Connie Merrell-McDonald
is licensed in New Mexico as a clinical mental health counselor (LPCC), an art therapist (LPAT), and an alcohol and drug addiction counselor (LADAC). Ms. Merrell-McDonald is a certified employee assistance professional (CEAP), a Department of Transportation certified substance abuse professional (SAP), and a board-certified art therapist (ATR-BC). Ms. Merrell-McDonald received her master’s degree in Art Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996 and then obtained additional training in substance abuse counseling and graduate level training in clinical mental health counseling. Ms. Merrell-McDonald has worked in both inpatient and outpatient clinical mental health and substance abuse treatment settings with individuals of all ages and from diverse backgrounds. She specializes in the treatment of co-existing mental health and substance use issues and is frequently asked to provide presentations on topics related to personal effectiveness and wellbeing and the prevention of problems that lead to professional impairment.
Ms. Merrell-McDonald began providing employee assistance services for Federal Government employees and US Postal Service employees in 2000. She moved from to Albuquerque from Chicago in 2001 to assume the position of District EAP Consultant for the New Mexico US Postal Service. In 2005 Ms. Merrell-McDonald became the Clinical Director for the New Mexico Monitored Treatment Program (MTP). In this role she developed an ethical and objective rehabilitation and monitoring program for impaired healthcare professionals who are mandated by their licensing boards to participate in treatment and monitoring.
The New Mexico Professionals Resource Network, LLC (New Mexico PRN) was established by Ms. Merrell-McDonald in June 2010 to extend the program of specialized rehabilitation and monitoring services to other professionals – especially those who have safety-sensitive responsibilities.
In addition to professional rehabilitation and monitoring services, Connie Merrell-McDonald also provides a range of individual, group, family, and couples counseling services that include art therapy and mindfulness practices.
Lori Armijo
is a 500 hour certified yoga instructor. She has been teaching since 2008 and is trained in many different styles of yoga. Lori has studied and is passionate about Trauma Sensitive Yoga.
She trained with James Fox, founder of the Prison Yoga Project and worked with inmates at the county jail for 2 years. She also worked for the New Mexico Department of Corrections leading a 12-week pilot program at the prison in Los Lunas.
Lori Armijo completed the Adapting Yoga for Trauma Sensitive Populations program with Mark Lily of Street Yoga. She also completed the Trauma Sensitive Yoga program with David Emerson.
Yoga offers us the opportunity to experience ourselves on so many levels. Join Lori for class and experience the transformational power of yoga. Classes are gentle. No experience necessary.