James Mondragon

New Services at Taos Behavioral Health

August 29, 2019

By Mary McPhail Gray
Board Chair

“It’s a client empowerment program!” says Brian Salazar in describing the new Community Coordinated Social Services (CCSS) program at Taos Behavior Health.

“Our goal is to empower all clients to be as independent as possible” says Salazar, who coordinates the newly-hired staff of 10.

All referrals of youth and adults receive a qualifying diagnosis and are supported by Medicaid. After an initial clinical assessment, goals are set in the areas of socialization, education, employment or work participation, positive living, and recreation/self-care. Services can be offered in our offices, in the school, homes or communities—wherever a goal can be worked toward and the client is comfortable.

The new CCSS workers are assigned to specific programs housed in the TBH agency: [Read more…] about New Services at Taos Behavioral Health

“I would have been dead on the street—”

September 14, 2017

Mary Gray McPhail By Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

“ . . . were it not for my father and my wife. I was deeply into drugs—selling and using—and in gangs and any street adventures I could find,” says James Mondragon, Educational Assistant at Nonviolence Works.

Mondragon was the oldest of five boys, and the family moved around a lot—Utah, Nevada and New Mexico. Both parents were drug addicts, and abuse and violence were daily occurrences. “My mother decided to get herself clean so she left all of us and moved away.” Later Mondragon’s father decided he also wanted to get clean, so he moved the boys to Taos when James was a teenager.

James hated it. He didn’t know anyone and didn’t have his usual contacts, so the minute his dad left the house on any errand, he slung his backpack on and headed for the highway—hitchhiking back to Albuquerque. But again and again his father came and found him—and “hauled me back to Taos.” [Read more…] about “I would have been dead on the street—”

How We Support Changes in Our Clients

March 2, 2017

Mary Gray McPhail By Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

Everyone in the behavioral health field is wants to support their clients through changes they have identified—whether it be relieving depression, processing grief, learning more self control and goal setting, or acquiring new relationship or parenting skills.

How do we help them change? What makes it possible for people to change in a relationship with a counselor or social worker? Is there a special “one size fits all” program or approach?

Researchers and behavioral health care providers have asked these questions in order to improve their success with clients. Recent research gives some interesting answers. Repeatedly, findings describe the “therapeutic alliance” or the partnership between the therapist and the client as a key variable. This essentially means that a trusting relationship is developed where the client feels empathy, acceptance and warmth from the therapist. They develop a shared work plan devoted to the client’s needs.

Further research also suggests that the greater and varied life experiences a therapist has is often a key factor in being able to relate to a variety of clients. At Nonviolence Works, our clinicians have a range of experiences and skills. [Read more…] about How We Support Changes in Our Clients