Aline Gittleman, MA, LMHC

Aline grew up in Louisville, KY, and moved to New Mexico from Philadelphia in 2015. She has lived in many places and feels immensely grateful and privileged to call Northern New Mexico home. Aline lives with her husband and two cats on the ancestral lands of the Jicarilla Apache, Pueblo, and Genizáro peoples, otherwise known as Ranchos de Taos, NM. Aline earned an MA in Counseling from Southwestern College, has completed training in EMDR therapy, and CI (Compassionate Inquiry). She also earned the grief counseling certification through the NEI program and co-led and facilitated grief groups for Golden Willow Retreat for 2 ½ years. Aline currently works as an LMHC at a community-based mental health agency in Taos, NM, with a caseload ranging from adolescents to elders. In her work as a counselor, she also partners with the Equine Spirit Sanctuary, offering equine-assisted therapy to adults and teens and group experientials for children in the agency’s summer program.

In addition to her training as a counselor, Aline received a BFA from Washington University and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, and taught jewelry and metalsmithing for 20 years at the college and high school levels. In 2003, Aline began her adventure with the Point Zero Painting process developed by Michele Cassou and has been exploring creative self-expression and spirituality ever since. Her spiritual path includes being a student of Adyashanti. training in three shamanic lineages, and ordination as an interspiritual minister through One Spirit in NYC, NY. Outside of her work as a counselor, Aline enjoys time in her studio, hiking with her husband, cooking and baking, time with friends and family, and, especially in the winter, crochet, embroidery, or visible mending.

From her time as a student at SWC, Aline continues to focus on how spirituality informs her practice and as a means for self-expression and self-care. Counseling is a challenging and rewarding profession. What makes it a sustainable career (mentally, emotionally, and physically) is intentional self-love. Learning and being curious about how to love and care for herself while caring for others is very much alive for her. Learning is a timeless and evolving process. Though she may have the title of “instructor”, Aline recognizes she too is a student of what she teaches, and that we are all vital members of the sacred community we build together.