Alegría Family Counseling

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Trusted Experts in Counseling & Care

The Alegría Team

Our licensed therapists provide compassionate, culturally sensitive care to support your mental health journey. With expertise in individual, couples, and family therapy, our team creates a safe, judgment-free environment focused on healing and personal growth. Whether you’re navigating life transitions, emotional challenges, or relationship concerns, we’re here to help—with flexible in-person and telehealth options tailored to your needs.

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Leadership Team

Our leadership team is committed to guiding our clinic with compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to supporting the mental health needs of our community.

Cynthia Perez

Director of Mental Health Services

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Portrait of Jennifer McAfee wearing glasses and a bright pink shirt
Jennifer McAfee

Lead Clinician

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Portrait of Danyelle Western against a plain light background
Danyelle Western

Director of Practice Operations

Clinician Team

Our licensed clinicians provide compassionate, personalized care to support you through every step of your mental health journey.

Yesenia Aldaba standing against a plain background, wearing a floral dress
Yesenia Aldaba

Clinician

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Portrait of Amanda Barela in a gray dress against a light background
Amanda Barela

Clinician

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Portrait of Jeanette Coronel in a black-and-white striped sweater against a light background
Jeanette Coronel

Clinician

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Portrait of Marcela Esparza standing against a plain white background
Marcela Esparza

Clinician

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Nicole Estrada

Clinician

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Portrait of Karla Itzep in a dark blazer and white blouse
Karla Itzep

Clinician

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Levi Gallegos standing against a plain white background
Levi Gallegos

Clinician

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Portrait of Stephanie Gonzalez Martinez wearing glasses and a black blazer against a light background
Stephanie Gonzalez Martinez

Clinician

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Samantha Gomez with long wavy hair wearing a pink blouse against a light background
Samantha Gomez

Clinician

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Portrait of Erika Held wearing glasses and a black top against a plain background
Erika Held

Clinician

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Blanca Martinez Rolle in a blue denim shirt against a light background
Blanca Martinez Rolle

Clinician

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Leeann Muncy standing against a plain white background, wearing a floral shirt and jeans
Leeann Muncy

Clinician

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Portrait of Nicole Rivera-Brastad with blonde hair wearing a black jacket and rust-colored top
Nicole Rivera-Brastad

Clinician

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Portrait of Halley Ross wearing a blue cardigan and orange earrings against a white background
Halley Ross

Clinician

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Portrait of Margarita Solis wearing glasses and a white top against a plain background
Margarita Solis

Clinician

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Portrait of Gamaliel Soto in a dark vest and patterned shirt against a white background
Gamaliel Soto

Clinician

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Josh Tafoya standing against a plain light background, wearing glasses and a white patterned shirt
Josh Tafoya

Clinician

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Cynthia Perez
Director of Mental Health Services

Cynthia Perez has been with Aprendamos Family of Services for nearly three years, serving as a clinician with Alegría Family Counseling. Throughout her time with the organization, she has found the greatest meaning in supporting individuals and families during some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments in their lives.

 

As she steps into her new leadership role, Cynthia is excited to continue growing as a leader while helping strengthen the program, support her team, and enhance the experience of those they serve. She strives to lead with compassion, integrity, collaboration, and accountability while creating an environment where team members feel supported, encouraged to grow, and empowered in their professional development.

 

Cynthia is grateful for the opportunity to begin this new chapter and looks forward to continuing to make a meaningful difference within the organization and the community.

Jennifer McAfee
Lead Clinician

Jennifer McAfee currently serves as a Clinician for Alegria Family Counseling. Specializing in attachment theory and psychoanalytical theory, Jennifer uses her expertise to work with children, individuals, and families. Originally from Michigan, she holds an undergraduate degree from Spring Arbor University and earned her graduate degree from Arizona State University after moving to Las Cruces. Prior to joining the Aprendamos Family of Services team, Jennifer was employed as a home hospice medical social worker. In her free time, she can be found with her horse or four rescue dogs.

Yesenia Aldaba
Clinician

Yesenia has over five and a half years of experience working with children and families. She is passionate about advocating for youth and supporting their emotional and developmental needs. Currently, Yesenia provides mental health services to children and adolescents through our agency. An Aggie at heart, she earned her Master of Social Work from New Mexico State University in 2019. Prior to her current role, Yesenia spent three years connecting families to resources and addressing safety concerns and basic needs.

Amanda Barela
Clinician

Amanda has been a social worker for Las Cruces Public Schools in various capacities since 2013. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, and an EMDR certified therapist. She has experience in working with domestic violence, research, federal and state grant implementation, child welfare, substance abuse, trauma, addressing barriers to attendance and engagement, macro social work, and various roles in school social work. She has held an NEA seat on the Las Cruces Partnership Board for Community Schools as the Chair of the Policy and Practice Committee, served as the district coordinator for community schools in LCPS, has served on the NEA-LC board of directors, works to expand GLSEN to the southern part of the State, and has been on the Substance Abuse Block Grant committee for the State of NM for over 9 years. She has held various leadership positions on boards across the state and within LCPS during her career. She has also taught as an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work for NMSU for over a decade and currently teaches at Burrell School of Osteopathic Medicine. Amanda worked for several years to coordinate the implementation of the new attendance law in NM among a feeder pattern of schools, and in her current role as a social worker at an elementary school, works diligently to find innovative solutions to chronic absenteeism. She is passionate about social justice, equity, and working towards healthier and more inclusive communities in our city and state.

Jeanette Coronel
Clinician

Jeanette is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over four years of experience working with families and students within the educational and community settings. Currently, Jeanette works as a Telehealth clinician for Alegría Family Counseling providing services for children and adolescents. Jeanette earned her Master of Social Work degree from New Mexico State University. Their practice is grounded in a strengths-based approach, prioritizing the empowerment of children and families to build on their inherent strengths. With a deep commitment to advocacy and culturally responsive care, Jeanette strives to create safe, collaborative spaces where growth and healing can thrive.

Marcela Esparza
Clinician

Marcela Esparza is a Clinician at Alegria Family Counseling, part of the Aprendamos Intervention Team. She works with individuals from ages 8 through adulthood, providing compassionate support to those experiencing anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges.

 

Marcela earned both her Master’s in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University and her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Eastern New Mexico University. She has provided therapy services at NM Family Services and brings additional experience as a former home visitor for Cariño in 2022. Her approach centers on helping individuals strengthen their emotional well-being and achieve their personal goals, guided by empathy, encouragement, and respect for each client’s unique journey.

 

Outside of work, Marcela values spending time with her husband and their three children two in college and one in middle school. Her faith plays an important role in her life and work, inspiring her dedication to helping others grow and heal. “I believe every person has the ability to grow and find hope when given compassion, understanding, and support.”

Nicole Estrada
Clinician

Nicole Estrada currently serves as a clinician for the Aprendamos Family of Services organization. Nicole’s experience is with many diverse levels of care including different ranges of trauma. Nicole currently specializes in working with individuals with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many other issues utilizing talk therapy and EMDR. Nicole uses her expertise to work with children, individuals, and families. A Las Cruces native, she holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work from New Mexico State University. In her free time, she can be found at the soccer fields cheering on her daughter and son alongside her husband.

Karla Itzep
Clinician

Karla Itzep, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently serves as a bilingual clinician for Alegria Family Counseling. Karla provides individual therapy, group therapy, and community psychoeducation on mental health to children, adolescents and adults.

 

Her clinical work focuses on treating anxiety, depression, parenting support, perinatal and postpartum mental health support, managing life transitions, navigating cultural identity among other areas of concerns. Karla is certified to provide training to parents through Circle of Security Program and has also completed training for perinatal mental health and is working toward obtaining her Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C).

 

Guided by her passion for social justice, Karla is deeply committed to advocacy particularly in supporting immigrant rights and uplifting marginalized communities. She brings this perspective into her work, honoring each client’s lived experiences and cultural background while fostering empowerment for lasting positive and meaningful change.

Levi Gallegos
Clinician

Levi Gallegos is a dedicated clinician at Alegria Family Counseling with years of experience serving children, adolescents, families and individuals with disabilities. She is deeply passionate about empowering children and youth by fostering their growth, well-being, and long-term success through compassionate, client-centered care. Levi earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University along with a certification in Violence Prevention and Intervention. Her professional approach is rooted in advocacy, empathy, and a genuine commitment to helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges. Outside of her professional role, Levi is a devoted wife and mother to two beautiful children. In her leisure time, she enjoys playing volleyball, reading and creating lasting memories with her family.

Stephanie Gonzalez Martinez
Clinician

As a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Stephanie is a clinician with Alegria Family Counseling, where she has the privilege of supporting children, youth, and families through their personal and emotional growth. She primarily works with clients between the ages of 10 and 18, as well as young adults and adults. Much of her experience comes from prevention programming, which has strengthened her belief in the power of early support and guidance.


Her areas of focus include depression, anxiety, trauma, domestic violence, and related challenges. Stephanie uses a client-centered approach grounded in solution-focused therapy, helping individuals identify their strengths and build the skills they need to overcome life’s challenges. She believes every person has their own inner superhero.
Born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Stephanie’s passion for helping others began early. Her parents instilled strong values of service, and her mother – her biggest advocate and a “social worker at heart” – inspired her lifelong commitment to supporting the community.


Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in Family and Child Science and Counseling & Educational Psychology, followed by a master’s degree in social work from The Catholic University of America.
Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and children, dancing, singing, and appreciating the simple joys of life.

Samantha Gomez
Clinician

Samantha Gomez is a clinician with Alegría, specializing in therapy for adolescents (14+) and adults. She has experience supporting individuals with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and substance use. Samantha’s evidence-informed, client-centered approach emphasizes personal strengths, growth, and creating a safe, inclusive environment.

 

She holds a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Social Work from Louisiana State University, with over four years of experience in inpatient and partial hospitalization programs. Originally from El Paso, TX, Samantha is passionate about reducing mental health stigma and helping others thrive.

Erika Held
Clinician

Erika Held, LMHC is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor who earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Southern New Hampshire University, after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at El Paso. Growing up in Cd. Juárez, Chih., Mexico, and being fully bilingual, Erika brings a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and uses her multicultural understanding to connect with clients and families in meaningful ways. She is passionate about working with children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 17, as well as young adults, and she strives to create a safe and supportive space where clients feel comfortable exploring their emotions and building resilience.

 

Erika’s therapeutic style is eclectic, drawing from humanistic therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), with a focus on the here and now. During her time at Alegria, she completed specialized training in LEGO®-based therapy, which she incorporates into her one-on-one sessions with children. She has also collaborated with colleagues to develop Brick Club, a group therapy program based on this model, designed to help children strengthen social skills, emotional regulation, and confidence.

 

Her decision to pursue counseling was deeply personal, shaped by her own life challenges and the transformative impact therapy had on her journey. This experience continues to inspire her dedication to helping others discover their strengths, gain confidence, and grow into the best version of themselves. Currently, Erika is working toward becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and is pursuing additional training as an ADHD Clinical Services Provider. She remains committed to expanding her knowledge and skills so she can better serve our community and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those she works with. Outside of her professional role, Erika enjoys spending time in nature—hiking, taking road trips with her family, and reading both fiction and non-fiction.

Blanca Martinez Rolle
Clinician

Blanca Martinez-Rolle, Ph.D., Ed.S., LPCC, has been a valued member of the Alegría team for the past four years. Her passion for mental health stems from a deep motivation to make a positive difference in the lives of others, fostering well-being and helping individuals navigate life’s challenges. Dr. Martinez-Rolle specializes in working with adolescents and adults, bringing extensive clinical experience from both community settings and the public school system. Her areas of expertise include depression and anxiety, utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients manage overwhelming emotions and impulsive behaviors.

 

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Martinez-Rolle serves as a School Psychologist with Las Cruces Public Schools and as Adjunct Faculty at New Mexico State University, where she teaches courses on assessment. She holds a Ph.D. in Special Education and an Ed.S. in School Psychology. A lifelong learner, she has received specialized training in Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and holds multiple Autism Certifications. Outside of work, Dr. Martinez-Rolle enjoys spending time with family—especially during “Sister Saturdays”—sharing dinners with her amigas, taking long walks with her dog Sadie, and dancing her cares away at Zumba.

Leeann Muncy
Clinician

Melissa, who goes by Leeann, is a Licensed Master Social Worker dedicated to helping
individuals and families thrive. Having grown-up all-over New Mexico, she has a deep
appreciation for the diverse communities she serves and completed her Bachelors and
Master of Social Work at New Mexico State University. She enjoys providing resources from
the community and supporting others, with a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and
Motivational Interviewing. When she is not working, Leeann loves beading and sewing,
watching movies, reading, hiking, and spending quality time with friends.

Nicole Rivera-Brastad
Clinician

Nicole Rivera-Brastad, LMFT graduated from New Mexico State University with a Master’s Degree in Marriage + Family Therapy in 2010. She has worked as a therapist in a community agency setting, in an in-patient psychiatric hospital and in a private practice setting over the past 15 years. Nicole enjoys working with children, teenagers and adults and utilizes several therapeutic modalities depending on the needs of her client. Some of the modalities she most enjoys using are CBT, DBT, Play Therapy and EMDR. Nicole is a strengths-based therapist and enjoys helping clients identify their own strengths to employ in their healing process. Nicole is a wife, mother of two kids and is a lover of animals, movies/shows, music, and anything fandom-related (DC, Marvel, Star Wars etc). In her free time she enjoys reading, craft projects and being in nature.

Halley Ross
Clinician

Since 2021, I have been providing therapeutic services at Alegria Family Counseling, where I work with children, youth, adults, and families to support their emotional and relational well-being. As a clinical social worker, I believe in meeting clients where they are and creating a safe, supportive space for healing and growth.

 

My approach is creative, client-centered, and developmentally informed. I often integrate sand tray therapy into sessions, a powerful modality that allows clients of all ages to express and process experiences in a nonverbal, symbolic way. I am currently completing my certification through the Sand Tray Training Institute of New Mexico, deepening my understanding and skills in this expressive technique.

In addition to sand tray therapy, I regularly incorporate play therapy interventions, particularly when working with younger clients. I am passionate about the therapeutic power of play and am working toward becoming a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) in the future.

 

I am also proud to be the co-creator and co-facilitator of Brick Club at Alegria—a small, Lego-based therapy group designed to help youth ages 4–18 develop social, communication, and relational skills in a fun, supportive group setting. Brick Club has become a meaningful part of my work, combining creativity, connection, and clinical intention.

 

Every individual and family I work with brings a unique story and set of strengths. My goal is to honor those strengths and walk alongside clients in their journey toward greater resilience, connection, and well-being.

Margarita Solis
Clinician

Margarita Solis currently serves as a Mental Health Professional with Alegria, part of the Aprendamos Family of Services. As a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), she brings a trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based approach to her work with children, adolescents, and adults navigating emotional, behavioral, and life challenges. Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, trauma, and family-related stressors. Through therapy and compassionate support, she helps clients develop healthy coping strategies, build resilience, and move toward healing and personal growth.

 

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from New Mexico State University and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Western New Mexico University.

 

Deeply committed to fostering hope and empowerment, she strives to create a safe and inclusive space where all individuals feel seen, heard, and supported on their unique journeys. Whether working with teens managing academic pressure or adults navigating grief, trauma, or life transitions, she considers it a privilege to walk alongside her clients as they work toward a brighter future.

 

In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, riding her bicycle, reading books, and spending quality time with her family.

Gamaliel Soto
Clinician

Gamaliel Soto is a Mental Health Clinician for Alegria Family Counseling. He earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2024. Gamaliel has worked as a school social worker serving diverse populations such as migrant, homeless and families in poverty. Gamaliel is currently working for the Alegria team and works with diverse clients implementing different modalities. Gamaliel has a certification in TF-CBT and offers services for individuals/families experiencing diverse situations. Gamaliel provides services in English and Spanish and continues to educate himself in different areas. In his free time, Gamaliel can be found practicing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, playing music and spending time with his family.

Josh Tafoya
Clinician

Jash graduated from NMSU in 2019 with master’s degrees in criminal justice and social work. He has worked in the field since graduating. For the first three years of his career, he worked at the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) in Dona Ana County as an in-home services practitioner. At CYFD, Josh learned the importance of family dynamics and more specifically, the impact that generational trauma has on families. Josh is currently employed as an elementary school social worker, where he is continuing to work with children who have experienced trauma and need guidance when times are tough. At Alegria, Josh hopes to continue his work empowering children and being that guiding voice for families.