Voted 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Best Counselor in Otero County
Dionna Morales, Social Work Intern (She/Her)
...is a social work student completing her practicum hours as social work intern. She graduated from Western New Mexico University with her Bachelor’s in Social Work in 2023. She is currently working towards obtaining her Master’s in Social Work through Western New Mexico University with a graduation date of May 2027.
She has experience in case management working with children, adolescents, teens, and their families, helping them to navigate and support their unique challenges using a strengths-based approach. Dionna was born and raised in Alamogordo and has experience working within the community. Because of her involvement in the community and through personal experiences, Dionna has seen firsthand, the unique challenges the residents of Otero County face in their everyday lives. She is knowledgeable in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is committed to utilizing a person first, strengths-based approach in practice.
Dionna is committed to her professional and personal growth as she begins her internship and is committed to learning new modalities and expanding her expertise in therapeutic knowledge to best serve her clients’ unique needs. Dionna is committed to creating and fostering a space in which clients can feel safe, respected, and valued.
In her free time, Dionna enjoys reading, traveling, paddleboarding, and crafting. She also enjoys spending time with her family and her three dogs: Millie, Luna, and Ziggy.
Peggy Jo Archer, Counseling Intern (She/Her)
...is originally from Southwest New Mexico and is a Master’s-level Mental Health Counseling student at the University of North Dakota, completing her clinical training toward a Master of Arts in Community Mental Health Counseling. She brings nearly two decades of professional experience in violence prevention, trauma-informed services, and support for individuals and communities affected by abuse and other forms of power-based violence.
Peggy Jo has extensive experience working with diverse populations, including Tribal and military-connected communities, survivors of violence, and individuals navigating trauma and significant life transitions. Her professional background in violence prevention and crisis response has shaped her understanding of how trauma, relationships, culture, family systems, and life experiences can affect mental health and well-being.
Peggy Jo approaches counseling from a person-centered, strengths-based, solution-focused, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive perspective. She values creating an authentic and trusting therapeutic relationship where clients feel heard, respected, and supported. Peggy Jo works collaboratively with clients to recognize their existing strengths, identify practical solutions, and build on what is already working in their lives. Her goal is to meet clients where they are while supporting healing, resilience, personal growth, and meaningful change.