Monte Nido & Affiliates Vice President of Clinical Programming Keesha Amezcua, MA, LMFT, CEDS shares her personal journey to joining Monte Nido & Affiliates. Keesha shares what inspires her and what she loves about being part of this organization.
What first attracted you to want to work at Monte Nido & Affiliates, and what of those things still inspire you today?
I was first attracted to Monte Nido because of the space and philosophy that Carolyn Costin created. When I first walked up the steps of original Nido, I could feel that there was something deeply healing and incredibly special about that place. And then when I sat with the different team members, I knew that it was tribe that I wanted to be a part of. It felt like my soul was at home. And every day, with those people, in that place felt like a soul homecoming. Then as I heard Carolyn speak, or teach actually because she is a teacher above all else, I realized that her philosophy and wisdom were both ancient and revolutionary. I always say that the Monte Nido philosophy is more than a way to heal eating disorders, it is a way to be a better, more evolved human in the world. I saw people getting better in a real and solid way. I saw individuals and families changing because of the clinical work being done. I knew that this was something I wanted to be a part of. I was also inspired by Carolyn’s definition of recovered. It was the first time I had actually heard that term. And when she talked about it, I realized that it was the word that most accurately described my experience. I knew then that Monte Nido’s philosophy was congruent with my own. And it has never felt hard or confusing to teach and share this philosophy. It feels natural and authentic.
The reason I have stayed all of these years has been a combination of the people and the philosophy. I believe that Monte Nido attracts genuine, good souls. People that I want to spend my days with. It has never felt like work. It feels like fulfilling a passion alongside family. That family has changed over the years and there have been many changes lately. But I still believe in our clinical teams and the work that we do. I still believe that MNA offers the very best care possible.
Tell me about your role or roles you have had at MNA over the years.
Over the years, I have held many roles and done many tasks for MNA. I started as a volunteer accruing hours for my Master’s program. I then became a group therapist, then a primary therapist and eventually a clinical director. At the end of 2014 I moved in to the role of Director of Residential Services overseeing all of our residential programs. Then in 2016 I became the VP of Clinical Programming overseeing all of our clinical programs across the US. I love getting to work with all of our teams and spending time with not only the Clinical Directors but all of the staff. I believe that each person is necessary and important. We couldn’t do what we do without each and every staff member
How has working at MNA shaped you as a person?
It’s impossible to describe how Monte Nido has shaped me as a person. This is where I learned how to best treat eating disorders. This is where I healed certain parts of my soul. This is where I met my best friends who are now my family. The tenants that we teach our clients guide me every day as a human, as a wife, as a mother and as a clinician. MNA is more than a job for me. It is a way of life.
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