Alumni Updates | Heartlink Summer 2011

Graduation Year – 2009

Andrew Fearnside, MA

I graduated last fall in Counseling with a concentration in Grief, Loss and Trauma, having spent the spring and summer working at the UNM Cancer Center. In January I found contract work at the Family Workshop, a private mental health clinic that receives court-ordered clients with DWI sentences, Domestic Violence (DV) sentences, and Substance Abuse (SA) sentences; receives families, couples and children wishing to work through crises; and occasionally receives individuals wishing to do longer-term therapy. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with folks from all walks of life who suffer from a wide gamut of diagnosable and non-diagnosable problems, ranging from crisis intervention to support for creative living. 

I’ve created a business to house future private clients: Counseling for Creatives, LLC. My Light Figure, Bob Marley, continues to be an invaluable teacher to me on a daily basis, providing me a chance to sing, to reaffirm my bones’ commitment to service and growth on the way to session, and to reflect on the political, philosophical and spiritual truths underpinning my life. Through his work I have found a curriculum for spiritual self-study that has helped me open to joy, or more than joy: to being Irie.

I just came off the mountain from a Vision Quest hosted by our teacher and shaman, Carol Parker, and two wonderful SWC grads. 

I would like to acknowledge the warmth and willingness to help of the Southwestern Alumni community in my journey from school into clinical practice. My now-coworker Paul Weeks, LMHC was not only instrumental in helping me on board at the Family Workshop, but has been a source of friendship and support as well in our work. Mr. David Riedesel, LADAC, LMHC has been astonishingly openhearted and openhanded in his discussion of work in the Albuquerque Corrections system. Thank you both.

I would love to connect with anyone in the SWC community! Please feel free to call, text or email afearnside@gmail.com. Thanks to Antonio, we are beginning a Potluck Thinktank down here in Albuquerque to discuss issues we all find moving, perplexing or hilarious; you are welcome to come at any time. 

Graduation Year – 2006

Shay Davis (aka Rothstein), MA

Wow, what a journey I have been on since graduating in ’06!  I fell very ill after starting my career.  I was working for about 8 months at our local community mental health establishment serving the most severe clientele and teaching at Colorado Mountain College.  I created Rocky Mountain Holistic Health and rented an office.  I thought I was living my dream but realized too late that I had really over-done it for several years.  It then took several years to recover.  In my journey to health, I found the most amazing people and after they helped me back to health, they offered me a job.  

I began working out of their office (Jan and Jaclyn are experts in Neurofeedback) in Nov. ’09, the same day Obama was inaugurated.  It was a refreshing re-start for sure.  I was having trouble with my first client they referred to me and then it dawned on me, do Neuro Emotional Technique on her!  This is a technique I learned before grad school and it has been a gold mine of health for me and my clients ever since I put it to use.

I offer more of a non-traditional approach and utilize much of what I learned at Southwestern.  The techniques I use, mostly NET and EFT, work on a physiological as well as emotional level, then, we do the cognitive work.  I have been very successful at treating many physical, mental and emotional ailments holistically. I work with a network of providers who do everything from Naturopathic Medicine and Energy Medicine to Massage and Chiropractic.

On a personal level, I was married in September ’10 to Seth Davis who practices the Rolf Method of Structural Integration.  We make a great team personally and professionally.   We bought a home in Glenwood Springs, Colorado 4 years ago and I am ecstatically happy.

Miracles never cease to happen to me and I am currently working on a book about them irreverently called “Shit I Can’t Explain.”  Excerpts will soon be available to read on my website www.rmholistic.com.

My intentions for the future are to continue to provide the best possible care for myself and my clients on a worldwide scale (my techniques work over any distance) to write and be prosperous.  

Graduation Year – 2005

Marika Richards, MA, Art Therapy

I have moved to Anchorage, Alaska where I’m continuing to work with military and military families.  I’m adjusting to Alaska’s extreme variations while seeing where the greatest needs are in serving the more feminine parts of this intense northern place!

Graduation Year – 1996

Jack Lehman, MA, LPCC

Certified Trainer – Center for Nonviolent  Communication
In Thailand, north of Chiang Mai, I worked individually with  workshop participants in front of a group.  It was a 2 day Introduction to Nonviolent Communication.  I spent much of the winter of  ‘10 -’11 in Thailand and gave 3 workshops there and did some individual counseling, too.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
CECs approved by the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board
www.cnvc.org – 505-995-8200
www.pathwaystoliberation.net/author/jack/

Graduation Year – 1990

Michele Rozbitsky, MA 

’ in addition to being on the New Mexico Naturopathic show. You can view both of these by going to the links page of my website www.journeytothefifthworld.com. I provide ‘Shamanic Healing and Guidance’ sessions in Santa Fe and long distance, shamanic apprenticeships and healing work mentorships as well as ‘Daughters of the Moon’ groups. earthstar3@earthlink.net  505-988-7542