A Place To Turn

An experienced Albuquerque therapist has launched out on her own with an office on the West Side.

Raylah Etlantus opened her professional office in November at the Mesa View Center near the intersection of Montaño and Taylor Ranch NW.

She specializes in working with adults and teen clients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.

	Raylah Etlantus, LPCC What: Therapist specializing in working with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) Approved Consultant Where: 4701 Montaño NW, Suite 102, in the Mesa View Center off Taylor Ranch Road, West Side Albuquerque Appointment hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m,, Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon Insurance accepted: Currently Lovelace, Cigna, Aetna. In the future, Presbyterian and Medicaid. Phone: 385-6364, email: bci909@comcast.net

Etlantus has 13 years of experience, having worked with programs that focused on clients with drug and alcohol abuse problems, homeless alcoholics and runaway teens.

She also worked at The Community Lighthouse in Albuquerque, which provides therapy services to children, adolescents and adults.

Etlantus uses a variety of therapeutic approaches, including EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), a form of therapy that uses stimulation of the left and right sides of the brain through visual, auditory or tactile methods to help a client process disturbing experiences.

Negative experiences can be at the root of anxiety, depression and physical pain such as fibromyalgia, Etlantus said.

EMDR therapy was developed by Francine Schapiro, a Senior Research Fellow Emeritus at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., who noticed that eye movements reduced the intensity of disturbing thoughts under certain conditions, according to the EMDR International Association and the EMDR Institute.

Etlantus also helps clients develop “self care” skills, such as relaxation, deep breathing and meditation.

“I do self care (with clients) because we live in such a stressful society,” she said.

A West Side resident herself, she noticed that most of the Albuquerque-area therapists were based east of the Rio Grande.

Her office suite is in a center owned by the Mesa View United Methodist Church.