Meet The Team – The Lighted Path LLC
Meet the Heart behind the Lighted Path LLC
Jeff Abernathy | Owner & Operator
Jeff Abernathy owns and operates The Lighted Path LLC. A former Marine and retired Albuquerque Police Department officer with 25 years of service, Jeff founded The Lighted Path LLC with his wife, Mandi, in 2023. Formerly known as Seasons Therapy, their practice helps clients address challenges by promoting positive thinking and behavior through an informal, direct, compassionate, and strength-based approach.
Mandi Abernathy, MA, LPCC, Supervisor
As the Clinical Director and a graduate of Wayland Baptist University (2013), Mandi has been a Licensed Counselor in New Mexico since 2014. Her clinical leadership is grounded in an integrated wellness approach that extends beyond traditional symptom management, emphasizing the essential connection between mental and physical health to support long-term psychological resilience.
Mandi’s goal is to guide clients toward an empowered, self-actualized mindset that fosters lasting personal growth well beyond the therapy room. She welcomes the opportunity to discuss how this specialized approach can support individual client needs.
Meet The Edgewood, NM Team
Amy Smith, LCSW Therapist | In Person & Online
Who She Works With
- Children
- Adolescents & teens
- Adults
- Couples
Areas of Focus
- Past and complex trauma
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Attachment challenges
- Self-esteem concerns
- Relationship difficulties
- Suicidality
Therapeutic Approach
- Rooted in safety, connection, and self-awareness
- Strengths-based perspective
- Evidence-based interventions, including:
- EMDR
- Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)
- ARC (Attachment, Regulation, Competency)
- CAMS
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Experience
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 11 years of clinical experience
Availability
- In-person and online sessions
Contact
- Phone: 505-508-7071
- Email: thelightedpathllc@gmail.com
Britt Verstegen LMSW, LSAA | Online Only
Who She Works With
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Young Adults and Adolescents
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Adults of All Ages
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Veterans
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Small Groups (6 to 10 Individuals)
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Recipients of Discrimination, Racism, and Homophobia
Areas of Focus
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Complex PTSD and PTSD
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Anxiety and Depression
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ADHD, ASD, and “Neurospicy” Individuals
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Life Transitions and Grief Work
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Mindfulness and Meditation
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Outdoor Behavioral Health
Therapeutic Approach
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“Safety, sincere respect, and cultural humility are central to my practice.”
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“You are the hero of your own story, the expert of your own life.”
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“I am trauma-informed, anti-racist, and LGBTQIA affirming.”
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Evidence-based interventions, including:
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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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Narrative Therapy
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Logotherapy
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CBT and CBTi
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Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing)
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Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
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Experience
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Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
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Licensed Substance Abuse Associate (LSAA)
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4 years of Clinical Mental Health Experience
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25 years of ESL and Math Teaching Experience
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Extensive Intercultural Experience
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Avid Researcher of Evidence-Based Interventions
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Lifelong Writer, Artist, and Mindfulness Practitioner
Availability
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Online Sessions
Contact
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Phone: 505-508-7071
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Email: thelightedpathllc@gmail.com
Julie Phillips, MSW, LCSW | Online Only
Who She Works With
- Individuals (adult therapy)
- Couples
Experience
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 2 years of clinical practice
Therapeutic Approach
Positive change is achievable & possible
- explore the underlying reasons for feeling stuck, unmotivated, or triggered
- By changing a distorted thought, you can change the emotion and the resulting behavior
- Learning to challenge those negative thoughts with evidence and replacing them with more balanced, realistic ones
Modalities & Practices
- Trauma-informed care
- Mindful Self-Compassion
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- First Responders
- Grief
Rachel Rascon, MS, LMHC | In-Person & Online
Who She Works With
- Children
- Adolescents
- Individuals
- Couples
Education
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of the Southwest
Experience
- Over 10 years of experience working with individuals in crisis
- Extensive experience supporting clients who have experienced trauma
- Background working with children and youth
Therapeutic Philosophy
- Believes healing, self-growth, and meaningful change can occur through the therapeutic process
- Focuses on creating a supportive and safe environment for growth
Availability
- In-person and Online Session
Contact
- Phone: 505-508-7071
- Email: thelightedpathllc@gmail.com
Justin Anderson | Online Only
Specialties
- Stress management
- Anxiety reduction
- Habit control
- Fears and phobias
- Smoking cessation
- Building self-confidence
Therapeutic Approach
- Compassionate and client-centered
- Personalized, organically tailored sessions
- Empowers clients to regain control and create lasting change
- Uses hypnosis to support insight, healing, and personal growth
Client Experience
- Focuses on helping clients unlock their potential
- Encourages deeper self-awareness and self-trust
- Creates a supportive and safe therapeutic environment
- Believes clients already hold the answers within themselves
“You already have the answers — I’m here to help you discover them.”
Availability
- Online sessions only
Contact
- Phone: 505-508-7071
- Email: thelightedpathllc@gmail.com
Emily Martin, M.A. Candidate | Master’s Intern Counseling
Who She Works With
- Children
- Adolescents
- Adults
Areas of Focus
- Trauma-informed
- Culturally responsive care
- Behavioral challenges
- Life transitions
- Emotional, behavioral, and vocational goals
Experience
- Master’s-level counseling intern currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
- K–12 Rehabilitation Counseling licensure.
- 7 Years professional experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in rural and underserved New Mexico communities.
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, providing counseling and support to individuals with disabilities while addressing mental health concerns, adjustment challenges, and life transitions.
Therapeutic Approach
- Trauma-informed and strengths-based
- Child- and adolescent-responsive care
- Developmentally appropriate skill-building
- Collaborative and person-centered
Philosophy
Emily believes that growth happens when individuals, especially children and adolescents, feel safe, supported, and understood. She values building trust, honoring each client’s lived experience, and helping clients and families develop skills that promote resilience, confidence, and long-term well-being.
Availability
- In-person sessions only available Saturdays
- Online sessions
Meet The Albuquerque, NM Team
Angelika Van Grinsven, MA, LPCC | In-person & Online
Education
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Regent University
- Master’s Certificate in Trauma Counseling
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
- EMDR trained
- PhD candidate
Therapeutic Approach
- Warm, direct, and trauma-informed
- Combines practical coping skills with deep trauma healing
- Focused on real progress beyond talk therapy
Areas of Focus
- Trauma (medical, relational, abuse, disaster-related)
- Complex & developmental PTSD
- Dissociation & DID
- Domestic violence & substance use
- Anxiety, depression, suicide concerns
- Military-related & LGBTQAI+ concerns
Therapies Used
- EMDR, ACT, DBT, CPT
- Narrative & Person-Centered Therapy
- IFS concepts & Polyvagal-informed care
Availability
- In-person & Online Sessions
Contact
- 505-508-7071
- thelightedpathllc@gmail.com
Francine Adair, MS, LCSW | In-Person & Online
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work – New Mexico Highlands University
- Master’s Degree in Social Work – New Mexico Highlands University
Professional Experience
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Former school social worker
- Behavior management specialist
- CYFD investigator
Client Perspective
- Mother of four with deep understanding of family dynamics
- Personal insight into:
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Autism
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD
- Strong advocate and ally for the LGBTQ+ community
Who She Works With
- Children
- Adolescents
- Adults
- Couples
- Families
Therapeutic Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma-informed care
- Play therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Gender-affirming practices
Therapeutic Philosophy
- Passionate about strengthening family and couple communication
- Believes there are no “bad” parents — only parents learning new tools
- Focuses on connection, growth, and healthy relationships
Availability
- In-person and online sessions
Contact
- Phone: 505-508-7071
- Email: thelightedpathllc@gmail.com
Meet The Owatonna, MN Team
Justin Anderson | Online Only
Specialties
- Stress management
- Anxiety reduction
- Habit control
- Fears and phobias
- Smoking cessation
- Building self-confidence
Therapeutic Approach
- Compassionate and client-centered
- Personalized, organically tailored sessions
- Empowers clients to regain control and create lasting change
- Uses hypnosis to support insight, healing, and personal growth
Client Experience
- Focuses on helping clients unlock their potential
- Encourages deeper self-awareness and self-trust
- Creates a supportive and safe therapeutic environment
- Believes clients already hold the answers within themselves
“You already have the answers — I’m here to help you discover them.”
Availability
- Online sessions only
Contact
- Phone: 505-508-7071
- Email: thelightedpathllc@gmail.com