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Why the eldest daughter always says yes to everything, from overcommitting to giving 110 percent, is a pattern I know as a licensed Latina therapist. As the oldest girl in a Dominican family, I share what it cost me the year I was four months postpartum and leading a nonprofit board, and how to tell when a season of giving is ready to close. What You’ll Learn ✅ Why the eldest daughter, especially the only girl, learns to say yes before anyone finishes asking ✅ Where the pressure to give 110 percent comes from for high-achieving women, and what it quietly costs us ✅ Two questions to help you tell when a season of giving is ready to close ✅ How to step back from a volunteer role or board you love without guilt running the show ✅ Why leaving a seat open can be how the next leader gets her turn Chapters 00:00 Eldest Daughter Yes Reflex 00:34 Podcast Intro and Gala Glam 01:51 How I Filled Every Minute 04:05 Oldest Daughter Culture and 110% 06:39 The Cost of Overgiving Postpartum 08:16 When a Season Is Closing 09:48 Returning as a Guest 10:42 Guided Calendar Reflection 12:47 Wrap Up and Permission to Rest Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

What high functioning actually hides is something I hear about every week as a licensed therapist, especially from high-achieving women who look like they have everything handled. For World Mental Health Day, I talk about high-functioning anxiety, where held-in stress goes when we finally slow down, what the science says about scream clubs, and how to know when stress relief isn't enough and it's time for therapy. What You'll Learn ✅ Why high-functioning anxiety isn't in the DSM-5, and why so many high-achieving women still recognize themselves in it ✅ The signs high functioning hides, from a clenched jaw to sitting in the driveway before walking inside ✅ Where held-in stress goes when we slow down, including tears in savasana and anger aimed at the people closest to us ✅ What the science says about scream clubs and why screaming feels like relief ✅ How to tell when stress relief isn't enough and it's time to reach out to a therapist ✅ How to check on a friend or colleague whose automatic answer is "I'm good" ✅ Why our expectations drive high functioning, and which ones we can put down at home ✅ A guided reflection to notice where your body holds stress and choose one expectation to let go of this week Chapters 00:00 Scream Clubs Hook 00:39 Podcast Welcome 01:11 World Mental Health Day 01:45 Yoga Tears Story 02:42 High Functioning Anxiety 03:53 Signs It Shows Up 05:38 When It Spills Over 06:45 Why Screaming Helps 08:00 Scream Vs Therapy 09:23 Support A Friend 10:16 Drop The Expectations 11:35 Resources And Coping 12:01 Guided Check In 13:13 Closing Thoughts 🔎 Find a therapist: psychologytoday.com 🌎 Find a Latinx therapist: connecttherapydirectory.com 🎁 Free Resource, 120 Coping Skills: freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for high-achieving women: amigamoms.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

End of year overwhelm for high-achieving women is something I see every Q4, when work deadlines and holiday stress hit in the same week. As a licensed therapist, I talk about why Q4 feels so heavy and how letting go of end of year goals that no longer fit can protect us from burnout during the busiest season of the year. What You'll Learn ✅ Why Q4 at work and Q4 at home become two sprints that nobody else sees in full ✅ How the pressure to set New Year's goals catches up with us in the last quarter ✅ Two ways to tell whether a goal still fits, starting with how you'd feel crossing it off unfinished ✅ How to reshape a goal into a smaller version you'll actually keep ✅ A simple way to sort end of year goals into what you'll finish, what moves to next year, and what you're done carrying ✅ A guided reflection to find and protect time for yourself on your calendar this season Chapters 00:00 Q4 Reality Check 00:40 Welcome And Busy Season 02:21 Workload Meets Home Life 04:13 Goals And Q4 Pressure 05:40 Keep Or Drop Goals 07:25 Resize The Goal 08:28 Support And Coaching 08:43 Schedule Time For You 10:28 Final Encouragement Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

How to stop caring what people think is something I used to think came with age, but it's really about confidence, self worth, and stakes changing over the years. In this episode I get honest about aging into confidence in your 40s, and what my two year old is teaching me about wanting things for myself again. What You'll Learn ✅ Why the stakes actually change with age, and what that shifts in what you're able to shrug off  ✅ Three real reasons your circle, your energy, and your evidence change how much you care what others think  ✅ Why saying "I don't care" can sometimes be armor instead of the truth  ✅ A guided reflection for noticing when you're still managing what someone else thinks of you Chapters 00:00 Childlike Freedom Returns 00:36 Welcome to the Podcast 01:09 When Opinions Lose Power 02:16 Surviving the Worst Case 03:23 Three Reasons We Stop Caring 04:37 Confidence Takes Evidence 05:45 Performing Not Caring 07:28 Guided Reflection Challenge 08:16 Birthday Week Sendoff Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

Stop code switching and start showing up: that's what I'm learning to do as a first gen, Dominican, high-achieving woman who's spent years adjusting my voice for every room I walk into. In this episode, I open up about the bridge generation, what code-switching actually costs, and what changed the moment I decided to show up as my authentic self instead. What You'll Learn ✅ Why the switching started long before she had a word for it, and why it never actually stops, it just changes rooms  ✅ What it costs to spend years adjusting yourself so everyone else stays comfortable  ✅ Why the timing of feeling "othered" looks different depending on where and how you grew up  ✅ The unwritten professional and entrepreneurial rules nobody can hand you when your parents were never in those rooms  ✅ What it looks like day to day to stop code-switching and let your full self show up instead  ✅ One reflection to use this week to notice where you're still switching out of habit Chapters 00:00 Code Switching At Home 00:45 Hispanic Heritage Month Theme 01:38 First Gen Bridge Skills 04:04 College And Othering 05:19 Entrepreneurship And Loneliness 06:52 Dropping The Switch 07:58 Authentic In Every Room 10:20 Guided Reflection 11:23 Share And Closing Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

High-achieving women don't need gold stars to keep chasing validation, we just found more sophisticated adult ways to earn it. As a licensed therapist, I see this constantly in the women I coach, and in myself. This episode is about what happens when you try wanting something with absolutely no one watching. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN  ✅ Why the validation you got from childhood gold stars never actually stopped, it just changed shape  ✅ The difference between preparation that comes from real care and preparation that comes from needing to be noticed  ✅ A simple way to find a want you've been quietly editing down for years  ✅ Why reclaiming something just for yourself starts with taking the audience away CHAPTERS  00:00 Chasing Gold Stars 00:41 Podcast Welcome 01:14 Adult Approval Habits 02:32 Compliments As Stickers 03:15 What Do You Want 04:00 Salsa And Self Focus 05:15 Finding The Want Again 06:24 Guided Reflection 07:11 Let It Stay Full 07:31 Coaching Invitation 08:02 Final Sendoff Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

Why should women play smaller just to prove they know how to rest? In this episode, I unpack the real difference between ambition that comes from fear and ambition that comes from something alive, and why wanting more and actually resting can be true at the same time. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✅ Why wanting more isn't something women need to apologize for, and why we don't ask men to prove they can rest before we respect their ambition ✅ The real difference between ambition that comes from fear and ambition that comes from something alive, and why it changes how rest fits in ✅ How to hold both wanting more and enjoying what you've built, without needing them to split evenly down the middle CHAPTERS 00:00 Poolside Spark 00:39 Show Welcome 01:03 Season Reset 02:02 Stop Apologizing 02:29 Summer Reality Check 03:20 Redefining Rest 04:55 Ambition Without Fear 05:57 Reflection Prompts 07:42 Coaching Invitation 08:13 Final Sign Off Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

You've been the strong one for so long it started to feel like your whole personality. Free to Be Mindful Season 8 launches with a new trailer, and this one's for the high-achieving woman nobody's checking on, the one everyone counts on at work, at home, in every group chat. This season we get honest about ambition, identity, and mental load, no filler, no 45-minute episodes, real talk you can actually fit into your day.  Free to Be Mindful was named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast of 2026 by Feedspot. Season 8 starts September 1, 2026. CHAPTERS 00:00 Who This Is For 00:33 Meet Vanessa 00:40 Podcast Milestone 01:01 The Hidden Load 01:36 Weekly Real Talk 01:56 How To Listen 02:06 Subscribe And Closing Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

Summer is here and so is the quiet disconnection that comes with it. Longer days, busier schedules, kids home, and somehow you and your partner are co-managing the season instead of actually connecting. In this episode, licensed therapist Vanessa De Jesus Guzman sits down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Sheila Arias to talk about how couples rebuild emotional closeness through small, intentional moments, not grand gestures, not perfect timing, just presence. EPISODE DESCRIPTION Why emotional disconnection is common in long-term relationshipsHow judgment and comparison quietly erode intimacyThe role of curiosity and compassion in strengthening emotional bondsWhy small, consistent moments matter more than grand gesturesHow structure and intentionality support connection and intimacyThe importance of physical affection beyond sexual intimacy TUNE IN TO LEARN How to rebuild emotional connection without blaming yourself or your partnerSimple communication tools couples can practice right awayWhy emotional intimacy fades and how to restore it intentionallyHow scheduling connection can still feel meaningful and authenticWays to reconnect that fit real life, not unrealistic relationship ideals CONNECT WITH SHEILA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilaariaslmftTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sheilaariaslmftWebsite: https://www.compasiontherapy.com TAKEAWAY MESSAGE Rebuilding emotional connection isn’t about fixing your relationship or judging where you are. It’s about choosing one small, intentional shift that brings curiosity, warmth, and presence back into your connection. Over time, those moments add up and help relationships feel alive again. As always, thank you for listening. If this episode resonated, consider sharing it with a partner or someone who may need this reminder. And remember - in a world where you are free to be anything, you are always free to be mindful Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

Every summer, something shifts. The schedule loosens, the pace changes just enough to notice... and our brains completely miss the memo. If you've ever found yourself mentally planning the next quarter while your kids are finally at camp, this one is for you. In this season seven finale, we're talking about what intentionally slowing down actually looks like for high-achieving women, why rest feels like falling behind, and three questions to help us move through July with intention instead of accidentally sprinting through it. What You'll Learn: ✅ Why slowing down feels like falling behind, and what that discomfort is actually trying to tell us ✅ The difference between anxious planning and intentional visioning, and how to stop letting fear disguise itself as productivity ✅ Three questions to help us move through July with purpose instead of guilt ✅ How to name one intentional rest day before the month is over, and why staying in the discomfort of it matters more than getting it perfect ✅ A guided reflection to reconnect with what we actually want the fall to feel like, before we turn it into a project plan CHAPTERS 00:00 Why Rest Feels Hard 01:01 Summer Pace Shift 02:54 High Achiever Wiring 03:34 Three July Questions 03:52 Slow Pace Keep Purpose 04:19 Connect More Intentionally 04:53 Dream Without Executing 05:35 Pick One Rest Day 06:27 Season Finale Gratitude 08:02 Guided Reflection Meditation 10:21 Share And Work Together 11:00 Mindful Sendoff Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

My daughter turned two this month. I watched her eat her birthday cake with zero regard for the mess, completely absorbed in the moment, not thinking about what was next. Just entirely, joyfully present. And somewhere between the frosting and the candles, I thought about how we all used to know how to do that, and somewhere along the way, every quiet moment became a to-do list.  This episode is one of the most personal things I've ever shared on the podcast. It's about a miracle pregnancy I didn't see coming, the season of life that shaped it, and the deeper question underneath all of it: when did we stop asking ourselves what we actually want?  What You'll Learn ✅ Why the fourth trimester puts your wants in a drawer — and why so many of us forget to take them back out ✅ How borrowed wants from social media and comparison quietly replace our real ones ✅ Why adjusting your wants to fit your current season is strategy, not failure ✅ The I Want Practice: a simple quarterly exercise to reconnect with what's actually yours ✅ What watching a two-year-old can teach a high-achieving mom about permission   Chapters 00:00 Birthday Cake Presence 00:43 Podcast Welcome Setup 01:21 IVF Panic Turning Point 03:23 Letting Go And New Life 04:46 When Wants Change 05:32 Motherhood Survival Mode 07:27 Borrowed Wants Pressure 09:12 Seasons And Realistic Goals 11:19 Village Support Constraints 13:08 Quarterly I Want Practice 16:17 Toddlers Teach Desire 18:44 Homework And Closing  Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

Seven years ago, a mom broke down in front of her during a home visit, and that one moment cracked open everything. Not a business plan. Not a five-year roadmap. Just a clear, quiet knowing that moms needed support too, and that she was going to be the one to build it. What came next was seven years of showing up without a blueprint, figuring it out season by season, and learning that intention carries you further than any plan ever could. What You'll Learn: ✅ Why knowing your why holds everything together when the how is still completely unclear ✅ What fifteen years of marriage and seven years of business have quietly taught her about what it actually means to nurture something ✅ How allowance, not pushing harder, is what's made the most room for real growth ✅ What it costs to want to do everything at once, and what her kids keep pulling her back to ✅ A guided reflection to help you name what you're nurturing right now and what it would mean to bring intention, allowance, and compassion to it Chapters 00:00 Maycember Kickoff 01:41 15 Years Married 02:25 Seven Years Mindful 02:35 Origin Story 2018 04:17 From Hustle to Shift 05:46 No Blueprint Needed 06:34 Intention as North Star 07:48 Allowance and Evolution 08:41 Collective and New Baby 10:15 Compassion and Presence 11:31 Trusting Whats Next 12:34 Gratitude and Thanks 13:57 Invitation to Work Together 14:28 Reflection and Closing Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

The first thing Vanessa felt when she finally gave herself a break wasn't relief. It was guilt. And that moment, that voice that said we don't do that, we just handle it, is exactly what this episode is about. If Mother's Day left you with something unnamed underneath the flowers and the plans, you're not alone in that. We ask one day to carry everything we've been quietly waiting to feel, and then Monday arrives exactly the same as every other Monday. What You'll Learn:  ✅ Why one Mother's Day cannot hold what we've been carrying for the other 364 days, and what to do with that  ✅ How inherited guilt keeps us from choosing support that's actually available to us  ✅ Three practical ways to protect your mental breaks, use your resources, and treat your own time as non-negotiable  ✅ Why rest doesn't have to be earned, saved for a special occasion, or explained to anyone Chapters: 00:00 When You Finally Stop 00:47 Welcome and Mother’s Day Check-In 01:18 Breathing Room From Pausing 01:58 Why Moms Never Rest 02:54 Tiny Moments That Restore You 03:33 Generational Messages About Selflessness 04:44 Choosing Support Without Guilt 06:47 Mother’s Day Can’t Carry It All 08:16 Three Practical Ways to Reclaim Time 09:54 You Don’t Need Permission to Rest 10:33 Coaching Invitation and Next Steps 11:00 Guided Reflection and One Small Step 12:02 Share, Review, and Closing Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

Some weeks the calendar wins. Last week Vanessa was up until 3am two nights in a row, not scrolling, actually working, and she woke up the next morning running on empty.  In this episode she gets honest about the inherited blueprint that kept her going, and the hard podcast decision she made about before something broke. What You'll Learn:  ✅ How to identify the inherited blueprint running in the background that keeps us pushing past our limit, even when we know better  ✅ Why being deliberate isn't only about what we remove from our plates, but whether our minds are actually present for what remains  ✅ How to give ourselves permission to make the hard call before something breaks, not after Chapters: 00:00 When Everything Matters 00:40 Welcome to the Show 01:36 My Word for 2026 02:16 Burnout Warning Signs 02:58 The Overachiever Blueprint 03:58 Culture and Rest Stories 05:07 Choosing Presence 06:07 Podcast Schedule Change 07:27 Three Takeaways to Apply 09:32 Reflect and Choose Deliberately 10:48 Reviews and Farewell Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

The strongest woman in the room is often the last one to let support in. Not because no one's offering, but because managing has been her strategy for so long she doesn't always notice when something is available. This episode is about that cost, and Ollie the goldendoodle is our way in. What You'll Learn: ✅ The real difference between service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs, and why it matters more than most people realize ✅ What the science actually says about what animals do to your nervous system, including why oxytocin rises up to 300% during eye contact with your dog ✅ Why being capable at managing everything is not the same as being okay, and what it quietly costs over time ✅ How to pause before the next reflexive "I'm fine" and actually answer the question honestly ✅ Three practical ways to start building the muscle of receiving support in low-stakes moments so it's available when the stakes are high Chapters 00:00 Who Is Really There 01:19 Meet Ollie Birthday 02:34 Ollie Therapy Work 04:20 Service Animal vs ESA vs Therapy Dog 07:04 Science Of Support 09:20 Why We Resist Help 11:26 Three Support Tips 14:21 Guided Reflection Pause 17:14 Share And Work With Me 18:36 Happy Birthday Ollie Send us Fan Mail Support the show GRAB AN OFFER 🎁 Free 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills 💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com 💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com 💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com  🛍️ Shop My Favorites: https://shopmy.us/shop/counselorvdejesus ABOUT ME I'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot.  CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL 🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/ 📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/ 🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking DISCLAIMER Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.