About

Hello/Hola
You have taken the first step to make change in your life; that is courageous, and I applaud you for this. My name is Alma (soul in Spanish), and I am pleased to be taking this walk with you.
I am based in New Mexico, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC) as of 2018 and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADAC) as 2010. I work closely with my community giving back to those who are seeking guidance and direction towards peace in their heart. As a Latina women, I feel honored and privileged to serve the small community I was raised in.
My experience in Substance Abuse has allowed me to support my community where there is an increased demand for services for those who are seeking to create stability in their life. The treatment approach that I have learned to be most useful is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach (CBT) and Motivation Interviewing Techniques (MI). I chose to work with substance abuse early in my career due to the lack of understanding in the lay community of what addition is and the belief of “why can’t they just stop”. The use of a substance typically impacts one’s mental health resulting in a co-occurring disorder.
Therefore, I find when the substance abuse is addressed the mental health disorder (depression, anxiety) decreases and visa versa.
I feel the relationship with a client and therapist develops through trust, respect and honesty; this is a process that takes time and patience. Lastly, meeting my clients where they are is the first step and I am honored to start this journey with you.