ABOUT

Alder and Oak Counseling, LLC, is a psychotherapy private practice based in Santa Fe and Los Alamos, New Mexico. Our goal is to provide compassionate and skilled therapy to individuals, couples, and families who are coping with anxiety, depression, trauma, addictions, conflict, life changes and other issues. We value inclusivity and welcome clients of all different backgrounds. Alder and Oak also keeps in mind the health and welfare of its therapists and aims to provide them with the support they need to flourish and do what they love. When we can, we like to work together as a team to help our clients. The two cofounders and owners are Casey Dexter, LCSW, and Diana Zumas, LPCC. We have three additional therapists, Tejal Murray, LPCC, Vanessa Torres McGovern, LPCC and Sylvan Schneider LPCC. The therapists use a variety of modalities including relational, experiential, talk, art, and trauma informed therapy. Clients are seen either in the office or via telehealth. We try to make therapy accessible and accept many insurances. 

Diana Zumas, MA, LPC, LPCC

CO-FOUNDER, THERAPIST

Diana supports individuals and families on the journey of healing from depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, codependency, and other challenges. Her therapy practice incorporates a range of modalities, including mindfulness, psychodrama, EMDR, and artwork.

After receiving her BA in Theater and Art from Oberlin College, Diana earned a Masters in Counseling from Southwestern College. She has been a psychotherapist since 2008, working with individuals, families, and adolescents in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. For several years she was a primary and specialty therapist at Cottonwood de Tucson in Arizona, a world-renowned inpatient treatment center for addictions, trauma, depression and other disorders. Before her current position, Diana facilitated therapy groups for Native American men recovering from addiction at New Moon Lodge in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. She taught Group Dynamics and Developmental Psychology at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Currently she enjoys seeing clients at Alder and Oak in Santa Fe, NM, where she provides clinical direction for the team as well as providing individual and couples counseling.

Diana is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the State of New Mexico (license #0180451) and a Licensed Professional Counselor with the State of Arizona (license #LPC-15477). She is trained in EMDR levels I and II and has completed over 600 hours of psychodrama training.

Casey Dexter, BA, LCSW

CO-FOUNDER, THERAPIST

Casey received a BA in English from the University of Maine and a Masters in Social Work fromArizona State University. He has worked extensively with individuals, families and groups in inpatient and outpatient settings including a therapeutic boarding school for adolescents, families and children in the foster care system, and with Indigenous populations.

He has specialties in working with addictions, adolescents and with men’s issues. Before returning to New Mexico, Casey was the clinical director at an inpatient treatment center for addictions in Texas. Currently, his private is at Alder and Oak Counseling, and he practices in Santa Fe and Los Alamos.

In addition to establishing a compassionate and honest relationship with clients, Casey uses modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Action and Commitment Therapy. When appropriate, Casey enjoys using experiential methods, including music, poetry and the outdoors, to help people find grounding. Overall, he believes in the opportunity, growth and connection therapy can provide.

Casey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of New Mexico (license #C-10046) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the State of Texas (license #65888).

Vanessa Torres McGovern, MA, LPCC

THERAPIST

Vanessa is an independently licensed therapist with experience working with a variety of issues, including grief and loss, anxiety, depression, trauma, and important life transitions. She will support and encourage you on your journey and accompany you as a trusted companion, skilled witness, and guide.

Having grown up between two cultures, Spain and the United States, Vanessa speaks both Spanish and English and brings an understanding of what it means to live between cultures. Vanessa believes in the power to heal through compassionate witness, emotional expression, and creative process. She is passionate about creating new narratives that will serve you using a variety of modalities including sand tray therapy, songwriting, art, creative writing, and more.

Vanessa received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, and her Masters in Counseling from Southwestern College, with a certificate in Grief, Trauma, and Loss. Vanessa completed her internship at Solace Crisis Treatment Center. Vanessa has worked as an outpatient counselor at the Santa Fe Recovery Center supporting individuals recovering from addiction and leading Spanish language recovery and grief groups. She is on faculty at the Academy for the love of Learning and has facilitated numerous groups focused on story and creative process with youth and elders alike. Vanessa has spent 15 years cultivating original pieces of music that reflect meaningful stories in her work with individuals and groups. Vanessa has completed trainings in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Treatment, Motivational Interviewing and Sand Tray Therapy. As part of the therapeutic relationship, Vanessa will accompany you in exploring your unique personal growth and transformation process.

Tejal Murray LPCC ATR-BC

THERAPIST

Tejal provides a caring, safe environment for her clients to learn about themselves and work though feelings and issues that may feel overwhelming. She supports her clients to regain their sense of hope, joy and purpose in life. 

In addition to having a Master’s in Counseling from Southwestern College, she taught Yoga and Non Violent Communication for many years, and she is a Board Certified Art Therapist.   She understands how the nervous system can get stuck in modes that impair our full capacity to connect and move through life with ease, and she has multiple methods to help clients become self-aware, more resilient and better able to cope with the inevitable difficulties of life.

She is comfortable working with individuals, couples or families of all ages and cultural and gender identities.

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship problems, life work problems, a trauma history, or unresolved grief I am here to give you the support, understanding and tools to begin to reclaim your confidence and well-being.

Syvan Schneider LPCC

THERAPIST

Sylvan specializes in working with anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, neglect, cultural issues, phase of life issues, and work with adults as well as elders. Sylvan is a client-centered therapist and believes that therapeutic work helps promote healing, personal growth, and wellness. His background includes working as a therapist for clinics in Santa Fe, as well as for the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and Hopi Tribe.

Sylvan is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and loves working with people from different walks of life, backgrounds, and cultures. As a counselor Sylvan’s here to help empower you to find and unlock the answers that are within you. Together as a team you will explore what you would like to work through in the way that best fits your needs. Sylvan believes in holding a respectful, supportive, validating, and healing space for people I work with.