About Us

We are here to help.

Trauma Treatment Center & Research Facility was designed with the current needs of all ages of individuals facing difficult situations in mind. We provide services that address trauma through multiple avenues: behavioral health treatments, biophysical therapies, group therapies and classes, and core community support services. By addressing individuals needs from multiple perspectives we can enhance the positive outcome for clients.

As we grow in Rio Rancho we will also focus on supporting the community outside of our agency walls and plan to participate in community activities and support the needs of our clients in their community based environments. TTC also looks forward to giving back to the city of Rio Rancho as a sponsor for different programs as TTC continues to grow.

TTC highly values maintaining a vested interest in our employees. Supporting their growth professionally and personally is how TTC promotes a healthy working environment that in turn supports Client growth within our facility. As an agency the promotion of self-care is vital to TTC’s philosophy.

Research

At Trauma Treatment Center, our commitment to supporting mental health research is fundamental to our mission of providing the most effective, compassionate, and evidence-based care to our community. We believe that advancing the science of mental health is not just beneficial—it is essential for reducing suffering and improving lives.

Driving Evidence-Based Practice: Mental health research is the bedrock of effective treatment. By contributing to and staying current with the latest findings, we ensure that the therapeutic modalities we offer—from EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—are validated by rigorous scientific inquiry. Our support for research directly translates into higher quality care for our clients, guaranteeing that they receive the gold standard in trauma recovery and mental health treatment.
Innovating New Interventions: Complex mental health issues, especially those stemming from trauma, require continuously evolving solutions. We support research to help discover and refine novel intervention techniques, biomarkers, and prevention strategies. This proactive approach ensures that individuals who may not respond to current treatments have access to the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
Reducing Stigma and Increasing Understanding: Research serves as a powerful tool for demystifying mental illness. By scientifically establishing the biological, psychological, and social underpinnings of conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression, we help normalize the experience of mental health challenges and foster greater public acceptance. Our support helps disseminate knowledge that replaces misinformation with factual understanding, paving the way for easier access to care.
Improving Outcomes for Underserved Populations: A key focus of our support is research that addresses health disparities and identifies effective interventions for diverse, marginalized, and underserved populations within New Mexico. We are dedicated to ensuring that advances in mental health science benefit everyone, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.

In essence, supporting mental health research is an investment in our clients' future and the well-being of the wider community. It is how TTC-NM upholds its commitment to continuous improvement, ethical practice, and pioneering compassionate care.

What We Offer

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the care we deliver.

Kate Bunch, MS LPCC RPT-S IMHE-III, EMDR Approved Consultant

Kate Bunch is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of New Mexico. She is also a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), an Endorsed Infant Mental Health provider (IMHE-III) and EMDRIA Approved Consultant.

Kate developed Trauma Treatment Center to deliver treatment addressing trauma across the lifespan. She has had her model of treatment published in the Journal of Counselor Practice and the Journal of Trauma Studies in Education and The Journal of Trauma Studies in Education. She also works with multiple universities to continue to study the impact of treatment as well as innovative treatment practices.

Kate is a co-owner of Mind Body Trauma Institute based out of New Mexico with the primary focus to support the training and development of providers across genres from a holistic and trauma-focused approach. The Mind Body Trauma Institute offers training that focuses on understanding trauma from any field, trauma treatment in mental health, and the lasting effect of trauma on providers themselves.

Kate is the founder of The Jackie Project, a non-profit to honor of her Grandmother supporting education and literacy for social emotional development with children. The Jackie Project develops ways to increase access to treatment for underserved areas in New Mexico. Additionally, it works to support continued efforts in complex trauma research.

Kate had been awarded the George R. Keppler 2019 Outstanding Counselor of the Year from the New Mexico Counseling Association and the Behavioral Health Worker - Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Excellence Award for 2023 from The Children’s Law Institute.

Monica Tapia, COO

Monica has 20 years in the customer service field and values her role with patients. Making sure that our patients receive the best care possible is her goal every day at TTC. Monica enjoys engaging with patients and attending networking events on behalf of TTC. She also enjoys incorporating her family into her work life by bringing her children to attend staff yoga and company retreats. Monica has training in HIPPA Compliance and Verbal De-escalation and Disruptive Behavior Management

Cortny Stark, Ph.D. LPCC LADAC

A 2013 graduate of New Mexico Highlands University’s Masters of Community Mental Health Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling, Cortny is currently a doctoral candidate and graduate assistant in the University of New Mexico Counselor Education program. Her clinical practice is grounded in a wellness-based humanistic approach, with an emphasis in trauma-informed care. As a mental health, substance abuse, and rehabilitation counselor, Cortny provides counseling services for a variety of mental health concerns. Her clinical specialties include trauma processing and integration, substance abuse and addictive behaviors, crisis intervention, LGBTQ+ issues, serious mental illness, and medical cannabis as a mental health and medical intervention.

Alexis Smith, LMHC

Alexis began her journey at Trauma Treatment Center (TTC) first as a Behavioral Health Intern while she was completing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is pleased to continue working with the team at TTC as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Alexis also holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Business Management from Augustana College, located in Illinois, where she is originally from. Alexis moved to New Mexico in 2018 because she fell in love with the land and culture and is eager to give back to our communities by providing quality, trauma-informed, mental health care. Alexis is currently trained in EMDR, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Infant Mental Health, and continues to expand her toolbox through ongoing training. Alexis is actively completing training in Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and is thrilled to be able to provide CPP to support young children (ages 0-5) and their families strengthen their relationships and heal after stressful and traumatic events. Prior to her work at TTC, Alexis has a cumulative 10 years in working with children and their families in various roles including as a Behavior Management Specialist and as a Registered Behavior Technician providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with a range of developmental and neurological disorders. Although Alexis has expansive experience in working with younger individuals, Alexis enjoys working with all age ranges and a broad variety of concerns. Alexis views her role as a counselor as a privilege, as she gets to meet others on their healing journey and hear their stories.

Alexis is focused on providing trauma-informed care with diverse interests in treatment modalities in order to meet clients where they are at, with the best suited approach to help clients live their most empowered life. Alexis is thrilled to complete her internship with TTC, where a holistic approach to addressing adverse life experiences is engrained in all they do.

Milan Trujillo, LMHC

Milan graduated with Bachelors of Science of Psychology and a Bachelors of Arts of Sociology from Northern Arizona University. Milan graduated with a Masters of Counseling from the University of New Mexico. He is interested in holistic models of mental health treatment and has begun training in trauma-focused therapies, Infant Mental Health, and Play Therapy. Milan is motivated to integrate culturally-based healing practices into his therapeutic approach to support the clients find healing and connection to their communities and histories in New Mexico. One of Milan's core tenants of counseling is that change and healing happen through relationship; we are able to heal as individuals and as communities when we have support, compassion, and hope. Milan has experience working with children in school setting as well as adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities. Music and writing are two of Milan's passions and hobbies. Milan brings warmth, openness and enthusiasm to his clients and invites creativity into the counseling relationship.

Somi Monju, LMSW

Somi Monju graduated with her Bachelors in 2022 and Masters in 2024 both through the school of social work at New Mexico State University and she holds a social work license in the state of New Mexico. Somi has worked in the field since 2017 working with foster and adoptive children and families generally in various roles including case management and advocacy. She believes that connection, relationships, and community provide healing, and that the therapeutic relationship is a collaboration. Somi is a TBRI practitioner and is certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy and utilizes play with children. She is being trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, and Infant Mental Health Child Parent Psychotherapy. Somi is excited to continue learning more interventions and modalities that will make her more well-rounded.

Somi grew up in a multicultural home with siblings with neurodiversity, disabilities, and different racial backgrounds which provided a more well rounded lens into different experiences. More professionally, Somi has experience in working with people with disabilities, different identities, cultures, and trauma backgrounds in a variety of settings and continues to bring the values and knowledge from other experiences into her work.

RoseAnn Porquis, LMSW

RoseAnn Porquis has been a Social Worker since 2012. After attending Metropolitan State University of Denver for her Bachelor's (2012) and Master of Social Work degrees (2013). She began her work with children and families in crisis. She has extensive experience in the roles of Family Preservation Specialist and over a decade serving in the Children, Youth and Families field in various capacities. Her experience as a foster and adoptive parent has fueled a passion to honor and support the familial bond. Upon her move to New Mexico, she transitioned to the field of mental health as a grief therapist at the Office of the Medical Examiners supporting families and individuals experiencing sudden and traumatic deaths. RoseAnn operates from a humanistic perspective and considers herself a Rogerian therapist. RoseAnn is trained in EMDR and SandTray- both modalities proven to support individuals experiencing trauma.

Briana Salisbury, CCSS

Briana Salisbury holds an Associate’s degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of New Mexico. With plans to continue on to earn her Master’s in Counseling and become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Briana is passionate about providing mental health support that is both compassionate and culturally informed.

As a bilingual provider , Briana offers services through New Mexico’s CCSS (Comprehensive Community Support Services) program, which focuses on helping clients build the life skills they need to function independently and thrive in their daily environments. This includes assistance with goals related to education, housing, employment, health, and social connection ,all tailored to each individual’s needs.

In addition to working directly with clients, Briana also supports the administrative side of her clinic, bringing professionalism, warmth, and structure to everything she does. She is dedicated to walking alongside her clients with empathy, encouragement, and the belief that everyone is capable of growth.

Sarah Ayoub, LMSW

Sarah is a licensed master social worker, mindfulness teacher, and therapeutic yoga specialist. She is currently training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and is excited to provide this type of support. Sarah draws from a decade of experience leading yoga and mindfulness groups to various populations: veterans, first responders, clients in recovery, inpatient mental health, intensive outpatient, and those who have experienced incarceration. With a passion for integrating holistic modalities into trauma treatment, she incorporates mindfulness-based somatic practices into her therapeutic approach to support whole-person care. Sarah sees therapy as a practice of meeting ourselves with curiosity, compassion, and honesty and is grateful to walk beside her clients on this journey.

Kacie Morelos, BH Intern

Kacie Morelos graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University in 2023. Throughout her education, Kacie has gained experience working with school-aged children from diverse backgrounds in various capacities. During her undergraduate and masters studies, she managed a state-licensed after-school program and a summer camp of over 80 children at an elementary school. Kacie is currently pursuing a Master’s in Counseling at the University of New Mexico, with an expected graduation date of July 2026. As a counseling intern, she is passionate about providing culturally sensitive and trauma-informed mental health support to children and their families. Kacie also strives to create a space that is welcoming and supportive to every client seeking services. Kacie’s counseling approach is rooted in person-centered, Adlerian, and feminist theoretical frameworks. She is interested in specializing in sand tray, play, and art therapy and is excited to provide support to her clients through the use of these approaches. Outside of the office, Kacie enjoys creative projects such as crochet, mixed media projects, and writing.