Chronic Illness Therapists in Tryon, NC

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?

Are you looking for a therapist who is non-judgmental, inclusive, knowledgeable and makes efforts to understand you and what you're experiencing? If you're working through a loss, struggling with chronic illness, life transitions, low self-esteem, depression or anxiety, know that relief is possible. I create a safe space so I can get to know the real you, what you're dealing with and how it's impacting you. NOTE that I am currently full and have a waitlist.

Sometimes in life we find ourselves feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed. When I work with clients, I strive to help them create the supportive, therapeutic ground from which they can find the stability and balance to move forward, heal, and grow. I applaud you for taking the first step in this process – reaching out for help.

Connecting with the right therapist is critical when starting your therapeutic journey. I provide free consultations to potential clients, ensuring they feel confident when committing to their therapeutic journey. I specialize in working with patients and families who experience Chronic Illness and Pain. As a chronic illness patient and therapist, I recognize the unique and personal journey clients experience. I understand the obstacles, stigma, and barriers my clients face as they work on building their quality of life.

Over a decade of helping women to break free from overdoing & overcommitting with little return. Whether a fellow helper or chronic illness warrior, let's create a life you genuinely embrace vs tolerate. Imagine balance, confidence, ignited sexual wellness, & body positivity! Having personally lived with chronic illness, I understand its impact on various facets of life, including your job, sex life, self-esteem, and confidence. Fellow helpers can find refuge here, where you can leave your professional hat at the door in exchange for vulnerability. Let's chat!

I strive to assist distressed individuals in regulating emotions, improving mood, cultivating positive thinking, changing unproductive behaviors, and in creating wellness, life satisfaction, and self-acceptance. By exploring and identifying unique, personal thinking patterns, challenges, needs, and strengths we work in therapy to promote the meaning in life, responsibility, and the pursuit of genuineness and the best in self, life and relationships. My approach is compassionate, backed by extensive training and I have over 30 years of experience in education, community service, and psychotherapy with children, students, adults, couples, families, and groups.

You might be struggling with an eating disorder or body image, anxiety, chronic illness, or trauma. Or you may be dealing with relationship concerns even if you're currently in couples counseling or have tried it before. You may also be a mental health provider seeking therapy for yourself. Working through any of these concerns can be overwhelming and feel impossible to manage alone. I aim to meet you where you're at and work as your partner to build coping skills, meaningful connections to yourself & others, and ultimately a life that you fully enjoy living.

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.

I am passionate about creating a space for marginalized communities such as BIPOC and LGBTQIA+. As a woman of color, my own experiences of growing up in rural Western North Carolina as a child of immigrant parents heavily inform my practice and passion for advocating for minority communities. I have experience working alongside clients as they explore identity and believe we all deserve a safe, judgment-free space to foster self-exploration. My work is based on a holistic, person-centered, and strength-based perspective.

I work with clients who are experiencing depression, anxiety, a wide range of relationship issues (including marital, pre-marital, divorce and singleness), chronic illness, grief and also offer career assessment and counseling. I combine a practical, problem solving approach with a focus on the client's emotional and family history to facilitate greater insight for the client as we collaborate to bring balance and wholeness to that client's life. In my many years of practice, I have been on staff at a university counseling center, a large private practice and currently am with a ministry-based counseling center.

Life can present challenges, some we live with every day, and others seem to come out of nowhere. Maybe life doesn't follow along a path we've spent years creating and working toward. The business of living can begin to feel like a grind, and simple tasks may create exhaustion, fear, and uncertainty. Unresolved and painful childhood memories seem to revisit out of nowhere, and even though you've worked and wished, or prayed about the pain, the pain lingers. We often resign ourselves to perceiving life as a chore instead of a joyful experience, which can lead to a lack of fulfillment and even chronic illness.

Life is messy and sometimes we need help making sense of the chaos. I provide a safe and confidential space to be heard, be real, and be understood. I am passionate about helping people navigate the various expected and unexpected happenings in their lives. Whether it is managing the new territory of parenthood, dealing with an unexpected diagnosis, or handling the stresses of everyday life, I strive to help people remain grounded and arm them with healthy coping strategies to get on their desired path.

I work with adults navigating a variety of issues, including chronic pain and chronic illness, dissociative conditions, depression and grief, complex trauma, relationship challenges, searches for meaning, and family of origin concerns. If you have ever felt like an "outsider"—someone misunderstood and/or struggling to fit in—you'll find a home here. Trained in depth psychology, I am an ideal fit for anyone who is engaged in the process of self-understanding, curious about life, and seeking to be known. I believe the potential for deep healing, connection, and revitalization exists within this work.

Raising a child with developmental, medical, or psychological difficulties can be a struggle for even the best of families. Couples, as well, often need help with navigating the myriad of "man/woman communication styles and parenting difficulties..

Being a person can be hard. Living a life that best suits you as an individual is a work in progress. Along the way, there are undoubtedly challenges. Sometimes, our experiences leave us confused, overwhelmed, and in need of some support. As a therapist, my role is to help understand where you’ve been, where you’d like to go, and help you get there. It’s possible to move from getting by to feeling you have agency over your own life and choices. I specialize in working with challenging life events such as trauma, major life changes, relationship distress, and chronic illnesses. I also work with C-PTSD and Narcissistic Abuse recovery.

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.

Grief, trauma and systemic oppression have increasingly become visible and universal experiences affecting individuals, couples, families and communities. I began my career working with the survivors of intimate partner violence and individuals/families grappling with cancer and death. These experiences have informed my practice working with individuals, couples and families dealing with loss, grief, trauma, anxiety/depression, major life changes, chronic illness, abuse and relational distress.

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!

Does your child have a chronic illness? Have they endured pain, hospital stays, surgeries, or other difficult treatments? Your child may be experiencing difficulty coping, difficulty with school or social situations, poor body image, anxiety and depression. Your child has a variety of emotional, social, cognitive, behavioral, and physical health needs to consider. Please know that seeking help for their mental health does not mean something is wrong with them. It provides added strength to help them achieve everyday goals while managing their illness.