Our Team
Meet the Heart and Soul of Golden Willow Retreat
Get to know the passionate and caring team behind Golden Willow Retreat, each committed to guiding you on your unique journey of healing and self-discovery.
Dr. Ted Wiard, LPCC, CGC
Jim Lengerich, LPCC
Karsyn Lahann, LPCC, CGC
Rebecca Ford, LMHC, CGE
Melissa Ortiz, Certified LMT, UNM, Certified Holistic Healer, UNM
Lisa Sharp
Author, Founder, & Executive Director
Dr. Ted Wiard, LPCC, CGC
Dr. Ted Wiard along with his wife, Marcella, created Golden Willow Retreat from a combined vision of compassion and healing towards all life. Ted is a licensed clinical therapist, certified grief counselor, an ordained minister, a New Mexico certified schoolteacher and a certified tennis professional. Ted’s passion for working with grief, in its many forms, arose from his own personal losses in which he realized there were very few places that offered support and healing from grief. While working at Betty Ford Center, Ted counseled individuals and families with clinical and spiritual support through the recovery process, realizing that many individuals rarely touch the underlying conditions that led them to their dysfunctional behaviors. He has written numerous articles on the subject of emotional healing, grief, loss, trauma and the connection verses disconnection of spirituality in grief, loss, life transitions as well as addiction and relapse prevention. His book, “Witnessing Ted, The Journey to Potential Through Grief & Loss”, is a sensitive guide on the six aspects of grief and the journey to a wiser more authentic life. He is sought out for speaking engagements nationally to offer his inspirational and dynamic message of hope and healing.
Spiritual Care
Jim Lengerich, LPCC
Jim has been a full-time resident of the Taos area for over 40 years. He obtained a Masters Degree in Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe and am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). He has been working with individuals, couples, families, and groups for over 17 years both in private practice and as a contract counselor/therapist for various nonprofit retreat centers including Golden Willow Retreat and the National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center. The focus of his work has been varied but mainly around issues of grief and loss, trauma (PTSD), addictions and overall personal growth mentally, emotionally and spiritually. His work includes Mindfulness, Body-Centered Therapy, Brainspotting which is most effective in treating and healing victims of trauma and PTSD, Energy work, Shamanic Practice and leading healing ceremonies and rituals. He has trained extensively with various indigenous elders, shamans and medicine people from North, Central, and South America in the healing potential available from Spirit through ceremony and ritual. The ceremonies and individual work in his practice assists people to work through their issues and awaken to one’s true essence with a deeper sense of connection to themselves, nature, their families, communities, and Spirit.
Clinical Director
Karsyn Lahann, LPCC, CGC
Born and raised in Southern New Mexico, Karsyn quickly fell in love with the beauty and culture that is Taos County and its people. Karsyn is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and obtained her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from New Mexico State University. She is also a Certified Grief Counselor and Golden Willow Retreat’s Clinical Director. Karsyn has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. Karsyn’s primary background has been in acute mental health and substance use, with a focus on how loss and trauma impact both respectively. Karsyn utilizes a person-centered and psychodynamic approach with the hopes of helping individuals work towards their true authentic self and healing the mind, body, and soul.
Chief of Operations
Rebecca Ford, LMHC, CGE
Rebecca Ford is our Chief of Operations at Golden Willow Retreat. She is a visionary business leader with over 20 years of experience in corporate leadership and business development for top Fortune 500 companies. Rebecca became a Certified Grief Educator (CGE) through the David Kessler training program in the Summer of 2022, completed her Master of Arts degree in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health, from Adams State University with distinction, and is licensed by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department as a Provisional Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Rebecca is completing her Trauma, Grief and Renewal Certificate Program to become a Certified Grief Counselor through Southwestern College & New Earth Institute, and is certified by John Hopkins University in Psychological First Aid. Rebecca has years of experience with team building and business management that has required her to demonstrate effective active listening and communication skills with employees, Executive Directors in the local community, C-suite leadership, and our Board of Directors. Rebecca’s goal is to foster team collaboration that ensures all of our guests experience a high quality of care during their stay at Golden Willow Retreat, and that they feel seen, heard, and valued on their individual path with grief, loss, and transition.
Massage Therapy
Melissa Ortiz, Certified LMT, UNM, Certified Holistic Healer, UNM
Melissa was born and raised in a small village near the Taos Mountains and started her Healing journey caring for her 102 yr. old Grandfather Manuel. She learned and used “Medicina del Campo” which is a blending of Native American (Mexica) and Spanish roots with beliefs in harmony with nature, spirit, and self. Melissa provides deeply relaxing treatments to our guests to help soothe the nervous system. Guests are treated with natural lavender blossom essential oil that is used to remove negative energy, release stuck emotion, and evoke feelings of relaxation and peace. Melissa has years of experience in the holistic healing field and continues to hone her extensive practice by studying different healing modalities that naturally elevates the quality of care that our guest’s experience. Melissa has a strong connection to the land and finds it peaceful and healing when she is providing massage therapy at Golden Willow Retreat. Melissa brings years of tradition and experience to the Golden Willow Retreat team and we are so grateful for her knowledge. Her credentials include: University of New Mexico (UNM) Certificate in Holistic Healing, University of New Mexico License in Massage Therapy, and she is a Licensed Massage Therapist for Golden Willow Retreat.
Yoga Therapy
Lisa Sharp
Lisa grew up on her family’s cattle ranch located on the Arizona/Mexico border. College, marriage and career took her to California and New Mexico, but the love of land and open space stayed with her. She returned to the ranch in the mid-1990s and lived there until it was sold to the Nature Conservancy in 1998. Lisa completed her memoir about life on the border, A Slow Trot Home, which was released on April 1, 2014. Lisa has been a B&B owner and a solo traveler through Asia, Europe, and South America and is currently involved in the art community of Taos, New Mexico; a student and teacher of Hatha Yoga. Lisa has been practicing yoga since the late 80s and received her teaching certificates (RYT 200) in 2013. Throughout her life, Lisa has experienced arthritis, herniated discs, hip replacement, and the physical therapy that ensues after facing various physical challenges which is why she enjoys helping our guests focus on strengthening and lengthening the body. We cherish Lisa at Golden Willow Retreat, and appreciate her ability to help people of all ages, abilities, and levels. Lisa uses Level 1 yoga poses to enhance the practice and has an inner gift and talent of meeting our guests where they are in their physical journey and body. Lisa’s early morning gentle stretching, core strengthening, and balance with focused breath provide our guests with daily consistency and a sense of being grounded and rooted-a lovely way for them to start their day at Golden Willow Retreat!