Who We Are

Tod DiCecco, MA, LPCC

Executive Director

Tod, who received his Master’s degree from Southwestern University, takes a holistic approach to the transformational and healing process by offering the opportunity to explore personal growth through the mind, body, and spirit. He also uses mindfulness practices to guide individuals and families through relationship challenges, grief & loss support, and issues related to substance abuse, trauma, and other life stressors.

He believes when people connect with their purpose and what brings meaning into their life, they experience greater connection with themselves, their family, and community. He also believes that using creativity supports the heart’s true authentic expression, which brings about joy and inspiration. A deep connection to the heart can develop feelings of safety and expand compassion towards others and ourselves.

Niccole Toral, MA, LPCC, CDWF, TEP 

Clinical Supervisor

Niccole holds a master’s degree in Counseling, is a Certified Daring Way Facilitator (CDWF) and holds a Certificate in Transformational Eco-Psychology (TEP) from Southwestern College, a Consciousness Centered Program. She has been shaped by integrative wellness both personally and professionally is passionate about combining therapies and modalities that inspire others. Niccole loves that Mesa Vista Wellness integrates many different forms of wellness within their services.

Over the course of her professional career, Niccole has spent several years in the implementation and integration of behavioral health care in rural primary care clinics.

Stephanie Murphy, MA, RN, MEd, LPCC, ATR-BC

Art Therapy Supervisor

A board-certified art therapist with over 24 years of experience in the healthcare field, Stephanie strongly relies on the mind/body/heart connection of each individual to inform her therapeutic practice and guide clients all on their paths to reach their full potential as human beings.

As an art therapist, she utilizes many creative modalities, such as sand tray, SoulCollage ™, and intuitive painting to integrate both left- and right-brain functioning to help clients find a whole-brain solution to life’s challenges.

Celedina Coss, MSW, LCSW, CCTP
(Certified Clinical Trauma Professional)

Clinical Supervisor, Santa Fe Indian School Site

Celedina is a native New Mexican with more than 10 years of experience working from a trauma-informed perspective. Utilizing a blend of mindfulness techniques, CBT, DBT and talk therapy, Celedina specializes in treating LGBTQIA issues, substance abuse, and trauma stemming from sexual and domestic violence and incarceration. Her background includes time spent working with clients at Solace Crisis Treatment Center, Southwest Care Center, and the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico. Celedina has deep love and respect for the varied and beautiful cultures that make up the state’s population.

Carolina Saenz, LMHC, NBCC

Carolina received her Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Prior to working as a counselor she was a Support Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico where she worked closely with children, adolescents, parents, and volunteers in the community.

Carolina has experience working with clients of ages 8+ as well as with couples. Her approach to therapy includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness based psychotherapy. She believes that counseling is a collaborative process between the client and counselor and that the client is the expert of their own life. She believes in the power of genuineness, acceptance, and empathetic understanding. Carolina fosters a challenging space to facilitate growth and strives to offer a safe and non-judgmental environment where you can process through your experiences.

Carlos Gonzales, LADAC

Carlos F. Gonzales is a native New Mexican, born and raised. Carlos is 51 years old, married with 4 daughters and 2 granddaughters. His career is in state government as a Financial Manager and Chief Procurement Officer, as well as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor, and property manager. Since entering the First Judicial District Drug Court Program in Santa Fe New Mexico in March 2001, he worked at Albertson’s for eight years as a customer service manager overseeing the hiring, training, and implementation of staff and programs. In 2007 Carlos moved his career to join the State of New Mexico and is currently Financial Manager and Chief Procurement Officer.

Carlos is a recovering alcoholic and addict, and will be sober 19 years on January 30, God willing. Carlos is a licensed counselor and serves the court treatment programs exclusively. He was voted into the New Mexico Association of Drug Court Professionals in 2009 and is currently serving as the treasurer. Carlos is hoping to help others find peace, a solution to addiction, and a future of happiness as he strongly believes in what he does. “I am truly blessed to have the opportunities that have been given me, and I do not take life lightly. I work hard, play hard, and do my best to keep healthy and strong. I believe life should be shared, not just lived, and we all should be proud of who and what we are no matter how that may look.”

Julia Lucero, MSW, LCSW

With 26 years of experience as a social worker, supervisor, program director, adjunct professor and program administer, Julia has worked with diverse populations and relies on the strength, resiliency and uniqueness of the individuals she works with to guide her practice.

As a 9th generation Chicana from northern New Mexico, she embraces the values, culture, language, traditions, and healing practices handed down to her from the women in her family. Through a holistic approach, she honors the place of strength clients bring to the therapeutic relationship and works to help them realize their full potential.

Tim Valentine, MA, LPCC

Tim Valentine comes to Mesa Vista Wellness with a lifetime of experience helping others through therapy, teaching, and as a musician. Tim believes that the experience of emotional and spiritual connection between people, as a therapeutic alliance, creates an atmosphere and energy that can be utilized for healing and for healthy transitional movement.

He uses a variety of techniques to enhance a foundational talk therapy approach, especially music: be it playing and singing songs, listening to music, and even songwriting.

Andrea Serna, MA, LPCC

Andrea is a native of northern New Mexico who has over 25 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. She believes in a holistic approach to healing involving psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual work. Andrea believes that people have their insight into their experiences and utilizes empowerment within the person. Developing self-awareness, skills and strategies that work in their world is what she strives for.

Andrea uses play therapy, art therapy, genograms, lifelines, ecomaps, CBT and more in helping clients to develop strategies to cope with life’s challenges.  Andrea is a client-centered therapist and knows that no matter what, there is always hope.

Heather Hines, MSW, LCSW

Heather has an affinity for working with children, teens and adults coping with grief and loss, as well as people struggling with nightmares, anxiety, mood swings and trauma. She was trained in family therapy at the Sky Center in Santa Fe and in infant mental health at Las Cumbres in Espanola, and is currently working on a PhD in Integrated Therapy and Healing Practices at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Heather’s approach is that of a heartfelt partnership with individuals and families to inspire the positive transformation they desire. This approach, which has out of
her studies of psychoanalytic theory and depth psychology, allows her to serve as a guide and witness to healing through dreams and engagement with the personal and collective unconscious. Heather meets each client exactly where they are on their journey, and helps them walk the path toward healing. Underscoring the work is her deep respect for the human condition and genuine enjoyment of the therapeutic relationship.

Christine Miller, MA, LMHC, CYT-200

Christine received her Master’s in Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe. She has also completed a 200-hour Certified Yoga Instructor training with YogaSource. Christine primarily serves children and adolescents and utilizes art therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, yoga and sensory self-soothing techniques into her sessions. She is particularly interested in building motivation and self-esteem and identifying healthy coping skills for life experiences. Utilizing art therapy, journaling and talk, Christine hopes that her clients will walk away with stronger self-expression and communication skills.

Desiree Handley, LMHC

Desiree holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe. She has formulated her own unique, creative process using art therapy, play, and metaphor to support others in cultivating a deeper understanding and self-acceptance of thoughts, feelings, and experiences. She uses Psychoeducational and cognitive behavioral approaches to help clients develop the tools that are right for them and uses motivational interviewing to support clients in discovering and empowering their own internal motivation, strengths, and self-worth. Desiree specializes in working with teens and young adults during transitional times in life and enjoys helping individuals develop interpersonal skills and relationships.

Mindy McClung, LMSW

Mindy holds a Master’s in Childhood Development and Elementary Education from Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education of Psychology. Mindy provides holistic, mindfulness based psychotherapy to afford insight, promote compassion, resilience and well-being in personal lives, relationships and community. Mindy offers treatment for mood disorders, trauma, interpersonal struggles, issues surrounding aging geriatric populations and grief and loss, trauma/inter-generational trauma with American Indian populations.

Mindy specializes in culturally sensitive work with teens and adults, and geriatric populations. She provides empathic attunement to heal past wounds and traumas and assists clients in living a life with greater purpose and authenticity and helps them to create a rich, vibrant life.

Jessie Mackenzie, LMFT

Jessie has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2005, practicing in both New Mexico and California. She was born in La Jolla, California and spent her childhood in San Diego and received her Master’s of Arts and Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis In Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Jessie is Jungian in her therapeutic approach, but has specialities in Trauma Informed Care, addiction therapy, and has worked extensively with children in her practice. During her career, Jessie has worked as a Clinical Director for Eastern Navajo Nation Department of Behavioral Health, learning to speak Navajo, and has a deep interest in how Western and Traditional modalities combine to provide holistic meaning for her clients.

Tiannon Schmitt, LMHC

Tiannon is a licensed mental health counselor. She graduated from Southwestern College in 2006 with a Master’s in Art Therapy and Counseling and has worked with diverse populations through Creativity for Peace, Santa Fe Mountain Center, home visiting programs for families and private practice. Tiannon’s specialty areas include infant and maternal mental health and emotions and eating wellness. As an art therapist, Tiannon values the creative process as inherently therapeutic for resolving traumas, supporting whole-brain integration and emotional regulation. Tiannon is also a certified Circle of Security parent educator and Positive Parenting Facilitator.

Melody Van Hoose, LMHC

Melody has a wide range of talents she brings to the counseling profession. Melody has a Waldrof teacher for fifteen years and has extensive experience working with pre-kindergarten to high school students and adults of all ages. Melody graduated from Prescott College with an MS in Counseling and her undergraduate degree is in Eurythmy, a creative movement discipline, which she began studying in 1999. She has been a registered eurythmy movement therapist since 2009 and a licensed massage therapist since 2011. She is also trained in Spacial Dynamics, conflict mediation, and non-violent communication.

Ally Schamaun, MA, LMHC

Ally graduated from Southwestern College in 2016 with her degree in Art Therapy and Counseling. Since then she has focused her specialty on infant-parent and early childhood mental Health (serving children prenatally through 6 years old). In April 2019 she graduated from the Napa Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowship Program through the University of California- Davis. Ally is a trained Circle of Security Parenting facilitator and is trained and rostered in Child-Parent Psychotherapy. Ally uses child-centered play therapy, art therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and other modalities when working with children and families in the form of dyadic therapy, individual collateral sessions with parents and/ or play therapy sessions for children. These offering help to increase parent and child emotional regulation and support attunement and mindfulness within the relationship. Ally uses a trauma informed approach and an attachment and relationship lens when working with children and families who have experienced hardships. 

J. Bob Kitts, LPCC

Over the past 37 years, I’ve learned to practice the art of listening. My experience has shown me we all need to be heard and understood. It helps us see how to make improvements in our lives. I have a Master of Science, Marriage and Family Therapy. Bachelor of Arts and Psychology. I have worked with individuals, families, and couples treating a variety of presenting problems including depression, anxiety, marriage and family issues, grief and loss, transition, and recovery issues.

Jonathan Wallace, LMHC

Jonathan received his undergraduate degree from New York University and his masters degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. He uses both western concepts and eastern (Buddhist) ideas to formulate a therapeutic experience that is both practical and pragmatic as well as more philosophical and existential. From cognitive and behavioral therapy to meditation and mindfulness, Jonathan is comfortable with a wide range of support and therapeutic interventions. What links all of these approaches is his understanding that support comes from both listening and fully being present for each and every client. Aware that therapy is much more than a transaction or formulated responses, he aims to get to know each client and meets them where they are at, whether they are suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, or addiction issues. He has been specializing in substance abuse disorders since 2013 and does an abundance of work with Santa Fe’s drug court and treatment court programs.

Niccole Toral

Shamanic Practitioner and Yoga Teacher

Niccole has studied and apprenticed with many indigenous elders in Earth-based methods, including vision quest, a wilderness rite of passage, Native American spiritual practices, and Andean (Peruvian) spiritual cosmology.

As an Earth-based healer, counselor and teacher, she has always resonated with the spiritual and nature-based culture that is found throughout New Mexico. She is a strong believer in getting healthy, being healthy, and staying healthy. Niccole instills balance in her own life: hiking, running, yoga, travel, and lots of time with her family and pets.

Rick Bastine, CHT/NLP 

Rick Bastine integrates a wide variety of techniques into every unique, customized healing session. He is a shaman, sound healing artist/practitioner, certified hypnotherapist (CHT), neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner, intuitive polarity therapist, and is experienced in self-healing activation, energy balancing, spiritual healing, guided imagery, Reiki I/II, Pranic healing and collaborative coaching.

Rick Bastine is an intuitive facilitator in the rediscovery, unfolding, and development of an individual’s inner healing abilities. His healing sessions promote a more grounded, rejuvenated, and peaceful return to emotional and physical health. Believing that healing only happens when a person is an active participant in the healing process, Rick uses his intuitive talents to guide individuals through a release of blockages and a restoration of the flow of natural Pranic energies. Each session is uniquely customized to the individual, with the goal of balancing the autonomic nervous system, providing clarity, confidence, connection, love for self, motivation, and a sense of calm, centered healthfulness.

Sahar Adams

NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor 

​Sahar has been taking yoga for 20 years and teaching for over 15 years.
She takes a relaxed approach to all forms of yoga because laughter truly
is the best medicine.

Elizabeth Jaramillo-Lopez

Registered Dietitian

Elizabeth, a native New Mexican, has a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Food Science from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. She completed her dietetic internship with Sodexho Dietetic Distance Education, and ever since, she has worked in a variety of areas within the nutrition field. Elizabeth has experience in sports nutrition, child obesity, adult and child weight management, family nutrition, prenatal and lactation nutrition, infant nutrition and community health nutrition.

She’s passionate about long-distance running, a hobby that led her into the field of dietetics. She was a Division 1 collegiate athlete in cross-county and track and now runs marathons. Being an athlete has helped her understand the role of nutrition and performance. Her varied experiences have resulted in an interest in working with athletes, eating disorder recovery and those who are interested in non-diet, intuitive-eating approach. Elizabeth helps her clients learn how to cultivate a healthy relationship with food and the body, how to have satisfying eating experiences, self-compassion, and how to add joy to eating.

Ellen Anne Shapiro

Certified Qigong Instructor

Ellen began studying qigong in 2013 as part of her recovery from a knee injury and was happily surprised to find that it helped with anxiety, balancing moods  and becoming more confident.

Ellen’s original wake-up call came in her 20s when she was working in finance in New York Intense overwork left her depleted and severely stressed. Her quest for healing and a healthier life led her eventually to becoming a transformational coach, Reiki Master and bodyworker—and to qigong.  Ellen understands the stresses of modern life—both in urban life and even here in New Mexico–and the need for healing and ongoing self-care.

Kymberley Garcia

Front Desk and Human Resources

Kymberley is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and attended Santa Fe Community College and New Mexico Tech and holds a degree in Engineering. While she enjoys engineering, her passion lies in railroad and New Mexico landscape photography. Kymberley enjoys being the friendly front desk face at Mesa Vista Wellness and strives to treat all of the clients with kindness, compassion and respect. She feels as though she’s finally found a workplace that allows her to flourish on a personal level and that supports her mission of carrying out her positivity into the world and sharing it with others.

Susan C. McGonnell

Billing and Credentialing Specialist

Susan attended Humanities School of Allied Health and Massage Therapy and has a full background in massage therapy. She currently resides in Nambe, New Mexico with her husband and two Westies. She works at Mesa Vista Wellness as our Billing and Credentialing Specialist and works to ensure that service claims are processed correctly and timely. She assists front desk and administration team as well as works closely to our therapists, ensuring everyone is credentialed with the insurance providers we file claims with.

Sheri Trusty

Front Desk and Administrative Support

Sheri Trusty currently is a student at the Santa Fe Community College and is majoring in Allied Health to become a Medical Assistant. She Also currently holds the Vice President position in the Student Government Associations at the Santa Fe Community College. She strives to be an advocate for the students to help improve the quality of students experience in college; In hopes that they may be more successful in their future endeavors. Sheri’s passion is helping others and ensuring that all cliental gets superb and professional service; She enjoys being the face of the front desk and welcomes every client with positivity and a heartwarming smile.