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. 

Rachel Nelson, Biophysical Health Director MOT OTR/L RYT

Rachel earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Mexico in 2014 and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Biology in 2010.  Rachel is a certified yoga teacher with several trauma-informed trainings including: Connected Warriors, Trauma Conscious Yoga for Veterans, Prison Yoga Project, and Universal Yoga.  Rachel values incorporating people of all ability levels into her yoga classes and has taught trauma informed yoga for people transitioning back to community from incarceration, those experiencing homelessness, and those diagnosed with developmental or physical disabilities.

Rachel has completed trainings in motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavior therapy; she values incorporating self-determination, body autonomy, self-regulation and client’s unique interests, proclivities and ways of processing into treatment planning.  Rachel sees the value in empowering a person to drive their recovery and participation, through meaningful participation in activities each person defines as valuable – the heart of Occupational Therapy.  Rachel has experience in working outpatient, community and home-based settings.  She has working with mental health, substance abuse, poly-trauma, treatment foster care, social-recreational, sensory processing, incarcerated, those experiencing homelessness, autism spectrum disorder, feeding difficulties, developmental disabilities, and neurological disease populations.  Her experience in developing inclusive and adaptive social-recreational programming (yoga, kayaking archery, drumming, dance) and specialized summer camp programming has taught her the invaluable roles that inclusive recreation and play have in improving individual and community health. Occupational Therapy utilizes the therapeutic use of play, activity engagement, modification/adaptation to address cognitive, sensory processing, motor, self-regulation, executive functioning, social and daily living skills.

Lyndsey Riordan, OT

Lyndsey earned her Master's in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Mexico in 2021 and a Bachelor's in Psychology in 2019. She was born and raised in New Mexico and is eager to give back to the community. Lyndsey has clinical experience working with individuals with mental illness, history of trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and learning disability.

Lyndsey has completed training in motivational interviewing. She is passionate about integrating self-regulation, sensory processing, autonomy, and meaning into each of her treatment plans. Lyndsey believes that the best way to foster healing is through providing treatment that is valuable and important to the individual.

Alexa Valencia, OT 

Alexa Valencia has a Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the University Of New Mexico Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, 2023. Alexa also has a degree from the University of New Mexico in Exercise Science, 2018. Alexa has a background in working with populations of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds including school based/pediatric OT, acute care OT, trauma informed care, and orthopedic care. Alexa strives to be an inclusive, well-rounded practitioner to support people’s occupational needs, via evidence-based interventions, while also supporting a holistic approach to client’s needs.

Alexa hopes to bring joy, and fun to the TTC clients she serves, while helping them reach their goals. Alexa uses client centered care to create interventions using occupations that are meaningful to clients. This collaborative process allows Alexa to best serve client needs, and also make meaningful gains in life skills.

Rosanne Cervantes, LMSW 

Rosanne Cervantes holds a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University, and an undergraduate degree in Business Management and Psychology from University of Phoenix.  Rosanne has worked in the social work field for the Developmental Disabilities Waiver since 2003. She began as a Case Manager in 2009 and Court Appointed Guardian in 2018. Rosanne began working as a clinical social worker providing direct therapy through an internship beginning in 2021.

Rosanne’s experience has afforded her the opportunity to work with diverse populations that vary in ethnicity, socio economic backgrounds, multiple age groups, and people with varying abilities, physical and emotional, and medical diagnoses. Every person has their own values history, and she strongly believes in the importance of understanding and honoring those personal and cultural values in the therapeutic process.

Rosanne is a passionate mental health advocate. She believes we all deserve dignity and respect, to be able to cope with difficult times, feel in control, confident and good about ourselves. Rosanne’s therapeutic approach is person centered. She uses many interventions based on individual preference and needs, including, EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solutions Focused Therapy, Bowen’s Family System, Narrative Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

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.

Rachel Veracka, Master Mental Health Counselor Intern 

Rachel was born and raised in the Albuquerque area and received her education from the University of New Mexico where she earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies with an emphasis in popular culture, and a master’s degree in public administration. She is currently working on her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at New Mexico Highlands University. Along a work path in public management Rachel discovered her calling in working with others to find hope and healing through the challenges that life can present.

Rachel is interested in the unique history and experiences of everyone she works with. She believes that the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of any person is central to a life lived with joy. She provides a safe and respectful environment for clients to explore their past experiences and current challenges, while also guiding them in constructing their own understanding and solutions. In her free time Rachel enjoys cooking and baking, being outside, and spending time with her family, friends, and especially her dogs.

Michelle Jaramillo, Master Social Work Intern

Michelle is a native New Mexican and is in her final year of the Master of Social Work program with a clinical concentration at New Mexico Highlands University. Michelle graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish. Michelle has experience working with children and families who have developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, history of trauma, substance use and homelessness. Michelle also has experience providing resources for families in the community as a Family Service Coordinator and has a Developmental Specialist II certification. Michelle is trained in Motivational Interviewing and Circle of Security. Michelle is interested in a holistic approach to addressing trauma and learning new trauma-informed approaches to work with families and children. In her free time, Michelle loves to spend time with her husband, daughter and two dogs traveling and being outdoors.