About Us

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  • Trauma-Informed Practices

    Southwest Family Guidance Center and Institute is recognized by the Children, Youth, and Families Department and the State Department of New Mexico as a trauma and developmentally informed mental health…  MORE >

    Southwest Family Guidance Center and Institute is recognized by the Children, Youth, and Families Department and the State Department of New Mexico as a trauma and developmentally informed mental health agency. We adhere to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) concept of what constitutes a trauma-informed approach.

    This means that our clinicians:

    • Realize “the widespread impact of trauma and understands paths for recovery;”
    • Recognize “the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff,” and others involved with our agency;
    • Respond by “fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices;”
    • Seek to “actively resist re-traumatization.” (SAMHSA, 2015)

    SWFGC also adheres to SAMHSA’s six key principles of a trauma informed approach. SAMHSA (2015) defines these principles as:

    • Safety
    • Trustworthiness & Transparency
    • Peer Support
    • Collaboration & Mutuality
    • Empowerment, Voice & Choice
    • Cultural, Historical & Gender Issues

    Aligning with these principles, SWFGC works to establish a trusting and transparent relationship with our clients throughout the course of treatment, while providing an environment that fosters a sense of safety. By embracing safety as one of our own core principles, we are able to deliver a mutually respectful and beneficial therapeutic process. Clients receiving services at SWFGC will find that our therapists encourage them to seek peer support in a way that is beneficial to their treatment and personal growth. Our agency believes in empowering our clients to take charge of their own therapeutic process. We respect our clients’ unique perspectives, beliefs, values, and encourage them to participate in developing personal treatment plans, playing an active and constructive role in their overall health and well-being.

    CITATION
    Trauma-Informed Approach and Trauma-Specific Interventions. (2015, August 14). Retrieved August 23, 2016
  • evidence based practices
    Evidence-Based Practices

    Mental health treatment is a large investment, and not just a financial one. Clients, families, and clinicians can spend copious amounts of time and energy engaging in treatment and confronting a full…  MORE >

    Mental health treatment is a large investment, and not just a financial one. Clients, families, and clinicians can spend copious amounts of time and energy engaging in treatment and confronting a full range of powerful and painful emotions. They are willing to do so because they believe that desired outcomes will be met and the problems that initiated treatment will improve. When we utilize evidence-based programs, we are investing in methods supported by rigorous clinical studies and proven to be effective.

    Evidence-Based Programs Must Take into Account:

    1. the best available research evidence bearing on whether and why a treatment works,
    2. clinical expertise (clinical judgment and experience) to rapidly identify each patient’s unique health state and diagnosis, their individual risks and benefits of potential interventions, and
    3. client preferences and values [1] [2]

    This combination of rigorous research, clinical expertise, and client involvement provides a strong foundation for client success.

    Our Agency’s Evidence-Based Programs
    Southwest Family Guidance Center & Institute is committed to providing evidence-based programs, practices, and policies whenever possible. These programs have been proven to help youth redirect their trajectory into a more positive, sustainable lifestyle by, for example, transforming negative family dynamics, reducing rearrests, improving school performance, keeping families together, and reducing the impact of negative peers and/or drug use/abuse.

    Oversight, accountability, and fidelity are essential components to the evidence-based programs that Southwest Family Guidance Center & Institute provides, including:

    Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
    Breaking the cycle of criminal behavior by keeping kids at home, in school, and out of trouble.

    Multisytemic Therapy For Youth With Problem Sexual Behavior (MST-PSB)
    Breaking the cycle of problem sexual behaviors by treating youth & families in their home, school & community.

    The Seven Challenges 

    Interested?

    If you would like more information about these services or any of the other programs SWFGC offers, please call (505) 830-1871.

    Citations

    [1] Spring, Bonnie (5 June 2007). “Evidence-based practice in clinical psychology: What it is, why it matters; what you need to know”. Journal of Clinical Psychology (Wiley Periodicals, Inc.) 63 (7): 611–632. doi:10.1002/jclp.20373. PMID 17551934. Retrieved 17 May 2015.

    [2] Jump up ^ Lilienfeld SO; Ritschel LA; Lynn SJ; Cautin RL; Latzman RD (November 2013). “Why many clinical psychologists are resistant to evidence-based practice: root causes and constructive remedies”. Clinical Psychology Review 33 (7): 883–900. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.09.008. PMID 23647856. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

  • Mission Statement

    Our vision is that all New Mexico children and families have equitable access to everything they need to thrive. In service to our community and profession, our mission is to…  MORE >

    Our vision is that all New Mexico children and families have equitable access to everything they need to thrive.

    In service to our community and profession, our mission is to foster equity for all New Mexico children and families to thrive—now and for future generations.

    We aim to inspire and transform our community by providing extraordinary service and reflecting excellence in everything we do.

    Southwest Family Guidance Center & Institute was founded by Dr. Craig Pierce and colleagues in 2004 to provide individualized behavioral health services for clients and their families. Our agency has emphasized best-practice standards, collaboration between service providers, and evidence-based practices since its inception. Southwest Family has grown steadily since its founding and offers services throughout New Mexico.

  • Our Founder

    Founder & CEO Craig Pierce, PhD, LMFT, LPCC has over 30 years of experience as a clinical counselor and family therapist. Dr. Pierce is a fellow of the American Psychotherapy…  MORE >

    Founder & CEO Craig Pierce, PhD, LMFT, LPCC has over 30 years of experience as a clinical counselor and family therapist.

    Dr. Pierce is a fellow of the American Psychotherapy Association, a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a board certified PTSD Clinician by the American Psychotherapy Association, a leading expert in trauma-informed treatment, the 2016 award recipient from the New Mexico Child Abuse Prevention Partnership, and author of multiple books on effective parenting.