LIFE HEALING CENTER OF SANTA FE STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

The care team at Life Healing Center are licensed mental health and addiction treatment professionals selected for their ability to work with a wide range of clients, families, and problems.

SENIOR MANAGERS

Mary Young – Executive Director
Mary comes to Life Healing Center with almost 20 years of clinical and administrative experience in addictions and mental health treatment. Her extensive experience ranges from work as a clinician, department manager and Clinical Director in psychiatric and addiction hospitals to administrator positions running adolescent treatment facilities. Most recently, Mary has been a division director for a large addiction inpatient and outpatient treatment center in Kentucky. Mary attended Indiana University for her undergraduate work and Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis for her Master’s degree in Counseling.

Deborah Schweiger-Whalen, MSW, LCSW, CSAT – Clinical Director
Deborah Schweiger-Whalen is the Clinical Director at Life Healing Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and a specialist in the treatment of trauma and eating disorders. Prior to relocating to Santa Fe, Deborah was Sierra Tucson's clinical outreach coordinator in the Mid-Atlantic. She has a master's degree in Social Work from Hunter College of The City University of New York. Her professional experience includes serving as a member of the clinical staff and as clinical outreach coordinator at The Renfrew Center of New York, a premier eating disorders treatment facility. Deborah has presented to the clinical staff of major universities and hospitals and at several national conferences. Deborah's work has been featured in Behavioral Health Care Journal, and she has appeared as a guest on National Public Radio Station WHYY.

Dr. Roxana Raicu, MD – Medical Director
Dr. Raicu is originally from Bucharest, Romania and received her medical degree from Carol Davila University. She completed her training at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX and specializes in Adult as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. While in Houston she completed another Fellowship in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at The Houston Galveston Psychoanalytic Institute. She is Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Aside from being a consultant psychiatrist for the Life Healing Center, she is in private practice working with families in Santa Fe area. She also serves a broad range of communities in New Mexico by providing telemedicine consultations.

Marshall Millikin – Director of Marketing & Admissions
Having worked in the treatment field since 1995, Marshall has served in a variety of marketing, management and administrative roles. For many years he was a co-owner and Marketing Director of Onsite Workshops, and also served in referral relations for Cumberland Heights Treatment Center prior to joining Life Healing Center in 2007. Marshall is based in Nashville, TN and also serves as the Clinical Outreach Coordinator in the Southeast and lower-Midwest regions of the United States.

OUR CARE TEAM

Sonja Frenz, LPC, MSW – Therapist
(University Kassel, Germany; Hakomi Institute of Boulder) Sonja has been with the Life Healing Center since 1998 as a Lead Counselor, and she is now with us as a part-time weekend therapist. She is offering body-mind centered psychotherapy and integrates principles of mindfulness and non-violence in her sessions. Sonja has a special interest in sharing meditation and relaxation techniques, helping to build inner resources through somatic experiencing.

Morgan Holford, MA, LMHC – Therapist
Morgan is a Certified Hakomi Therapist and Trainer who has worked extensively with individuals and couples in private practice for more than 20 years. Her primary modality is Hakomi Experiential Psychotherapy, a body-centered, mindfulness-based method. The focus of her work at Life Healing Center is somatic trauma resolution, helping clients build safety, resources and empowerment in their bodies.

Darby Long, MA, LPCC – Therapist
(University of Wisconsin, Texas Women’s University) Darby has 27 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families in residential and private practice settings. Darby’s experiential approach to therapy involves mind/body/spirit integration with a special focus on the release of blocked emotions. She has created 24 guided imagery meditations for relaxation and wellness. Darby is Level II trained in EMDR and DBT. Her work at LHC includes Breath/Energy sessions to release blocked emotions.

Jeri Braccialarghe, R.N – Nurse
Jeri is an R.N. with 40 years experience in Psychiatric Nursing. She trained in St. Louis, MO.at Washington. Univ./ Jewish Hospital School of Allied Health. She has worked with a wide range of issues but is most involved with sexual abuse and trauma survivors in hospital, residential, and community settings. She has developed and guided Wilderness Experiences, Ropes Courses, and a range of Initiatives helping people recover. She apprenticed with a Curandera and has worked in communities in Central America with student cultural exchange programs. Jeri coninues to learn and grow from her work with people.

Dr. Blair Sylvan Grey, M.A., D.O.M. – Acupuncturist
Dr. Sylvan Grey has been practicing oriental medicine for 01 years. She has studied with the 88th Generational Daoist Master of the Jade Purity School for six years, focusing on psychological and emotional disharmonies. Blair integrates other vibrational modalities, such as tuning forks and essential oils, to assist each patient attune to their spiritual core as they release any trauma within. Acupuncture balances the body’s energy, facilitating a body-mind integration of the daily therapeutic process.

Kenneth H. Farr – Director of Food Services
(Southern University of New York) As our Executive Chef, Ken is responsible for all food preparation, menu development, dietary staff, and kitchen maintenance. Working closely with the Clinical Staff, he has created low-fat, delicious and appealing menus. He invites patients to participate in meal preparation through cooking demonstrations and seminars.

Janna Kipness, LPCC –Therapist
Janna is a graduate of Cornell University, BA and Southwestern College, MA. Janna has been a practicing therapist since 1993. She has experience working with troubled youth as well as adults suffering from all Axis I, II, and co-occurring disorders. Janna is certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and specializes in CBT and transpersonal therapies. She comes to Life Healing center with a solid background in trauma, suicide, and crisis interventions, and is receiving extensive training in sex addiction.

Marsha Apodaca – Counselor Aide Coordinator
Santa Fe native Marsha Apodaca, who has devoted over the past two years to serving LHC clients, has just been promoted to the position of Counselor Aide Coordinator. Marsha’s expertise includes not just her valuable work with dually diagnosed patients here at LHC, but also four years in drug and alcohol rehab treatment following eight years as pharmacy office manager. Marsha is dedicated to improving and sustaining the culture of LHC, in order to provide the best possible care to our patients.

Chrissie Brogger – Admissions Manager
Chrissie Brogger brings a broad base of experience to her new role as Life Healing Center’s Clinical Outreach Coordinator for the State of New Mexico. Chrissie worked for over ten years in both advertising and public relations whilst based in The United Kingdom and her roles at Life Healing Center have included developing and running the Day Treatment Program and, most recently, acting as Care Coordinator for the Admissions Department.

Laura Bassett, LMHC - Therapist
Laura is a DBT trained therapist specializing in trauma, addiction, art therapy, sandplay therapy, transformational psychology, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities, transformational psychology, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Carrie Ishee, M.A., LMHC, CLC - Therapist
(Hood College, Southwestern College, Institute for Life Coach Training) Carrie has been a student of healing, human potential, and consciousness for more than 30 years. While pursuing doctoral work in clinical psychology she held training positions in behavioral therapy at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital, the University of Maryland Hospital, and the Medical College of Virginia. Wanting to work more creatively she pursued a Master's Degree in Art Therapy and developed the Art Therapy program at the Life Healing Center in the 1990's. More recently she has worked as a trained life and leadership coach and developed teams and leaders throughout the community. She has expertise in working with law enforcement and other first responders. She missed the depth of work that happens at the Life Healing Center and has recently returned to assist clients in connecting with their creativity and their own personal imagery to heal themselves from trauma to move beyond an addictive lifestyle.

Catherine Rose, LMSW, Hakomi Trained- Therapist
A graduate of Swarthmore College, BA, Highlands University, MSW and the Hakomi Institute of Boulder, Catherine has trained in family systems therapy, Hakomi therapy and EMDR. Catherine believes that we are all capable of healing and that this healing can take a non-violent form. Loving presence, mindfulness and body awareness are the foundation of Catherine's practice. Catherine has worked with families, low income behavioral health clients, and with teens.

Alisha Shelbourn, MA, LPAT – Therapist
(Southwestern College) Alisha has been an art therapist for seven years, and also has a diverse background working with children, families, and individuals at varying stages of treatment and recovery. She has many years experience in the trauma recovery and addictions fields, as well as working with inmates in the corrections system. Alisha employs art and process therapy to empower her clients and facilitate their connection with the inner self and spiritual growth.

David L. Solem, LMSW - MSW, MAPC, MSpir., M.Mus., CT
David holds degrees in social work, pastoral counseling, spirituality, and music from Loyola University Chicago and Johns Hopkins University.l David is a certified thanatologist (death and dying) through the Association for Death Education and Counseling. He is a Sandplay associate practitioner with STA (Sandplay Therapists of America) and a certified practitioner/administrator of the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). David is a candidate anaylist-in-training with the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, a division of the International Association for Analytical Psychology. Clinically, David has worked in outpatient and hospice settings prior to working in residential treatment. David has worked as a university chaplain and as a classical musician for 30 years. David brings an integrated depth approach to trauma work, combining expressive arts and archetypal work with psychodynamic approaches to healing.

Deborah Payne, CCN - Nutritionist
(University of Guelph) Deborah is a Board-certified Clinical Nutritionist who helps clients who specializes in Nutritherapy for clients with eating disorders, disordered eating, and related issues. She has over 20 years experience in the health and nutrition field with an expertise in balancing body chemistry for better health and recovery. Using comprehensive blood chemistries, Deborah's main goal is to identify and correct the imbalances that are contributing to a client's mood, energy, weight, and eating problems. Her special interest is in raising consciousness around the nutritional and biochemical root causes of addictions and eating disorders.

Cynthia Rank-Ballas, LPCC – Equine Facilitated Psychotherapist
Equine Therapy (Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy) is an experiential treatment approach. In the barn setting, equine facilitated therapeutic activities provide powerful tools for building self-awareness, self-esteem, trust, overcoming obstacles/fears, appropriate boundaries and a sense of personal responsibility. Therapeutic interactions incorporate the power of the horse, the clinical skills of the therapist, and the hopes, dreams and challenges of the person working with the horse.Cynthia owns and operates Healing with Horses, and has been an adjunct therapist with the LIfe Healing Center since 1999.

Cheryl Cambay – Clinical Outreach Coordinator
Cheryl comes with ten years of experience in the mental and behavioral health field in a variety of different capacities. With five years of outreach and marketing work in the addictions field, Cheryl is experienced in the areas of trauma, eating disorders, chemical dependency, and sexual addictions. She is based in Southern California, and serves as the Clinical Outreach Coordinator for the Western region of the U.S. and Canada.

David Lewis, MA – Clinical Outreach Coordinator
David joined LHC in October of 2008 after 18 years in Behavioral Healthcare. This experience included overseeing day to day operations at S.T.A.R. Sexual Trauma and Recovery, managing the overall inception and development of Gray Wolf Ranch in Seattle Washington, as well as providing direct supervisory and clinical service to the addicted population. His skill set includes programmatic administration and referral relations. He holds two degrees from the University of Wisconsin and is trained in addiction treatment through the Hazelden Foundation in Minnesota. Today his talents are focused on clinical outreach for Life Healing as our east coast representative.

Savina Latoma – Business Office Manager
Savina serves as the Business Office Manager, and has been with Life Healing Center for over eight years. She has 11 years experience in the customer service industry for accounting/finance and is a Certified Bookkeeper. Savina is responsible for patient billing and accounts, the patient bookstore, and serves as the human resources representative. Savina loves working with patients and their family members as they travel through this portion of their recovery journey.

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LIFE HEALING CENTER OF SANTA FE STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

SENIOR MANAGERS

OUR CARE TEAM