Meet Our Clinicians at Alegría Family Counseling

Alejandra “Ali” Covarrubias-Parra earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2014 and her Clinical Social Work License in 2020 and is a board-certified supervisor in NM. She currently serves as the Director of Counseling at Alegria Family Counseling and a Mental Health Clinician and specializes in working with children from birth to 18 years old. She began her career with Aprendamos as a Development Therapist and Social Worker and has worked with the Children Youth and Families Department, Treatment Foster Care, Public School Districts, and Building Bridges Counseling Services to provide Play Therapy Counseling for children. Ali is certified to provide training to parents through the Circle of Security Parenting Program. She has received training in Synergetic Play Therapy and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). Ali offers individual and family therapy for a variety of areas of concern, including but not limited to complex trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, behavioral management, parenting support, suicide ideation, and caregiver-child attachment issues. In her free time, Ali can be found exploring the outdoors with her daughter, weight lifting, or spending quality time with family.

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Clinician

Maryah Solis is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with a Master’s degree in Social Work and a minor in Counseling and Educational Psychology from New Mexico State University. She provides psychotherapy services to individuals and families throughout New Mexico, working with clients ages five and up. Her clinical approach is inclusive, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based practices. Maryah incorporates a variety of treatment modalities, including Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, and Art Therapy. She is dedicated to helping community members improve their emotional well-being, strengthen relationships, and enhance their overall quality of life.

Clinician

Jeanette Coronel

Savita Bell

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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 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.

Charlene, known as “Char” to most people, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides therapeutic services to young children, their families, and adult individuals at Alegria Family Counseling. They received their MSW from NMSU in 2020, an MA in Counseling and Education in 2015, and obtained a BS in Psychology from the University of Tulsa in 2009. Char initially entered the mental health field as a hospice social worker during the COVID19 pandemic, which helped them discover a passion for working with people who are navigating a number of complex, life-changing circumstances. Char primarily uses a humanistic and person-centered approach in their work; at the foundation of Char’s professional philosophy lies a genuine belief that people are capable of growth and finding their own solutions when their agency and personhood are honored. This approach has become especially important when working with children, whose primary job is to learn and grow, yet who are often given very little power, acknowledgement, or voice to do so in the process. Char is currently working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist so they can support and empower their youngest clients. Outside of their work as a therapist, Char plays the cello in two community ensembles, likes to go on walks with their dogs and husband, plays a variety of video games, obsessively reads and re-reads books by fantasy author Terry Pratchett, and plays Dungeons and Dragons on the weekend.

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.

Cassandra Kester currently serves as a Clinician for the Aprendamos Family of Services organization. Specializing in treating symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, family and couples’ issues, Cassandra uses her expertise to provide counseling services to teens, adults, couples and families. Originally from Las Cruces, she holds a degree from New Mexico State University where she studied Psychology and Spanish in undergrad and Counseling and Educational Psychology in graduate school. She is independently licensed as a Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor since 2016 and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Prior to joining the Aprendamos team, Cassandra served as a clinician at the Dona Ana County Detention Center with Corizon Health and a Multi-Systemic Therapist with La Frontera and gained experience in working with clients affected by incarceration as well as youth and families struggling with behavioral issues. In her free time, she can be found enjoying the outdoors, playing soccer or learning about interior design.

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of New Mexico. I have a great deal of experience with depression, anxiety, suicidal/homicidal ideation, self-harming tendencies, ADHD, anger management, PTSD, trauma-focused, as well as crisis management.

My approach in therapy is to create a safe place to open up and empower individuals in all aspects of their lives. I specialize in psychodynamic and trauma-informed approaches; CBT, DBT, and TF-CBT, I help guide individuals toward a deeper appreciation of their unique selves as well as an understanding of their familia background and family dynamic. I have experience in working with all age groups particularly with adolescents/teenagers and early adulthood. I strive to provide a safe place for all my clients. I am passionate about helping people find their inner strength within their support systems to live their best lives. I strive to create an anti-oppressive, non-judgmental space for all those whom I work with. In our work together, I will support you in challenging taboos, stigmas, and cultural norms.

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.

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.

Jessica Williams currently serves as an Outpatient Therapist for the Aprendamos Family of Services organization. Specializing in helping adults and adolescents overcome depression and anxiety, Jessica uses her expertise to provide a safe and open environment for her clients and their families to grow and heal. Originally from Deming, NM, she holds a degree from Texas State University, where she studied for her master's in social work. Prior to joining the Aprendamos team, Jessica served as an Outpatient Therapist at Southwest Family Guidance Center and has worked in various sectors; from HR in healthcare, to assisting veterans in utilizing their education benefits, to serving in the U.S. Air Force. In her free time, she can be found enjoying the outdoors with her son, Abbott, and her mini-Aussie/Corgi, Dottie, or curled up with a good book.

Sr. Client Services Supervisor

Sr. Client Services Supervisor

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Trusted Experts in Counseling & Care

The Alegría team

Meet Our Leadership Team!

Alejandra Covarrubias

LCSW and Director of Counseling Services

Maria Lopez

Sr. Client Services Supervisor

Clinician

Clinician

Clinician

Jeanette Coronel

Savita Bell

Meet Our Clinicians!

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Yesenia Aldaba

Clinician

Amanda Barela

Clinician

Savita Bell

Clinician

Jeanette Coronel

Clinician

Charlene Debus

Clinician

Nicole Estrada

Clinician

Karla Itzep

Clinician

Sr. Client Services Supervisor

Sr. Client Services Supervisor

Sr. Client Services Supervisor

Meet Our Support Team!

Allie Espinosa

Client Services Specialist

Erica Rivera

Client Services Specialist

Paola Cabrera

Pending

Martha Flores

Provider Network Supervisor