Silver City – After a decade of nursing, Desiree Woodard is preparing to graduate from Western New Mexico University with a master’s degree in social work. While working full‑time, caring for an ill husband, a child, and raising four kids, Woodard completed the university’s online program and a clinical internship at Sandia Therapy and Wellness Center in Albuquerque.
From bedside to counseling
Woodard’s journey began in a childhood marked by poverty, trauma and family addiction. Becoming a mother at 15 delayed her college plans, but she persisted, seeing social work as a way to blend her health‑care background with therapeutic mental‑health support.
During her internship, adjunct faculty member Jeanine Rodriguez taught Woodard the “seven‑minute rule” – giving a colleague uninterrupted time to decompress and discuss emotional burdens. Woodard says the practice reshaped how she supports both patients and her own family.
Training and future plans
Her clinical work at Sandia Therapy involved individual psychotherapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and helping clients identify triggers, develop coping skills and manage trauma. Woodard’s nursing experience also informs her understanding of clients’ physical health needs.
Upon graduation, she intends to remain at the center as a clinician while pursuing independent licensure. Her long‑term goal is to establish a sober‑living facility that offers coordinated care from withdrawal through sustained recovery, providing accountability, tools and grace to help individuals reunite with their families.
Advice for adult learners
Woodard encourages other adults considering a return to school or a career change: “Go for it. Life is constantly changing, and it is never too late to learn something new or invest in yourself.”
Original reporting: Organ Mountain News (Las Cruces / Doña Ana County) — read the source article.
