Meira Petersen is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Meira received her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM. Thoughtfulness, intention and sensitive encouragement are the foundation of Meira’s work as a Therapist. Over the past 23 years she has worked in a variety of settings with clients of all ages. At the beginning of her counseling career, she worked as as a Resident Assistant at the Youth Shelter in Santa Fe. Meira found she is effective at quickly establishing trust and fostering positive connection. Subsequently, in 2010, Meira worked as a Multi-Systemic Therapist for Teambuilders Counseling Services, where she had her first opportunity to work with entire families in their communities. At Teambuilders Meira was able to advocate for clients and their families in schools, courts, with CYFD, extended family and friends. The intensive, home-based and community model of therapy was invaluable to Meira’s development as a Therapist. It was through this work that she learned how each part of a system affects every other, the individual, the family, friends and the community. For Meira, this was extremely informative, experiential and rewarding work. Meira’s work with at-risk youth merged with her attraction to horses when she began co-facilitating Equine Assisted Therapy at Ranch Dubois in Corrales, NM. Horses happen to be excellent teachers of emotional regulation and personal boundaries. At Ranch Dubois she worked with horses and humans together to identify feelings, often through projection and psychodrama, teach body awareness, emotional regulation, and explore personal boundaries. Meira’s work with women has been richly rewarding as unrealistic societal expectations and biases claim far too much head space. Meira is proud to be part of this movement toward self-acceptance, rejecting self-hatred and superficial criticisms. Informed by her work with women, Meira has helped her clients to improve body image, redirect thoughts, find assertive voices and clarify intentions.
Since opening Eldorado Behavioral Health in 2015, Meira has served mostly adults and couples. This transition to serving clients aged 18-80 has been gratifying. Meira's experience with earlier developmental stages undoubtedly informs the present and supports inner child work. Meira believes that emotional growth is a continual process specific to the individual, completely based on unique experiences and often intentional. Acceptance of self and others is for many, a purposeful evolution that includes self-regulation and results in emotional freedom. Meira is honored to witness and learn from the intimate, personal experiences that her clients share with her.
Qualifications & Experience
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Experienced in working with children and teens on behavioral and peer group problems.
Specializes in working with adults and couples on issues of acceptance and communication in relationships.
Specializes in working with women and men on self image, work dissatisfaction and parenting.
Experienced in working with whole families to process trauma and build harmony through communication.