MARITZA V. ENCINAS, MS, LPC-Intern
Provides clinical therapy services in addition to being an owner of the agency that includes outpatient treatment programming and psychosexual evaluations and assessment . Since 2003, she has specialized in treating sexual behavior issues and is a clinical member of ATSA (Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse) specializing in sexual behavior. She began her career in this field treating adolescent males in an inpatient facility in Southern Arizona prior to being recruited and relocating to Oregon to continue her work. Maritza is from the Southwest, and spent a great deal of her life in Tucson, Arizona. She received her Bachelor degree from University of Arizona majoring in Psychology and Family Studies and then earned her Master’s degree from Capella University in Clinical Counseling, later becoming a certified associate sex offender therapist in Oregon. Maritza has extensive experience working with male and female sexual offenders, sexual abuse victims, sexual and pornography addiction and has also been a clinical director and presenter for other agencies and most recently OATSA (Oregon Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse), making her an ideal provider choice for clients in need of her expertise. She is native Spanish speaking and fluent in both reading and writing, offering bilingual services in Oregon. Prior to entering the sexual behavior field, she treated clients with drug and alcohol abuse and dependency, and clients with severe mental illness diagnosis such as schizoaffective, psychosis, and schizophrenia in residential and inpatient settings. Implementing animal assisted therapy using her dogs and horses via equine assisted psychotherapy practices are present in her work history.
Her experience is extensive in both outpatient and inpatient settings, and she is an educator and advocate providing training for practicum and intern students, therapists, and other agencies. She understands the importance of advocating for the needs of the client, and community education and safety and individualizing treatment and including the presence of the treatment team. She is a strong and respected presence in the mental health community and offers leadership both as a treatment provider, evaluator, presenter and consultant. She is a confident, and fair individual and clients trust her ability to lead them through difficult disclosures and new discoveries about themselves. She considers it an honour to be part of a client’s journey and watch them develop into healthy, responsible, and empathetic individuals, and good examples to the community evidencing treatment is worthwhile. When she is not working, she spends time with her family which includes an array of animals, which she believes brings their own sense of love, acceptance and healing to clients. She continues to work on her never ending objective of traveling the world to meet new people and to learn from others. She believes diversity is beautiful and necessary and enjoys presenting on cultural awareness and mindfulness working with different populations.
She offers a safe, comfortable environment for clients to learn about their greatest truths, to receive validation on their efforts, and the confidence to confront secrets and harmful behaviours that need assistance.
Maritza is also a 300 hour registered (Yoga Alliance) yoga instructor. She is a Level I Baptiste Yoga certified teacher. She completed her core yoga teacher training in Bend, Oregon with Namaspa Yoga & Massage. She acquired additional hours studying with Baron Baptiste through the Baptiste Institute and puts these mindful skills into practice with her clinical clients and also public program Yoga Horse Tribe.
CHRISTOPHER L. EDWARDS
RYT 200 Yoga Alliance
Christopher is originally from Haysi, Virginia and has spent most of his adulthood traveling around the country having worked for Virginia Intermont College, various professional barns, and driving carriages in Nashville, Tennessee and Tombstone, Arizona with his brother Carey L. Edwards enjoying their love of working with horses, especially problematic behavioural cases. It was not long before their reputations to intervene and redirect difficult horse behaviours made them a popular choice for horse owners and professional outfits to call on them providing diverse experiences with all breeds of horses and disciplines of riders, including business owners. Christopher moved to Oregon in 2010 having left his work in a mental health setting as a barn manager and psychoeducational facilitator for an outpatient group home serving individual diagnosed with schizophrenia. He used horses as a means of belonging, communication building and to assist them in building confidence and self-esteem. He arrived in Oregon with the intent to continue helping others by using horses. This was unexpectedly interrupted by serious autoimmune illness. It was during this difficult time, he decided to become a certified yoga instructor and combine mindfulness practices with his experiences of natural horsemanship and Yoga Horse Tribe was born. He attained 200 hours via his formal education Blue Cliff Zen Center in Eugene, Oregon and is a certified yoga instructor, and member of Yoga Alliance. Sunriver, Oregon is now home just outside of Bend where the property offers a large, covered arena to work with students. His lifetime experience, welcoming personality and diverse background working with horses and people make him the ideal person to offer psychoeducational programming. Contact Christopher directly to inquire regarding individual and group fees and he will design something to fit just for you. Our herd of eight horses is diverse, and are excellent mirrors to the human soul, a perfect metaphor analysis, and pathway to deeper understanding, mindfulness and self-acceptance. For scheduling and inquiry, please contact Christopher at 541-639-1680 or yogahorsetribe@gmail.com
