Clinical Team

Erin Nolan, LCSW

Clinical Director

Erin Nolan is a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the Behavior Management Specialist (BMS) Program Director at The Community Lighthouse. Erin’s approach to BMS services is founded on the belief that challenging behaviors can be transformed through increasing positive social, emotional, and relational experiences. Erin is trained in the Nurtured Heart Approach and utilizes these principles to support the BMS team in achieving success with their clients. Erin is very proud and grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from such a strong, insightful and dedicated team of clinicians and BMS providers.

Prior to The Community Lighthouse Erin worked with the Psychiatric Services Unit (PSU) at the metropolitan detention center (MDC) in Albuquerque. One of her roles was as the psychiatric acute care coordinator for the women’s unit where she provided individual counseling, psycho-educational groups, and developed a therapeutic milieu for inmates with acute psychiatric diagnosis. Erin is trained in Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) and utilizes a CBT and mindfulness-based orientation within her therapeutic practice with adults and adolescents. Erin holds a master’s in social work from New Mexico State University.

Mark Ferriegel, LPCC

Education Supervisor, Founder

Mark is an independently licensed counselor. He has extensive training in Jungian Sand Tray and Experiential Play Therapy. He does training and workshops in Experiential Play Therapy. Mark was published in the International Journal of Play Therapy Vol.20, No.3, July 2011. He and his wife Charlotte Knauber are the founders of The Community Lighthouse.

Jessica Muñoz, LMHC

Clinical Supervisor

Jessica graduated from the University of New Mexico with a BA in Psychology and an MA in Counseling. Jessica’s concentrations during her counseling education were clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. Jessica works with a variety of ages from children to adults. Jessica is currently in The Community Lighthouses Experimental Play Therapy development program where she is being trained as a specialist in treating children.

Lauren Dotterweich, LMHC

Clinician

Lauren graduated from Coe College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling. Her willingness to learn new therapeutic techniques shows her devotion to her chosen field. As a therapist, Lauren is a client-oriented therapist that communicates easily with children. She prides herself on providing a safe space where even the youngest of patients can achieve therapeutic goals. Working alongside parents and guardians is especially important and Lauren supports and encourages consistent attendance.

Marina Garcia, LAMFT

Clinician

Marina started her career as a counselor at The Community Lighthouse because she has always had a passion to serve her community, specifically a passion to empower families to heal and foster connection, which is the valued mission of TCL. This is her chosen field because of her own familial experiences growing up and her strong belief that when there are strong attachments in the family, resiliency for children is fostered.

Marina was born and raised in Las Cruces, NM and received her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish at New Mexico State University and then received her M.A. in Counseling at the University of Colorado Denver.

Jennifer Gardiner, LMHC

Clinician

Jennifer chose this industry after being a Kindergarten paraprofessional for 11 years because having to teach and supervise several children at the same time did not allow her to focus on those children who needed extra support and guidance. Now she is able to be present with each child and their family individually to support them in finding the tools and empowerment needed in order to overcome any difficulties they may face in their daily lives. What attracted her to The Community Lighthouse was and still is the ongoing passion and support that each and every staff member has for our children, families and communities, “Every day I witness my co-workers embody our mission statement of empowering families, children and professionals to heal trauma for generations to come.”

Jennifer is originally from New Mexico where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UNM and her Master of Arts in Professional Guidance and Counseling from NMHU. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, walking and kayaking, and also spending time with family and friends with the occasional relaxation/meditation time for herself.

Kassandra Gonzales, LMHC

BMS Clinical Lead

Kassandra is a native New Mexican, who enjoys everything about our beautiful state from sunsets to fall chile roasting. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as doing various activities around the city. On her more relaxing days, she enjoys watching a good movie or catching up on the latest Netflix series.

The culture at The Community Lighthouse has allowed her to be organic and true to herself, while working in a fun environment. She enjoys working alongside other professionals who have the same passion for the work they do for our community. TCLH continues to support her in her growth, professionally and personally. Kassandra has worked for TCLH for 3 years within different facets of the company, starting as a Behavioral Management Specialist (BMS), as well as completing the internship program. She was hired as a Experiential Play Therapist and then promoted to a BMS Clinical Lead. Kassandra has a Bachelor’s of Science in Family Studies, as well as, a Masters in Counseling both from The University of New Mexico. Her professional experience is in Early Childhood, and specializes with children 0-5 years of age, and also sees adolescents and adults.

Vanessa Rodriguez, P-LMSW

Clinican - Bilingual

Vanessa graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish and a Master’s in Public Administration. Vanessa then graduated from New Mexico Highlands University with a Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Bilingual/Bicultural Clinical Practice. Prior to The Community Lighthouse, Vanessa completed her practicums at Programs for Children & Adolescent as well as at Youth Diagnostic & Development Center. Vanessa took interest in The Community Lighthouse because the agency allows her to continue empowering families while working with populations, she is passionate in encouraging such as children and adolescents. Vanessa currently works with varied age groups from children to adults.

Vanessa was born in Calexico, CA and moved to Albuquerque, NM as a child. Some of Vanessa’s hobbies include off-roading, dancing, reading, photography, exercising, and being outdoors.

Rosanna Cordova, LCSW

BMS Clinical Supervisor

Rosanna Cordova double majored in English and Psychology at the University of New Mexico and studied Social Work at New Mexico State. She is both a Lobo and an Aggie, and happily so! She has worked with children in the local school system experiencing homelessness, and also trained in play therapy working with this population. Utilizing a strengths-based, solution-focused perspective, Rosanna encourages clients and their families to be deeply curious about their feelings, thoughts and behaviors and the relationship between these as they improve their well-being.

Dawn Shores, P-LMSW

Clinician

Dawn chose the mental health field because she enjoys working with people in a meaningful way. She specifically chose the social work profession because of it's focus on understanding people within their environment from a perspective that values the dignity and worth of all people. Social work values resonate with her personally. During Dawn's internship with TCL, she enjoyed working with clients utiliizing experiential play therapy and learning from experienced and competent clinicians. She also appreciated the culture of TCL, which is focused on providing the best care for clients as well as providing professional development for clinicians and staff. Dawn has received a Bachelors degree in social work from New Mexico Highlands University and a Masters degree in social work from New Mexico Highlands University. She has lived in New Mexico for over twenty years but is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. Dawn has two dogs, a Labrador Retriever and an Australian Shepard mix, as well as a cat. She enjoys hiking and go as often as possible and she has a goal to hike a "Fourteener" within the next few years. Dawn also enjoys snowshoeing in the winter.

Ashley Aragon, LMHC

Clinician

Ashley is passionate about helping others. She enjoys seeing people discover and utilize their strengths to make positive changes. She was interested in The Community Lighthouse because she wanted to continue to grow as a clinician and to be able to serve children and families in the community. Ashley received her bachelors in psychology with a minor in family studies from the University of New Mexico. She then received her masters in clinical mental health counseling from Capella University. She was born in New Mexico but was raised in Phoenix. Ashley returned to New Mexico to attend the University of New Mexico. She has 2 dogs and cat. Ashley also has a step-daughter and enjoys reading, being outdoors, and doing crafts.

Amanda Gonzales, PMSW

Clinician

Amanda chose to work in social work because she wanted to promote change and enhance the wellbeing of individuals. She went into her master program not really knowing how she could help and how she could use my set of skills to help empower those who truly needed support. She soon realized that caring about vulnerable populations is a good start to promote change. For Amanda, children are a population that she want to serve and help empower. She now found a position where she feels she can empower and promote change with the population that drives me to work hard, challenge myself and play. Amanda chose to work at The Community Lighthouse because during her last year of her social work program she was fortunate enough to find an internship that encompassed all the interests she had been searching for in a company. As an intern she had been challenged and learned how important healing can be for children who have been exposed to traumas. Meeting the client where they are at and utilizing interventions that support the child stages in development is essential to healing and EPT does just that. TCLH not only supports their clients but also their employees and she wants to be apart of a company who does jut that. Amanda received her Bachelors of Sociology and Psychology from The University of New Mexico, then decided to further her education and received a Master of Social work from New Mexico State University. Ananda was born in LA California and then moved to New Zealand for six years. Her family then moved to Edgewood, New Mexico where she grew up for most of my life. Amanda has a long haired corgi dog who keeps her active and also loves to take walks, runs and hikes. She recently joined a volleyball team and has learned how to shoot a bow. She loves to travel with friends, even if that means getting out of ABQ for the day.