“Out of my own professional and personal experiences—including my struggle wrestling with anxiety and depression—I chose to become a counselor because I have a strong desire to help people grow and experience happy and rewarding lives”.
Professional Bio
After over 30 years in the museum profession, I decided in 2020 to change careers and become a therapist. Currently, I work for A New Awakening Rio Rancho (ANARR). Before starting at ANARR, I served as a counselor-intern at Eagle Ridge Middle School, an opportunity that reflects my interest in working with adolescents, in addition to adults and senior citizens.
Education
I graduated from New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) in July, 2023, with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling. My concentration is clinical mental health, which means I’ve been educated and trained in counseling theories and practice; professional ethics; substance use and addiction; assessment and testing; trauma and crisis; family and relationship counseling, group counseling, and individual therapy; human growth and development; and career counseling.
Experience
As a therapist, I’ve worked with adolescents and adults in individual therapy and with
adult clients in substance-use groups. I have been able to help people with a wide
range of diagnoses, including PTSD, alcohol/substance use disorders, adjustment
disorders, depression, anxiety, and others.
In my previous career, I spent many years in management and leadership roles where I came to focus on institutional and workforce development; basically, I helped people grow and perform better based on identifying their interests and needs, fostering their strengths, and helping them move past obstacles. Along the way, I got to work at some of the country’s most interesting and vital museums, from Orange County, California, to Washington, D.C.
Goals
I am currently working toward my independent. Along the way, my goal is to continue developing my knowledge and clinical skills. I also hope to learn more about various treatment methods, including cognitive behavioral therapy, compassion-focused therapy, mindfulness, internal family systems, and canine-assisted therapy.