I am an independently licensed clinical social worker (LCSW, License# C-09049). I received my master's degree from New Mexico State University and my bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico and am fluent in Spanish. I have had years of rigorous training for issues with substance-use, depression and anxiety for adolescents, adults and families and have had the honor of learning from some of the most amazing researchers and practitioners in the field of psychology. My Experience: I have been in this field or working as a therapist for about a decade. In addition to being the executive and clinical director of Thrive, I have been honored to be a research therapist for the National Institute of Health, the clinical director for a residential youth treatment center, an invited presenter multiple years for the Corinne Wolfe Children's Law Institute, Head to Toe Children's Conference and many other conferences as well. I also sit on different advisory boards, am an approved supervisor for the New Mexico Board of Social Workers and am the southwest Regional Coordinator for SMART  Recovery, an international science-based, peer-led addiction organization and sit on their adolescent board as well.  About Me: I have lived in Albuquerque since I was a couple of years old and believe that red chile is a tastier, more sophisticated flavor than green, but find that when I doubt a restaurant's worthiness I choose green because it's harder to mess up!  I am proud to have struggled with and overcome some of the same issues that I help others with and I think that it is because of this that people seem to find me very accepting of them. As a clinician, the work I do can be very serious and difficult but I also feel that this intensity creates the need for humor and laughter, so you can expect that when the time is right, I may try to bring some lightheartedness to our time together. I feel unbelievably fortunate to make a living doing something that I love. I am also very passionate about dog-rescue, astronomy and philosophy. I am captivated by science and spirituality and believe deeply that both of these areas are only made beautiful when they are concerned with benefiting the human experience and the experience of all living creatures.