Passion. Commitment. Humility.
We’re here to do things differently - to make contributions to the world of mental health, and also to leadership. We commit to relational models of leading and teaching, not domination hierarchies. We connect to and care for each other, invest in our creativity of thought and expression, and practice transparency in as many ways as we can consider. We use a present-centered model of business guidance, tending to the growth of the center as the needs arise in the moment. We lead by following the Center as it unfolds, and supporting it in that, as we can. It’s not easy, it’s often messy, and requires a courage of spirit and heart.
executive director
elysha “Lacy” martinez, MA. lmft #93493
execdirect@axismunditherapy.org
Elysha (or "Lacy"), has a long history in the mental health field, particularly in the places it intersects with advocacy and education. As a student herself she worked in student government advocating on behalf of the student experience and has founded multiple projects that continue in that tradition. Axis Mundi Center represents her attempt to integrate her 3 core commitments to education, quality therapy, and socially just practices of all.
She is currently adjunct faculty at John F. Kennedy University and Pacific Oaks College, teaching in their graduate degree programs for counseling psychology. She specializes in Depth Psychotherapy, the application of Ethics and the Law, and Diagnosis and Assessment with liberation and ecological lenses.
administrative director
sing murphy, mfa.
artist-in-residence
admindirect@axismunditherapy.org
Sing’s drive for her work comes from her passionate commitment to her core values of justice, decency, dignity, integrity, and the human need to create and express freely. She’s combined these essentials in her professional identity, with nearly two decades of administrative leadership in the holistic mental health field - assisting, supporting, and mentoring young clinicians. Her role at AM continues that path, as she manages the organizational and structural needs of the center.
Administrative Assistant
Jacinta Sutphin, MA. Registered AMFT #123578.
adminassist@axismundicenter.org
Jacinta is Sing's assistant with all things admin and supporting the various corkscrews and baubles that make things run. Her passion and commitment to nonprofit organizations shines through in her support and on-tasking.
Director of Herding Cats
rayne banneck, ms. LMFT #124607
directorofherdingcats@axismunditherapy.org
Rayne oversees all departments Axis affectionately refers to as Herding Cats. This includes the No Fun (A.K.A. legal and ethical compliance). They are the managing point person for the coordination of legal compliance issues outside of the clinical frame. They also manage HIPAA compliance procedures, complaints and conflict resolution, and pick up the rope for anything needing support in the other departments.
Rayne is your main point of contact for all things legal and ethical. They the No Fun department with lightness and a sense of style, silly hats included. They keep our practices as ship shape as possible, and holds close to our ideal that the minimum amount of chasing to keep us afloat is preferred.
Community Partnerships Coordinator
JaCqui FERRAIOLO, MA. lMFT #138232
partnerships@axismunditherapy.org
Jacqui runs our partnerships department. Jacqui has long-time love and interest for the intersections of therapy, wrap services, community-based healing, and all the ways various orgs can support each other in common endeavors! She is busy connecting Axis Mundi to other way-cool orgs in mutually supportive ways.
clinical director
Natalie Webster, MA. LMFT #126065.
clinicaldirect@axismunditherapy.org
Natalie is an experienced clinician who weaves Expressive Arts, Buddhist philosophy, and Depth into her work as a therapist. She is also our Clinical Director and as such is responsible for the quality of the clinical service at Axis Mundi. She oversees hiring and onboarding, develops our training curriculum, and is also one of our supervisors. One of her main roles at Axis is to embody, express, and transmit the values, culture, and ethos of the organization in ways that perpetuate. Natalie is also excited to be pursuing a PhD in Psychology at Pacific Graduate Institute…occasionally overwhelmed and exhausted by it, but mostly excited.
“I can only endeavor daily to be a servant to this world around me—and now particularly to everyone at Axis. With gratitude and reverence to my ancestors for what they have left us. With love and care to the younger versions of me and all they’ve been through. With eternal naive hope and optimism for those who come next. And with empathy, consideration and support to those among me.
This life shit is hard—but it’s profound.”
Client Care coordinator
Laura “Lo” Wesely, MA. LCSW #99991.
clientcare@axismunditherapy.org
Lo is our client matching expert. She fields general client inquiries and uses her extensive intuitive and clinical sense to assess and recommend clinicians that will most serve what the client needs. An accomplished clinician in her own right, she ensures that people are held as they embark on their individual therapeutic journey.
spanish-speaking services coordinator
pablo navarrete-martinez, Ma. LMFT # 113991
schoolprograms@axismunditherapy.org
Pablo has a long-standing interest in the nature of the human experience, and how psychology and spirituality connect. Originally from Mexico, Pablo was raised to integrate indigenous and modern wellness practices, and he brings this also to his therapy work. He has over 25 years of experience in hospitality and management, as well as a decade of experience in mental health and hospice.
Pablo currently works at Seneca Family of Programs, at a school site, as assisting with mental health needs and wrap-around services. Pablo is dedicated to bringing therapy and counseling into diverse communities where language or stigma may have been obstacles to receiving care in the past. He handles all Axis Mundi's client, administrative, and programming needs in Spanish.
Social Media Manager (AKA Social Sprite)
Demetra Risner, MA. Registered AMFT #129996
socialsprite@axismunditherapy.org
Demetra (she/they) is our social sprite, bringing her millennial tech-savviness and dark sense of humor to various social platforms on the interwebs, writing and releasing seasonal newsletters to the agency, and planning community gatherings for our clinicians. Most recently, Demetra was responsible for planning our agency's fall retreat! Catch Demetra posting agency updates, psycho-education, soulful art, social justice content, and of course, lots of ridiculous memes on our agency's Instagram (@axismundicenter) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/axismundihealth.org) pages.
Demetra has extensive experience in social media, online communications, and event planning. They love creating and sharing relatable content that inspires, educates, and entertains their audience, and they're passionate about bringing people together and strengthening the sense of community here at Axis. Demetra also holds a BA in Screen Studies and has experience in web design.
Website Manager (AKA Web Wizard)
Alejandro Rodriguez-Martinez, MA. Registered AMFT #125288
webwizard@axismunditherapy.org
Alejandro is our website manager, AKA Web Wizard. He maintains our agency’s website and keeps clinician and agency information up-to-date. Alejandro is responsible for updating bios, designing website pages, and making sure all website links are functional and in compliance with the law and the ethics of the field. Simply put, he updates the website.
onboarding inquiries and coordination
Korie Vannerus, MA. Registered AMFT# 117592 and becca pele, MA. registered amft# 117520
onboardingteam@axismunditherapy.org
Omg. Well. Yes, this is our Onboarding Team. Meet Becca and Korie - longtime best buds who bring their love and lightheartedness to all things Onboarding - making what might be tedious and dull something of a party, baked goods usually included :) They are both clinicians here at AM, and have been with the org long enough to have an intimate understanding of what Belonging at AM both offers and requires. They are part of all interview and hiring processes, and are mentors to our newest members until they feel truly settled into the organization.
Becca and Korie support incoming clinicians to the agency with everything they need in order to start seeing clients - from providing information to prospective trainees, associates and licensed clinicians, to facilitating interviews and invitations, and coordinating onboarding trainings and practice-building foundations.