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.

Author, Founder, & Executive Director

Dr. Ted Wiard, LPCC, CGC
Spiritual Care

Jim Lengerich, MA
Clinical Director & Caretaker

Karsyn Lahann, LPCC, CGC
Chief of Operations

Rebecca Ford, LMHC, CGC
Massage Therapy

Melissa Ortiz, Certified LMT, UNM, Certified Holistic Healer, UNM
Yoga Therapy, Certified RYT

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, MA

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 was a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) for many years. He has been working with individuals, couples, families, and groups for over 20 years as a contract provider for various nonprofit retreat centers including Golden Willow Retreat, National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center, and Vista Taos Renewal Center. As a contractor for Golden Willow Retreat, the focus of his expertise centers around issues of grief and loss, trauma (PTSD), addictions and overall personal growth mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. His work includes meditation, 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 assist 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 & Caretaker

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 and Caretaker. 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, CGC

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, and is licensed by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department as an LMHC. Rebecca completed 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 our guests, 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, Certified RYT

Lisa Sharp

Lisa has been a yoga practitioner for 30 years and received training in Hatha, Yin and Iyengar yoga. She maintains her RYT teaching certificate and  has attended numerous workshops involving the pelvic floor, hip and back alignment. A life-long equestrian with several injuries, her yoga practice has been instrumental in overcoming obstacles in healing and brought a new flexibility in body and mind. Lisa enjoys helping our guests focus on strengthening and lengthening the body while being mindful of their breath. We cherish Lisa at Golden Willow Retreat, and appreciate her ability to help people of all ages, abilities, and levels. Lisa has an inner gift and talent of meeting our guests where they are in their physical journey and body. Her 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 to start the day at Golden Willow Retreat!

OUR NEW 2026 WEEKEND WORKSHOP SCHEDULE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED!

For those of you who attended a weekend workshop in 2025, thank you for taking time to learn how to grieve in a healthy way and honor your losses, we are grateful for you. Please join us for our Alumni Weekend Renewal workshop.

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Loss of Partner Weekend Workshop

March 20th-22nd

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Loss of a Child Weekend Workshop

May 15th-17th

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Golden Willow Alumni Weekend Renewal

June 26th-28th

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Healing from Loss Weekend Workshop

Sept. 18th-20th

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PO Box 569 Arroyo Hondo, NM 87513 | 575-776-2024
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