THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING & CONSULTING
Janelle De Guzman
She/Her/Hers
RESIDENT IN COUNSELING
*Accepting New Clients
Therapist
Hey there! I’m Janelle, a Filipino-American Resident in Counseling passionate about working with teens and adults navigating anxiety, OCD, disordered eating, body image concerns, self-esteem, and relationship with food challenges. I’m also passionate about supporting Asian American and multicultural clients navigating identity, cultural expectations, perfectionism, and emotional well-being.
My style is warm, direct, and individualized. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills, parts work, and compassion-focused work to create treatment that feels both effective and sustainable. I value the mind-body connection and believe therapy should be tailored to what genuinely works for you. I also believe therapy can balance intentional healing work with authenticity, self-compassion, and even lightheartedness and humor along the way. I hold a B.S. in Psychology from Randolph-Macon College and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University.
Outside of therapy, you’ll usually find me traveling, training for half marathons, spending time with loved ones, or getting lost in a good book. I know starting therapy can feel intimidating, but you don’t have to figure it all out alone. I’d be honored to be part of your journey!
Resources
Navigating “Summer Body” Pressure
Have you noticed that your relationship with food and your body changes as summer gets closer? Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I need to lose weight before summer,” “I need to diet before vacation,” or “I need to get my ‘beach body’ before wearing a bathing suit”? Do you avoid buying or wearing tank tops, shorts, bathing suits, skirts, or tank tops because you don’t like how you look and feel in them? Maybe you’re noticing that you’re more self-conscious and compare yourself more in warmer weather. Maybe you have a fear of getting judged.
Listening to My Body
Listening to My Body ,by Gabi Garcia is a short book to help therapists, counselors, parents, and/or teachers help kids learn how to connect with their bodies. Although this is a kid's book, the language and information can also be applied to individuals of any age, or any therapist beginning somatic work with clients. Garcia has moments of practice throughout the book: such as listening to hunger, taking calm breaths, noticing a fast heart beat, or feeling tense muscles. She uses accessible and empowering language to help readers befriend their bodies slowly and gently.
Softening the Edges of Perfectionism: When 'Doing Your Best' Never Feels Like Enough
Have you ever felt like no matter how much you accomplish or how hard you work, it still doesn’t feel like enough and it still feels like you’re falling short? Do you find yourself replaying scenarios in your head over and over again, wondering how you could have done things a little bit better? Do you ever feel like you have to do it all and can’t make mistakes or else something terrible will happen? If any of this resonates with you, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. You might just be experiencing perfectionism.
Almost Anorexic: Is My (Or My Loved One's) Relationship with Food a Problem?
By: Jennifer Thomas and Jenni Schaefer
Jennifer Thomas and Jenni Schaefer write this book to emphasize that disordered eating, body image, and relationship with food exist on a spectrum as opposed to being black-and-white (“normal eating” vs. having a diagnosed eating disorder). The authors do a great job offering tools, psychoeducation, encouragement, self-reflection, inclusivity, compassion, and lived experience throughout the book. This book is written for anyone that may not believe they are “sick enough” or may not have met criteria for an eating disorder but still struggle with food, eating, and body image.
Mirror Work: Less "Fixing," More Feeling
Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and didn’t like what you saw? Have you found yourself hyperfocusing on the body parts you don’t like? Have you ever thought, “I wish I looked different” or “I look awful”?
If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. Over 50% of people in the world have experienced some level of body dissatisfaction. For some people, a mirror is merely a mirror. It’s something we use to look at ourselves, do our makeup, look at our outfits, brush our teeth, or fix our hair. For others, mirrors can be difficult. Glances aren’t just glances. They can become judgmental or make some of us spiral into criticism, comparison, or shame.