Meet the Staff

Psychologists

Bethany

Name: Bethany Wellman, PsyD

Position/Areas of Responsibility:

Psychologist, Sr.

APA Training Coordinator

Degrees:

Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Emphasis)- Marshall University

Licensure and Certifications:

Licensed Psychologist NM PSY-1541/ TX PSY-39070

Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:

My primary training and experience has been working with individuals navigating socio-economic stressors, including housing and food insecurities. I also enjoy working with non-traditional students (ex: previously incarcerated individuals, youth aging out of foster care, students with serious and persistent mental illness). I have also received specialized training in working with undocumented clients and mixed-status families.

Theoretical Orientation:

My primary theoretical orientation is humanistic/person centered, grounded in attachment theory. I frequently utilize interventions from feminist-multicultural theories and third wave CBT approaches.

Personal Interests:

I enjoy visiting road-side attractions, live music, and ghost hunting.

Name: Alejandro Cervantes, PhD
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Psychologist & Practicum Facilitator
Degrees:	Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from New Mexico State University, 2020
Licensure and Certifications:	Licensed Psychologist (NM PSY-1739)
Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:	First-generation college students, students of color, men of color, men's mental health issues, relational concerns, and group therapy.
Theoretical Orientation:	Relational Cultural Theory and Multicultural Feminist within a social justice and multicultural lens. I also utilize gestalt therapy, interpersonal process therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and systems approach in my clinical work. Because my therapeutic approach integrates Relational Cultural Theory and Multicultural Feminist, I assist students through creative and experiential interventions to best navigate and understand their multiple intersecting identities within oppressive structures. Through this integrative approach, I help students increase awareness of internal and external interruptions to accept and understand how they feel. Finally, I enjoy working with all students and presenting concerns.
Personal Interests:	I enjoy watching sports, particularly teams from Los Angeles, California. I also enjoy playing tennis, and I hope to be more involved in the Las Cruces Tennis Association one day. I am a fan of awards shows and cooking shows. My partner and I love to watch movies and television shows together, whether the shows are comedy or drama. My partner and I are getting ready to have a baby, so we learn how to be parents. Therefore, my current personal interest is preparing how to be a father!

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Name: Bernice Becerra, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Degrees:	Post Master's Certificate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, UTEP 2022 Master's of Science in Nursing - Nursing Education, UTEP 2018 Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, UTEP 2013
Licensure and Certifications:	Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Certified Nurse Practitioner, NMBoN 73382

Counselors

Name: Callum Grevas
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Counselor
Degrees:	MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Fort Hays State University, 2022
Licensure and Certifications:	Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New Mexico
Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:	Anxiety, Perfectionism, Grief, Mindfulness, Student-Athlete Mental Health
Theoretical Orientation:	My theoretical approach stems on the cognitive therapy model as well as mindfulness practices. I like to work with clients on accepting their struggles and learning to live with them in a healthy way. I reach into the bag of multiple different counseling therapies during sessions and often pick and choose depending on the client’s needs.
Personal Interests:	Sports ranks high at my list of hobbies and interests. I enjoy following my favorite sports teams closely throughout the year. If I am not watching sports, I am probably watching movies or TV shows with my wife. I was born and raised in Kansas and am looking forward to exploring the beauty that New Mexico has to offer.

Name: Vanessa Paz, LMHC
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Counselor & Outreach Facilitator
Degrees:	MA in Counseling from New Mexico State University 2014
Licensure and Certifications:	Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New Mexico
Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:	Identity-based, empowerment-focused, trauma-informed approaches
Theoretical Orientation:	Feminist Therapy, Multicultural Counseling
Personal Interests:	Family, furry friends, finding beauty through art, enjoying live music, and cooking for pleasure.

Name: Marie Zubiate
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Counselor
Degrees:	MEd in Counselor Education (Community Counseling Emphasis) from Texas Tech University; Doctoral Candidate in Counselor Education (Career Development Emphasis) from Texas Tech University
Licensure and Certifications:	Licensed Mental Health Counselor (New Mexico), Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (Texas)
Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:	First-generation students, career counseling and assessment, stress management, international students, multi-cultural issues, life transitions, anxiety, sandtray, women’s mental health, group counseling, emerging adults, grief, bilingual counseling (Spanish), outreach, counselor education and supervision. Since 2017, I have taught counseling courses at Texas Woman’s University, Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at El Paso and Midwestern State University.
Theoretical Orientation:	Solution-focused brief counseling model exploring strengths, barriers, and creative arts interventions; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Sandtray Therapy
Personal Interests:	Originally from El Paso, I enjoy reading a good book, cooking, traveling, shopping, tea and coffee drinking, and lounging with my Golden Retriever, Duchess.

Psychology Resident

Name: Kevin Rodriquez, PhD
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Psychology Post-Doc
Degrees:	B.S. in Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University PhD in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University
Licensure and Certifications:
Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:	Mindfulness, trauma-informed care, culturally congruent cognitive behavioral therapy, dialect behavioral therapy, complex trauma, community mental health, Latinx mental health, grief, suicide intervention and risk assessment, health psychology, and community mental health.
Theoretical Orientation:	Culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy, multicultural counseling, and Mindfulness
Personal Interests:	Traveling, music festivals, concerts, hanging out with my dog, being a social justice advocate and videogames.

Name: Elysa Fraginals, PsyD
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Psychology Post-Doc
Degrees:	Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology M.A. in Clinical Psychology
Licensure and Certifications:
Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:	My professional interests include working with young adults, group and individual therapy, neurodiverse clients, assessments, anxiety, depression, identity development, working with individuals of varying cultural backgrounds, and creating a space where individuals feel comfortable to connect and practice interpersonal/social skills.
Theoretical Orientation:	My theoretical orientations include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Humanistic Therapy, practiced through a multicultural lens.
Personal Interests:	My personal interests include traveling, attending music events, spirituality, trying new foods, being in nature, practicing mindfulness and being a cat mom (:

Psychology Interns

Name:Esther Lapite
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Psychology Intern
Degrees:	Doctoral Candidate (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology M.A. in Clinical Psychology
Licensure and Certifications:	Mental Health First Aid Certified
Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:	My experience and interests are centered around individuals with multiple minoritized identities. I find great joy in proving social-justice and compassionate informed care to communities of color who are currently, or have experienced, sexual assault, abuse in the foster care system, high conflict relationships, or injustices regarding immigration/asylum seeking. I help these communities find language to describe their past traumas, manage symptoms of anxiety, learn skills to handle moments of crisis, build meaningful connections with themselves and others, as well as gain resources to help navigate their current socio-political barriers.
Theoretical Orientation:	My primary theoretical orientation is contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy, but I frequently utilize interventions from narrative therapy, mentalization based therapy, exposure therapy, somatic therapy, and third wave CBT approaches. These approaches help me best understand how my client's early experiences impact their current thought patterns, feelings, and behaviors, how we can help them re-write their life story, and discover what skills or tools might be most effective in carving this newfound path. I also enjoy integrating mindfulness, compassion, gratitude, and the use of (anime and comic book) superheroes in my work with clients, and often operate from an emotion-focused, values-driven, and relational framework.
Personal Interests:	I enjoy reading (romance) novels, spending quality time with my fiancé and loved ones, as well as helping people develop and grow their business ideas. I also enjoy meaningful discussions around existentialism, spirituality, the human experience, and how we can work to improve the world one - oppressive structure at a time.

Name: Yelena Salkowitz
Position/Areas of Responsibility:	Psychology Intern
Degrees:	New Mexico State University, Doctoral Candidate in CEP Towson University, Counseling Psychology, M.A., Psychology, B.S.
Licensure and Certifications:	Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Professional Interests and Areas of Expertise:	I am interested in nature therapy and the use of natural environments to help individuals heal by reconnecting to themselves, others, and the natural world. I love incorporating nature-based mindfulness practices into my work and using these techniques to help with anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, eating disorders, and various topics. My overall goal is to continuously better myself as a human being and further understand my positionality in this world so that I may create brave, comfortable, and healing spaces of people from all walks of life. I truly enjoy working with individuals who are looking to find their voice and be heard. I also have a special interest in working with the LGBTQIAA+ community and guiding individuals in their exploration of sexuality, gender, gender expression, and identity development.
Theoretical Orientation:	Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) with a Mindfulness Influence
Personal Interests:	I find great joy in connecting with nature and you will often find me hiking, walking, meditating, gardening, or just hanging outside when I am not working. I am also an avid reader and love a quiet day with a book and one of my many dogs or cats cuddled up with me. My partner and I also love taking road trips and searching for good coffee from small, local coffee shops.

Practicum Counselors

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New Mexico State University