About the Author

Vanessa Acero is a licensed therapist, author, and RYT-200 yoga instructor trained through CorePower Yoga, with more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field. Her professional background spans grade-school and outpatient disability services, dual-diagnosis inpatient and outpatient care, outpatient psychiatry, clinical supervision, and teaching in higher education.

 She currently oversees associate therapists and is extensively trained in trauma-focused approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Vanessa’s educational and professional journey has been rooted in psychology from an early age. Her academic studies have remained within the field of psychology, reflecting a longstanding commitment to understanding human behavior, emotional well-being, and the experiences that shape who we become. A lifelong learner, she has completed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training through Brown University and continues to expand her training in trauma-informed, mindfulness-based, mind-body, and evidence-informed approaches.

Inspired by the belief that children are our future, Vanessa created Now Is the Journey and Little Footprint, You Belong to encourage emotional awareness, self-discovery, empowerment, and a sense of belonging from an early age.

Beyond her clinical and creative work, Vanessa is actively engaged in community advocacy and frequently works alongside nonprofit organizations through speaking engagements, educational initiatives, and community events supporting children and families. She remains an active member of her local community and is committed to creating spaces where people feel valued, represented, and included.

At the heart of Vanessa’s work is a guiding belief: every person deserves the opportunity to tell their story, to be seen and heard, and to be treated with dignity and equality.