Rhiannon Barela
MST Therapist | MSW Candidate, New Mexico Highlands University
My path into social work is both professional and deeply personal. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from New Mexico State University and am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University. Alongside my academic training and professional work with at-risk youth and families, I bring lived experience. I am not simply speaking about resilience and systemic barriers from a textbook perspective — I have personally navigated the realities of being labeled “at-risk.” That lived experience allows me to connect with youth and families with authenticity, humility, and deep respect.
As an MST therapist, I believe families are not the problem — they are the solution. Caregivers and youth are experts in their own lives. My role is to walk alongside them, helping uncover strengths that may be buried beneath trauma, stress, or systemic challenges. Change is most sustainable when it happens within the family system and broader ecology of school, peers, and community.
I am passionate about integrating trauma-informed care into every interaction. Trauma-informed work changes everything — it shifts conversations from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” and ultimately to “What’s strong in you?” When families understand how trauma impacts behavior, relationships, and emotional regulation, it reduces shame and increases hope.
I also love teaching families about the brain. When youth and caregivers understand how the amygdala, nervous system responses, and stress cycles influence behavior, it empowers them with language and practical tools. Psychoeducation creates ownership. It transforms moments of conflict into opportunities for regulation and growth.
In addition, I value integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed perspectives into my work. Helping youth and caregivers understand their “parts” — protective parts, wounded parts, reactive parts — creates compassion within the self and within family relationships. IFS aligns beautifully with strengths-based and systemic approaches because it honors that every behavior has a protective intention.
My approach is warm, direct, and collaborative. I balance empathy with accountability. Youth deserve adults who understand their pain and also hold firm belief in their potential. Families deserve to feel empowered, not blamed. Through Multisystemic Therapy, I am committed to helping families build measurable, sustainable changes that support long-term safety and success.
As I continue my MSW journey, I remain committed to ethical growth, cultural humility, and lifelong learning. I am honored to serve families through FaithWorks and to contribute to a mission centered on restoration, healing, and transformation.
