The Counseling Services team at The Mountain Center is growing as we respond to the increased need brought on by the pandemic. This year we’re experiencing a demand for our services that is greater than our ability to meet this need.
With the team of behavioral health professionals we’ve assembled, the cutting edge, evidenced-based therapeutic interventions we offer, the nation’s expanded awareness of the importance of mental health, and the passion we have for our work – we are enthusiastically all in. Knowing there is growing unmet need, we are even more committed to effecting positive change in the lives of those we are able to serve.
It is actually an exciting time for our team. To provide valuable Behavioral Health services to New Mexico youth and adults, couples, families and groups, and have a positive impact on people’s lives in the communities we live, well, that is why we’re here. Our therapists provide traditional, holistic and nature-based, experiential services to over 150 clients in outpatient and residential programs and TMC’s Therapeutic Adventure Programs.
We serve a diverse clientele with a range of complexity. These individuals and families suffer from substance use disorders, trauma, depression, and anxiety. Treatment modalities include Mindfulness Practices, Cognitive Based Therapy (CBT), Seeking Safety - a trauma and addiction EBT, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Stage of Change, Art Therapy and Comprehensive Community Support Services.
Stepping Up Across the Board
In the Santa Fe Outpatient Program, Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) Melissa Harper and Mariana Marachilian and intern Mary Buchard are dedicated to serving clients in Santa Fe, Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties. TMC has a contract with Santa Fe County to provide counseling services for adolescents in the Teen Court program.As our reputation has grown so have our services. We regularly receive requests by individuals, couples, and families in Santa Fe and Albuquerque for counseling. We are currently hiring a Clinical Supervisor and a new therapist to serve both Española and Santa Fe.
The Española office has one Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Megan Orr and a Recovery Support Services (RSS) staff. Megan sees clients referred by Drug Court as well as clients receiving Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). The RSS staff, Andrew Gallegos, Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW) provides Comprehensive Community Support Services focused on housing, job placement, skill building and navigation to other services in the community that support a path in recovery for the clients we are serving.
The Transitional Living Program for women with co-occurring substance use and mental health issues located in Peña Blanca is thriving. We have two therapists, LMHC Beckett House and Diana Porter and one intern, Hana Crawford, plus our RSS Manager Myron Montono, who oversee the Clinical services for clients. Early this year, Sarah Dwyer, a doctoral candidate was hired as the Program and Clinical Manager. Sarah brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the areas of residential treatment and clinical services. Clients receive a minimum of nine hours of Intensive Outpatient Program services as well as individual counseling. The RSS Program Manager provides Relapse Prevention four times a week. As part of their program, clients attend Yoga and Relaxation twice weekly and Therapeutic Adventure Program provides two days a week of Adventure Therapy for the women led by Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Alyssa Glover.
Our internship program is growing as well. Counseling interns from New Mexico Highlands University, Napora University, Western New Mexico University, Prescott College, and Adams State University predominantly provide Adventure Therapy Services for Santa Fe Recovery Center, as well as the Transformative Justice Initiative in Santa Fe.
In addition, Marge Kelley returns to The Mountain Center as our new Clinical Director. Marge previously worked with TMC in the early 2000s to 2015. As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) she’s worked in a clinical capacity in New Mexico for many years, most recently as the Santa Fe Recovery Center's Clinical Program Manager for the Extended Residential Program. She managed their 90 day residential program with 44 beds and held the role as Clinical Director for the whole organization. Her experience includes staff development for 900+ employees which included training and education programs for Santa Fe County. Also, she worked at CYFD as the Wraparound Manager for the state and was the Clinical Supervisor at Kewa Behavioral Health at Kewa Pueblo.
When the pandemic began, we launched our telehealth platform and improved access to rural populations by removing the barrier of physical distance. We secured COVID grants and adjusted our services to respond with programs prescriptively designed to meet the presenting needs of the moment. Two years later, we are better equipped to stand for the marginalized populations we serve. We feel the importance of our work in every life we touch and The Mountain Center’s Counseling Services team of professionals are stepping up to meet the increased need we are experiencing today.