Verónica Vázquez-Perez is a bilingual counseling intern completing her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education – History from Universidad Ana G. Méndez in Puerto Rico. Before moving to Michigan, Verónica worked as a middle and high school History teacher in Puerto Rico.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Verónica relocated to Michigan in 2015, where she learned English as a second language and adapted to a new cultural environment. She later volunteered with Grand Rapids Public Schools for five years, working with elementary school students. Her personal and professional experiences have strengthened her appreciation for cultural differences and the unique ways that culture, family, identity, and life experiences can shape a person.

Verónica’s counseling approach is primarily grounded in Gestalt therapy and multicultural counseling. She helps clients develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and experiences while encouraging them to connect with what is happening in the here and now. She believes that increased self-awareness can help clients better understand themselves, recognize patterns in their lives, and discover new possibilities for personal growth and change.

Verónica views each client withing their unique social and cultural context. She recognizes that experiences related to culture, family, relationships, language, identity, and environment can influence how people understand themselves and experience the world around them. Her approach is collaborative, culturally responsive, and centered on creating a safe and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and accepted.

As a bilingual and bicultural counselor, Verónica has a special interest in supporting Hispanic and Latino clients and other individuals navigating cultural transitions, identity, and adjustment. She understands that communicating emotions and personal experiences can feel different depending on the language and cultural context in which they are expressed. Verónica strives to provide a space where clients can bring their whole selves into counseling and explore their experiences with curiosity, authenticity, and compassion.

Verónica believes that clients already possess strengths and resources that can support meaningful change. Rather than defining people by their struggles, she hopes to help clients deepen their self-understanding, become more aware of their needs and choices, and move toward a life that feels more authentic and meaningful to them.

Client Focus

• Children and Adolescents
• Young Adults and Adults
• Hispanic and Latino Individuals
• Bilingual Spanish – and English – Speaking Clients
• Individuals Navigating Cultural Adjustments and Life Transitions
• Anxiety and Emotional Concerns
• Identity and Self-Exploration
• Individual Counseling

Special Interests

• Gestalt Therapy
• Multicultural Counseling
• Cultural Identity and Acculturation
• Hispanic and Latino Mental Health
• Life Transitions and Adjustment
• Self-Awareness and Personal Growth
• Mindfulness and Present-Moment Awareness
• Trauma-Informed Counseling