Mary F. Baca, CWK, CCTP, RMT, LPCC, CHT is a Licensed Counselor in the state of New Mexico and Somatic Psychotherapist incorporating mind-body work in her therapeutic services. She received her undergraduate degree with a dual degree in Psychology and Criminology. She went on to graduate with her Master’s Degree in Counseling in 1989.

Mary has maintained a thriving group counseling practice, “Odyssey Counseling”, for 30+ years, a holistic practice, “Resilience Integrative Services” since 2011 specializing in mental health and wellness services for individuals and businesses, another business for First Responders and their families “Allies For First Responders” since 2017, and a professional training business “Shifting Perspectives Training Institute” since 2017. Mary employs numerous counselors, social workers, trainers, and holistic practitioners. She has created a holistic and traditional employee assistance program. Included in Mary’s repertoire of specialty areas are Somatic Psychotherapy, PTSD, acute stress, depression, anxiety, sexual abuse/assault, and grief/loss, CISM, CISD and more areas of expertise she has acquired in the span of her enriched career.

Mary’s career as a holistic practitioner began 20+ years ago when she became certified in EMDR, a powerful modality she’s used as a trauma specialist. In addition, she utilizes meditation and guided visualization, Emotion Freedom Technique, Wholistic Kinesiology, Reiki, Quantum Alignment, TrauSoma, Intuitive Aromatherapy, Sound Healing, and more. She uses these modalities to assist individuals healing not mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Mary is a Reiki Master Teacher who trains and attunes others. She also trains and certifies people in modalities she has created herself, specifically Quantum Alignment and TrauSoma. Mary has two office spaces. One houses a yoga studio, counseling offices, and several holistic health treatment rooms, and an onsite podcast studio where she has done her “Remotely Unique” podcast and radio talk shows. The 2nd building houses Shifting Perspectives Training Institute where Mary trains counselors, social workers, holistic practitioners, and the public.

Mary has been working with first responders for over 25 years and was married to a police officer for 14 years. She has had friends and family in law enforcement and fire service. Mary’s Dad whom she was very close to had a career as a Military Police Officer. Because of this history and the thousands of first responders and their family Mary has met and provided services to, she quickly became passionate about helping this population on a micro and macrocosm level having started a non-profit Behind The Badge NM in 2016, now called “Beyond The Call” which has annual fundraisers, and assists first responders and their families with paying for counseling and ancillary services like therapeutic massage, reiki, and meditation.

Mary is a professional trainer educating the general public as well as workplace environments on a myriad of topics. Included BUT not limited to these topics are stress management, mental health awareness, the emotional occupational hazards involved in the fields of Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Dispatch/911 Operators, Corrections, OMI, Child/Adult Protection, and Medical Professions which is a list that is not all-inclusive. Mary routinely goes out to police departments to talk about mental health in law enforcement. She is passionate about working on suicide prevention in the first responder populations and sees this as mission critical. She started and pre-covid facilitated a First Responder Spouse/Partner Program called “Lightning Behind The Thunder” and has recently started a Spouse and Couples Peer Support Team.

As a Licensed Continuing Education provider locally and nationally delivering ongoing in person and online trainings to assist counselors, social workers,  helping professionals, and first responders with their professional growth and evolution. Mary has created numerous specialized training courses for professionals that want to work with first responders and their families and conducts these trainings all over the state, nationally, and online. Mary has first responder, mental health, and holistic trainers. She feels these are powerful collaborations to help any individual or department coming through the “door” with their goals for learning and professional growth