Taos Behavioral Health

Counseling for Adults, Children and Families

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We’re Here for You!

Mary Gray McPhailBy Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

Have you been to the Storyteller theater this week?  It is the holiday season when the audiences become larger and new movies are pushed out by the industry to capture your attention.  We hope you all notice the new ad for Nonviolence Works while you are waiting for the previews!

We want you to know that we are here for you!  We often hear that many people do not know we have competent clinicians that service individuals, families and couples, in addition to our ongoing work with youth. We especially want you to know that we have clinicians skilled in service to our veterans, and we want you to help us spread that word.

Our website gives you an excellent overview of our programs and the deep strength of our staff.  There is also an online referral form for yourself or others for whom you wish to seek services. [Read more…] about We’re Here for You!

Thank you!

Mary Gray McPhailBy Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

Nonviolence Works wishes to thank all those serious shoppers who came on April Fool’s Day to buy at our first annual NVW Garage Sale.  We had a great time visiting with treasure seekers and were grateful for the opportunity to talk to about our work in community.  Special thanks to the repeat visitors who just couldn’t resist coming back!

The funds that we raised will enable us to enrich the curriculum offered in both our summer day camps.

Nonviolence Works will be present on Friday, April 14th. at the Taos Mesa Brewery Mother Ship at 6 p.m. to reach out and help you support some of your community members through our strong programs described below.

Youth Programs for the Summer

Our Familia y Mundo after-school program turns into a summer day camp housed at Ranchos Elementary School with a 9-3 schedule of individual and group therapy, arts and crafts, hiking, swimming and other outdoor activities and special community visits.  With donations, we can provide more high quality materials for art, give them more field trips and purchase better sports equipment. [Read more…] about Thank you!

How We Support Changes in Our Clients

Mary Gray McPhailBy 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

Nonviolence Works Welcomes New Family Therapist

By Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Chair

“I wanted to have a profession in which I gave back to others,” commented Marcella Skogen, the new family therapist at NVW.  After she was helped by a counselor during her divorce process, she was motivated to enter the profession herself and completed a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Denver.

Marcella Kagan

Marcella Kagan

Like many transplants, Skogen has been visiting Taos for twenty-five years with a goal of some day being able to move here.  She and her husband arrived last July and she is now working part time at both Golden Willow Retreat and NVW. She has assumed the role of lead therapist in the Familia y Mundo therapeutic after-school program where she leads counseling groups and does individual counseling.  [Read more…] about Nonviolence Works Welcomes New Family Therapist