This month’s spotlight is a feature on Giselle Palacios (she/they/ella)! Giselle has been a resident of Vermont for three years and is based in Burlington. They work in the mental health sector as the founder of Aquí Counseling PLLC, providing culturally responsive care with a focus on serving Spanish-speaking communities.
To learn more about Giselle’s work, visit aquicounseling.com or reach out via email at gpalacios.counseling@gmail.com.
Tell us a bit about your background before arriving in VT and what brought you to the state.
I moved to Vermont, never having been to New England. I was born and mostly raised in Miami, FL, to immigrant Cuban and Colombian parents. While I mostly grew up in Florida, I didn’t see my long-term future there. After finishing my bachelor’s at the University of Florida, I had the great privilege of spending my early 20s living on the Big Island of Hawai’i, which profoundly shaped who I am as an advocate, person of color, creative, and adventurer. While the Hawaiian islands are rich in culture, beauty, and resilience, it is also a deeply complicated place, with visceral oppression, US occupation, and hardship. I learned a lot about stewardship and sovereignty living there. Later in my 20s, I moved back to Gainesville, FL, to finish my master’s in counseling and reorient to where I wanted to settle down. I envisioned Vermont as a place where I could sink my transplanted roots, where, similarly to the islands, people still cared about returning to the land, building community and mutual care, and protecting a life built on values. So, I took the leap of faith and moved to Vermont in 2024 with my partner and two pets. So far, it has met many of my expectations.
How did you get into your career?
My interest in pursuing a career in counseling is seeded in my own first experiences in therapy. I was lucky to have access to free therapy through the counseling center at my university, and I was so fortunate to have a Black woman of color as my first therapist. Coming from a Latin household, there was no consciousness around mental health or the world of feelings in general. Being in therapy was like learning a new language, and pretty quickly I saw- this stuff really works! So I became more involved with mental health advocacy work on campus, and my first job out of college was as a field guide for a horticultural therapy program. After gaining more experience in the mental health field and taking a 5-yearish gap year working other odd jobs, I went back to school for a degree in counseling.
Why are you a member of the Vermont Professionals of Color Network?
Naturally, the first thing I did when I moved to Vermont was look for other people of color in the state. I quickly found VTPOC and was so thrilled that this resource was here. Having an org unapologetically center POC in a state like Vermont is radical and inspiring, and in many ways gave me permission to do the same.
What aspects of life in VT do you find most fulfilling? What about your professional life here stands out to you?
While Vermont is not a perfect place, it has many wonderful qualities. I think one of the things I enjoy the most about being here is seeing everyone else’s enthusiasm for being outside. Maybe it’s because the winters are so long and we feel we have to make the most of any sunshine, but people are outside whenever they can be! There are tons of easily-accessible nature trails, the rivers are clean, and people swim in them where they can; folks garden in their front yards, and go on bike rides with their kids- there is just a general appreciation for nature and being active outside that I find really heart-warming and aligned with.
What are some challenges that you’ve faced on a professional level since living in VT?
Well, I didn’t last very long in a professional setting in VT before opening my private practice. My first job when I moved here was in a clinical group setting, where I was the only POC on my team and one of the few at the whole institution. It was so exhausting to not only be new to the field, but also to carry the inherent racial dynamics of being at an all-white workplace. While there is a level of acknowledgment and discussion of racism and discrimination in VT (compared to FL, where there are laws prohibiting “wokeness”), the liberal lens can cause another set of blinders to these issues. Since carving out my own space in private practice, I continue to make efforts to connect with other POC therapists and protect myself from being the “token” POC in my field.
Can you share any strategies or resources that have helped you overcome these challenges?
Knowing my boundaries has been an important strategy in navigating professional spaces here. At my last workplace, there was a breaking point when I said, “That’s enough.” There will be attempts to gaslight you, and the self-doubt is real. Sometimes we need to trust our gut, believe ourselves, and just get out. Sometimes, we don’t have the privilege to step away, and speaking up can have its own set of consequences. In those circumstances, I believe in the resource of knowing our allies and asking for support. This strategy can feel vulnerable and risky, but having people in your corner who have done the work can provide significant relief and protection.
Tell us about the work you’re currently doing and what drives you in your profession!
Growing up speaking Spanish and being proud of my heritage, I always knew I wanted to provide services in Spanish. When I first considered moving to Vermont, people would tell me there were only white people here, and I wouldn’t find any Latinos to work with. The reality is that we ARE here, and we need care made with us in mind. That is what inspired me to name my practice Aquí Counseling; aquí meaning ”here.” In the state, I am one of the few fluent Spanish-speaking therapists. I feel proud to center my identity in my work, rather than feel like it’s an afterthought or something I need to hide. And the joy and relief I see in the clients who find me and feel seen by my approach continually fuels my passion and dedication for the work that I do.
Are there other things (events/opportunities/jobs/etc) you’d like to share with the VT BIPOC community?
I have been eager to expand my offerings beyond the therapy space. This spring, I started facilitating a community offering called Embodied Rest Practice, where I provide gentle somatic movement, self-care tools, and digestible nervous system education in a yoga-like class format. While July 8th is my last class in this 8-session series, it has been really fun to branch out in the community and experiment with a different way of sharing my knowledge and passion for somatic work. I hope to continue crafting more of these group offerings in the future! You can follow my business page on Facebook or join my email newsletter to stay in the loop 🙂
How do you balance your professional life with personal interests and self-care?
In a helping profession, practicing work-life balance is critical. For me, self-care is about having boundaries with myself. Eating when I’m hungry, moving my body every day, getting quality sleep, and making my bed are just my baseline. Self-care is also about knowing myself – learning what a no feels like in my body, recognizing what my nervous system has capacity for (and honoring that), being intentional about my schedule, and communicating my needs to others without feeling guilty about it. And most importantly, prioritizing having fun! Over the winter, I picked up adult ballet classes -shoutout to Lines in Burlington (POC owned!)! I had zero dance experience, but I was just so curious about it. These classes got me through the winter and inspired a whole new experience in my body that I could not be more grateful for. We can never underestimate the impact of giving ourselves permission to play, learn something new, and embody new shapes as a way of showing ourselves love and attention.
What advice would you give to young BIPOC professionals starting their careers in Vermont?
This is a topic I feel passionate about- mentorship in general. My advice for young professionals is to find the radical spaces (they’re out there!!) where you can be celebrated for your diversity rather than tokenized by it. Find other people in your field who have walked a similar path, and don’t be afraid to ASK for mentorship. Don’t believe them when they say “this is just how it is” – we are so much more powerful, capable, and deserving than what folks will lead us to believe. Our ancestors already did the work – don’t be afraid to claim your space and use your privilege to craft something better and softer for your lineage. Our imagination is a fruitful place: dream big and move forward with dignity and determination.
