. Now, your medical team is telling you that there is no going back to how things used to be. You are angry, you are frightened, you are hurting, and your loved ones are, too. Nobody seems to know exactly what to say, or what you need. It feels like a bomb has gone off in your life, and you are sifting through the rubble.

Have you been experiencing pain that interferes with your daily functioning, feeling like you have to put on a brave face to get by, but suffering inside? Are you a young adult who previously led a vibrant, active life, now struggling to adjust to a diagnosis and figure out what that means for your present and future? Do you struggle with patterns of thoughts and emotions that heighten your pain and leave you feeling hopeless about ever escaping this cycle? Maybe you are starting to consider that traumatic events in the past have contributed to your current experience of pain and suffering.

Counseling gives you an opportunity to express yourself with an enlightened witness: an ethical professional who listens carefully, and with acceptance and positive regard, and with the intention of promoting your wellbeing through insights, associations, and skills building. Ideal clients are those who want to understand what lies beneath symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health diagnoses to examine your personal triggers for nervous system dysregulation. The source of your angst may include past trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders (Autism, ADHD, etc.) or physical health conditions, and often, all three.

I work with adults only and specialize in treatment for chronic pain, complex trauma, anxiety, and grief. I especially enjoy supporting clients who have functional pain syndromes (e.g., fibromyalgia) and painful autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, MS, RA) alongside histories of trauma. Clients most frequently come into therapy with me expressing a desire to more deeply understand themselves and their sense of suffering, and to heal the burdens they carry. My job in that process is never to fix you or tell you what to do. Rather, it is to support you in discovering your own deep knowing about who you are and what you need to heal.

Often our hurtful experiences are out of our control. You didn’t choose to live with pain & society makes it hard to heal. You are tired of feeling alone and misunderstood. The reality is our experiences and memories can shape our beliefs and worldviews, creating guilt, anxiety, shame, anger, and isolation. Living with chronic pain, illness, trauma, anxiety, and grief – does impact us. Even if you don’t feel like it at this very moment, there is part of you that knows they deserve something more, whether it’s self-compassion, healthy connections, pleasure, joy, or the chance to move from surviving to thriving. Let's get curious.

Lets explore your life experience in a new and exciting way. I see suffering as an opportunity to break free from old patterns, habits, and ways of thinking that are not working for you anymore. It's a call from deep inside saying, "something needs to shift". This shift can come from exploring a relationship to a substance that you are using, and the pain, anxiety, depression, or a general sense of not loving your life that may come with it. Your unique journey is here right now, and experiencing it from a nonjudgmental perspective can be a vital ingredient to moving past whatever is holding you back from living your best life.

Are you looking to deepen your life experiences and live a more authentic life? Perhaps be relieved of the burdens your past trauma's carry? I can help. Seeking support is a brave and courageous decision. I am so happy you are here. I work with adults who are struggling with body image issues, disordered eating/eating disorders, ADHD (or presumed ADHD), depression, and grief/loss. A specialty of mine is working with people who live in larger size bodies per American beauty standards using a HAES (health at every size) approach. I truly believe you deserve to feel connected with yourself, your body, your community, and this earth.