CAN-NM Members
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Following are brief bio sketches for some of the members of the Conscious Aging Network of New Mexico. 

 

Gary Carlson, PhD, is Director of the Sage-ing® Group of New Mexico, an organization that presents workshops and lectures on Sage-ing and Conscious Aging.  He is a founding member of the Conscious Aging Network of New Mexico, served on the Board of the Spiritual Eldering Institute, and is a leader of the Sage-ing Guild, a national professional group for Sage-ing Leaders.  Gary retired eleven years ago after a 30-year career as a research scientist and technical manager.  For over 20 years, he has participated as a leader and participant in human potential activities, including 11 New Mexico Men’s Wellness conferences, four New Mexico Conferences on Aging and various other local and national conferences.  For more information on Gary, click here.

 

Elizabeth C. Etigson, MA LPCC, is an insightful and experienced counselor, passionate about helping people grow older with wisdom and self esteem. Her 31 years of mental health and aging practice in New Mexico includes leading Spiritual Eldering groups, Peer Counselor trainings and staff development workshops. As part of her work with vital ageing, Elizabeth leads various support groups and conducts workshops on writing ethical wills. In her private practice with individuals, couples and families, she nurtures communication and creative planning. Elizabeth is a certified Sage-ing Seminar leader and an active member of the Conscious Aging Network of New Mexico.

 

 

Clara Farah, Ph.D. is a psychologist and a coach. She has developed a specialty in retirement issues and feels she is as much a student of this time as she is an expert. Clara loves her virtual group coaching and looks forward to meeting like-minded individuals who see retirement as a challenge as well as a time of fulfillment. Clara lives on a cattle ranch in Lincoln, New Mexico. She is married, a mom, a grandmother and a daughter to her 96 year old mother.

You can find out more about Clara's work and background at her website, at www.clarafarah.com.

 

 

                                                                                                                               

Phoebe Girard, MPH, directs the Women to Women Project and is a founding member of the Conscious Aging Network of NM.  She has worked with elders over many years as a bereavement counselor, a senior housing administrator, an elder arts coordinator, and a volunteer manager.  After receiving a certificate in pastoral care in 2000 from the Center on Aging, Religion and Spirituality,  St. Paul,  MN, she developed a special outreach to midlife and older women.  The women’s  circles and retreats create a welcoming space and conversation among those growing older with spirit.   She is currently a member of  editorial board of the Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging. 

 

 

Paul Swanson, MS, is currently treasurer of CAN-NM.  Paul has been a member of CAN-NM almost from the beginning in 2002. He is the Outreach Manager at the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board. He gives informative and thought-provoking seminars to educational employees contemplating retirement. His M.S. from the University of Arizona started his path with performing vocational assessment and planning for Special Ed. students to working as a career counselor in an Employee Assistance  Program to Human Resources and finally working with individuals contemplating and then enjoying retirement. As a Baby Boomer smack in the middle of the wave, Paul believes that planning and being open to new possibilities will make this second half of life the best half. Paul is a former “leader” of CAN-NM.

 

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Last modified: 02/02/12