NM Opioid Hub Trainings

The New Mexico Opioid Hub is pleased to announce a series of trainings at no cost to participants provided by Serna Solutions and El Puente de Encuentros. Training descriptions, dates and locations are available below.

Trainings are open to the public and we welcome those who are inclined to learn. Most trainings are aimed at social workers, counselors, community health workers, peer supporters, and other mental health providers. Community members, first responders, and others who are affected by opioid use disorders are also encouraged to attend.

Follow this link to learn more about the online training platform: https://youtu.be/x_TaVeZbLHk

Mary Evans, LPCC, C-DBT

Dialectal Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Level 1

(12 CEUs)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or ‘DBT’ is a therapy that was originally created for difficulty to manage mood and personality disorders. It is now an evidenced based practice that assists clients with mood, personality, anxiety, addictive and trauma related disorders. DBT provides clients with skills that promote emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness and interpersonal effectiveness. This training will provide participants with an overview to this approach & applications as well as practice teaching DBT skills to your clients. A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

April 20th and 21st 9:00am to 4:00pm 

Adolescent DBT

Adolescent Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

(12 CEUs)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or ‘DBT’ is an evidenced based practice that assists clients with mood, personality, anxiety, addictive and trauma related disorders. DBT provides clients with skills that promote emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness and interpersonal effectiveness. This training will provide participants with an explanation of this modality and practice teaching DBT skills to your clients – specifically focusing on applying the modality in a developmentally appropriate way to adolescents. A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

June 8th and 9th from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Bio:

Mary Evans, LPCC, attended Southwestern College in Santa Fe. She has had extensive training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, CRAFT, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy. Mary works with individuals, families, and couples, to help clients with a variety of issues including substance abuse and recovery, interpersonal effectiveness, anxiety and depression, and stage of life issues. Mary uses a client-centered approach to help people recognize their own resources and strengths. Mary’s focus is on creating a supportive, nurturing environment in which people can create lasting changes and satisfying relationships.

Emily Everhart, LMHC

Motivational Interviewing Level 1

Motivational Interviewing (MI) Level 1 

(12 CEUs) 

Motivational Interviewing is one of the most heavily researched interventions in the fields of addiction, behavioral health and medicine. Study after study has reliably demonstrated that implementing this practice with proficiency and consistency will improve outcomes for consumers of behavioral healthcare. MI is an approach that attempts to move an individual away from a state of indecision or uncertainty and towards finding motivation to making positive decisions and accomplishing established goals. MI as a directional, consumer-centered style of interacting with the goal of eliciting behavior change by helping individuals explore and resolve ambivalence. Rather than acting in an antagonistic or combative way, the helper engages with the consumer to explore his/her feelings, including ambivalence about changing, and help clients find their own motivations. This workshop provides participants with an overview of the research and theoretical base for the model. Participants will also practice MI strategies and skills in small groups throughout the day. A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

May 25 and 26th & July 13th and 14th from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Motivational Interviewing Level 2

Motivational Interviewing (MI) Level 2 

(12 CEUs) 

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is one of the most heavily researched interventions in the fields of addiction, behavioral health and medicine. This workshop is designed for persons who have completed and introductory training and have begun to utilize the model in their practice. This training will help participants to further develop MI skills and strategies beyond the basics in a supportive environment. Participants will hone their skills by participating in experiential exercises with other MI practitioners who will provide strength-based feedback. A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

August 17th and 18th from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Trauma 101

Trauma 101-Understanding How Trauma Impacts The Brain/Body And Its Links To Mental Health, Addiction And Other Issues. 

(6 CEUs) 

The workshop is designed for anyone who is interested in learning about trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). In this workshop, we will explore the link between trauma, stress, and chronic health conditions. The training will also cover ways of adapting, coping and healing from stress and trauma. A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

June 15th from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Bio:

Emily Everhart, MA, LMHC (she/her/hers) graduated from Southwestern College in Santa Fe in 2018 and works as a therapist, trainer and training coordinator at Serna Solutions. Emily is LGBTQIA affirming. She completed the New Earth Institute Trauma, Grief, and Renewal Certificate Program and is client-centered, existential, relational and depth oriented in her approach to treatment. Emily is trained in Seeking Safety, Motivational Interviewing, CRAFT, DBT and EMDR and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (M.I.N.T.). She has worked in residential, IOP and outpatient facilities – primarily with adult clients with extensive trauma histories. Emily is particularly passionate about helping clients to cultivate successful relationships in their daily lives, a healthy relationship to grief, and holistic recovery from addictions (process and substance.) She has extensive experience working with clients that utilize medication-assisted therapies and is grounded in a harm reduction approach. In addition to working individually with clients, she also enjoys clinical and psychoeducation group work. She brings a patient sense of humor to her work with clients and sees therapy as a highly collaborative process.

Luke Higgins, LPCC

Neurobiology of Trauma

The Neurobiology of Trauma and Recovery 

(12 CEUs) 

Interoceptive awareness, the capacity to witness, engage, and report the condition of the body, is a skill that, when developed, can foster a direct and powerful form of psychophysiological recovery.  It can form the foundation for a common language of self-expression; one less susceptible to the pitfalls of misaligned interpretation.  It can improve our capacity to connect with our own experience with compassion, while fostering our capability to do the same with others.  Most importantly, this skill can assist us in achieving these aims beneath thought and words alone. This training will include an exploration of neurobiological research, experiential exercises, and practical applications meant to support our clients and ourselves in the development of such interoceptive skills. A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

May 4th and 5th from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Bio:

Luke Higgins, MA, LPCC is a graduate from Southwestern College in Santa Fe.  He completed his clinical internship at the Solace Crisis Treatment Center in 2013.  From 2014-2018 Mr. Higgins worked as a clinician within the Santa Fe Indian Hospital under a Federal grant focused on co-occurring mental health issues and substance use/abuse.  He currently works with individuals who are experiencing concerns related to psychological trauma, depression, disruptive anxiety, and/or substance use/abuse.  His approach to treatment is trauma informed and involves the utilization of brain/body-based therapies such as Brain spotting, Mindfulness Based Emotional Processing, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as well as Motivational Interviewing, the Community Reinforcement Approach, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  Sessions are informed by current understandings of the autonomic nervous system, brain states, and the means to track experience while regulating one’s emotional state individually or in concert with others.

Jennifer Padilla, LMSW

Embodied Perspectives on Treating Trauma

Embodied Perspectives on Treating Trauma 

(6 CEUs) 

Our clients experience routine exposure to trauma leaving the body in disarray and are unable to remain in the present moment. This routine exposure then continuously activates the body’s stress response and inevitably does not allow our clients to reach a state of balance and “okayness”. In this training, we will learn about various ways to view trauma—including Somatic Experiencing and Indigenous ways of healing—and how to assist our clients in their own journey.  A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

July 25th from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Bio:

Jennifer is from the Pueblo of Isleta and has a BA in Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) and an MA in Social Work from New Mexico State University. She has extensive experience in working with Native communities in the areas of behavioral health prevention, intervention, treatment and aftercare. Jennifer uses elements of Somatic Experiencing (SE™) to approach addiction, violence and trauma when working with individuals, families and communities. She teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses for NMHU’s School of Social Work. Jennifer is also a small business development strategist with a passion for bridging the gap between business development and human behavior.

Brian Serna, LPCC, LADAC

Ethics – Cultural Competency, Humility and Fluency

Ethics: Cultural Competency, Humility and Fluency Training 

(6 CEUs) 

The workshop provides participants with an overview of the evolution of ideas relevant to working with culturally diverse clients and communities. Issues around how cultural identity and personal bias can influence behavioral health prevention and treatment programs are explored in depth. Other ideas such as privilege, intersectionality, and micro-aggressions will be defined and used to frame larger discussions.  A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

Sept. 7th from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Multicultural Issues in NM

Multicultural Issues in New Mexico 

(6 CEUs) 

New Mexico has been the confluence of cultural exchange since time immemorial. This workshop will give participants an opportunity to explore how multiple waves of colonization have impacted issues that affect clients today. Experiential exercises will provide participants with insights into historical trauma, applied attachment theory and cross-cultural counseling competencies.  A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

Sept 21st from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Clinical Supervision and Implementation

Clinical Supervision Implementation Training

(6 CEUS)

This training will provide participants with critical information and hands on exercises regarding best practices in clinical supervision, based on the Clinical Supervision Implementation Guide published in Dec. of 2018. It begins with a review of the State of NM requirements for supervision on non-independently licensed behavioral health professionals followed by a survey of researched and validated supervision models. Participants will be provided with outlines for case presentations, clinical supervision documentation and a self-assessment to assess strengths and areas of improvement as a clinical supervisor.  A working camera and microphone is required to register for this event. 

April 5th from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Bio:

Founder/CEO

Brian Serna, LPCC, LADAC is the CEO/Founder of Serna Solutions and is a well sought after trainer and consultant in behavioral health issues related to Evidence Based Practices, Cultural Considerations and Ethical Issues. He has a BA in Psychology from New Mexico State University and an MA in Counseling from the University of New Mexico. Mr. Serna has trained and consulted with programs in over twenty different states, five different countries, and sixteen different tribal communities. In addition to his role as the CEO of Serna Solutions he is also the Director of the Addictions, Abuse and Recovery Certificate at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM is the current President of NAADAC New Mexico and has been appointed to serve on Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Council on Racial Justice in the Health Subcommittee. 

Serna Solutions is also recognized by the National Board of Certified

Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP).

ACEP Number: 7183

Ethical Practice through Cultural Humility:

A hearts-on training bringing to the forefront ethical practices through culturally humble and
responsive skills in direct practice that strive to go beyond cultural competence at the individual,
interpersonal, and systems levels.

This training qualifies for 10 Continuing Education Credits (CEUs ) approved by NASW and NAADAC.  Each training will run from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.

https://form.jotform.com/221038532256147

April 28-29

May 12-13

May 26-27

June 9-10

June 16-17

June 23-24

Brenda I. Quiñonez, LCSW  –  Born in México and raised in Los Angeles, Brenda values family
and community. She received Bachelor’s Degrees in Sociology, Spanish, and Chicano Studies from
Loyola Marymount University. She later graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the
University of Southern California. Brenda’s twenty years of professional experience extends to field
counseling, medical social work, program management and various realms of non-profit work and
clinical mental health settings, school-based therapy, university teaching and, more recently, training
and consulting. Her community involvement includes social justice advocacy and activism for
BIPOC communities, in particular the immigrant population and other underserved youth and
families. As President of El Puente de Encuentros, Brenda is a driving force in implementing and
realizing the organization’s efforts in promoting equity in education and behavioral health by
supporting and guiding students of color entering the behavioral/mental health field.

Kee Straits, PhD  –  Born Quechua (Indigenous) in Perú and raised in the United States, Kee is a Clinical/Community
Psychologist. She received her BA in psychology from Williams College, her MA in Special
Education from the University of New Mexico, and her PhD in psychology from Utah State
University. Dr. Straits offers consultation to schools, organizations and communities, trainings,
evaluation, and direct clinical services. In her career, she strives to achieve health equity in Native
American and Latinx communities, improve the effectiveness of mental health systems that serve
youth, and increase the number of competent Native and Latinx health professionals.

Francisco J. Ronquillo, PA, MA –  has worked in the public health sector for more than 20 years
and is dedicated to tackling the social determinants of health and the needs of marginalized
populations. Currently, his health equity efforts are aimed at building capacity between academic
health centers, institutions and communities. As a bilingual educator, he applies popular education
approaches in his trainings with Latino, immigrant and border communities on cultural humility,
medical terminology, mental health first aid and other community and public health topics. Francisco
is an advocate and proponent of identifying the strengths and assets within the community to promote
social and systemic change that strives for equity.
https://elpuentedeencuentros.org/

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