Inspiring Conversations with Vanessa Guerrier of Smile Warrior Counseling, Consulting, & Therapeutic Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Guerrier.

Hi Vanessa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story really starts with my parents and their journey from Haiti. Although they didn’t meet there, they were both searching for better lives for themselves and their families when they came to the U.S. They worked incredibly hard to give me and my siblings opportunities they never had.

Even with that foundation, trauma can still find you. For me, it happened at home, with someone who was supposed to be a safe space. I carried that experience for a long time, and it showed up in my mental health and in school. Writing became a way for me to cope, even though I didn’t fully realize it at the time.

In high school, my English teacher noticed that my writing was saying more than I was. She brought in the school counselor, who created a space where I felt safe and never pushed me before I was ready. That experience was unfamiliar in my household—especially as a child of immigrants but it changed my life. Over time, I began learning more about trauma and mental health, and eventually had conversations with my family that helped create real, lasting change.

Having someone support me through such a difficult and personal process inspired me to want to be that person for others. I started working with children, who are often silenced or misunderstood, and eventually expanded my work to supporting people across all ages. What I went through shaped me, but it also gave me a sense of purpose that continues to guide the work I do today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. Building my career came with many learning curves. Early on, I often found myself as the youngest person in the room, one of the few women of color, and sometimes the only one approaching situations through a trauma-informed lens. Learning to trust my voice and honor my expertise took time.Throughout that journey, the support of those closest to me people who believed in me, challenged me, and pushed me forward along with my faith, became steady sources of strength when doubt crept in.

One of the biggest lessons was learning how to balance passion with sustainability. When you care deeply about the people you serve, it’s easy to give too much of yourself. I had to learn how to set boundaries, slow down, and redefine success in ways that prioritize long-term impact rather than constant productivity. As a woman of color and a child of immigrants, there were moments when I questioned whether I truly belonged in certain professional spaces. Over time, I learned to trust my training, my instincts, and the lived experience that informs my work.

Working with complex trauma requires both presence and care, holding space for others while protecting your own well-being. There were moments of self-doubt, emotional fatigue, and learning through mistakes, but each experience shaped my approach and reinforced the importance of ethical care, supervision, and community.

Those challenges didn’t discourage me; they clarified the kind of professional I strive to be. They taught me to lead with intention, compassion, and balance, and to create the kind of safe, grounded space I once needed myself.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Smile Warrior Counseling was created to help people who are struggling get the support they need to reconnect with their inner Warrior and, ultimately, find their smiles. I believe every individual is a superhero in their own way, and like every superhero, they have an origin story often shaped by trauma, resilience, and survival. At Smile Warrior, clients are never walking through that journey alone. That belief sits at the heart of my mission and guides how I show up in this work every day.

Through Smile Warrior, I support individuals across the lifespan who are navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. My style is direct, compassionate, and creative. I don’t avoid hard conversations, but I approach them with honesty and care. I see therapy as something active and collaborative where insight meets real-world tools, and growth feels possible.

What sets Smile Warrior apart is how personal the work feels. I take time to understand the whole person, their culture, family systems, and lived experiences, not just their symptoms. I move at a pace that honors safety while still encouraging meaningful change. Brand-wise, I’m most proud of building a practice that feels warm, ethical, and empowering, especially for people who may not have felt seen or protected in traditional therapeutic spaces.

What I want readers to know is that Smile Warrior is for anyone who’s tired of carrying everything alone. It’s for people ready for honest conversations, thoughtful challenge, and a space where healing is taken seriously but never rushed.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Atlanta is the energy! You can feel the creativity, culture, and ambition everywhere. There’s always something happening, from new restaurants to art shows to community events, and I love how many different worlds exist in one city. It feels like a place where people are building things, dreaming big, and actually supporting one another while doing it.

What I like least? The traffic. Hands down. It will humble you, reroute your plans, and test every breathing exercise you’ve ever learned. On a more serious note, as Atlanta keeps growing, I do hope we continue expanding access to mental health care and community resources, but I’ll still be working on my patience behind the wheel in the meantime.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heysmilewarrior
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ms.smileyw

Image Credits
Nina Natasha
Vanessa Guerrier