Welcome / Bienvenido/a/e
Ruth Yáñez, MSW, LCSW, Founder & Mental Health Therapist
Born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, Ruth Yáñez is a licensed clinical social worker, bilingual and bicultural, and the founder of Voces de Vida. With professional experience in clinical practice, community health, and education, she has dedicated her life to serving immigrant, Latino/e/x, and Spanish‑speaking communities. Her approach weaves together psychotherapy, accompaniment, and cultural healing through a healing‑centered, trauma‑informed, decolonizing, and spiritually inclusive lens.
Ruth is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Holistic Hypnosis, and Reiki.
She has also developed national and statewide programs and curricula to train bilingual and bicultural professionals in mental health and addiction treatment, cultural humility, and trauma‑informed care and healing-center care.
Her journey is deeply personal — as a first‑generation Mexican immigrant, daughter and eldest sister, and mother of neurodivergent children, Ruth understands the complexities of migration, mental health, and family life. She has navigated her own experiences with complex PTSD, ADHD, depression, and anxiety, which have shaped her empathy and authenticity as both a clinician and a human being.
Raised in a Christian household, her faith evolved after a spiritual and existential crisis that led her to understand that God is greater than religion. Together with her husband, she chose to raise her children with a foundation rooted in love, faith, and curiosity. Ruth holds space with respect for all spiritual experiences, believing that healing exists beyond dogma and within compassion itself.
More than a psychotherapist, Ruth is a wife, mother, daughter, educator, partner, lifelong learner, and aunt who deeply loves her nieces and nephews, her cats (Chavela, Nacho, and Boots), and her dog Smokie.
In her free time, Ruth enjoys a good ice cream, spending time with her two children, watching television shows with her husband, and looking up fun facts.
Richard Yáñez, Personal Trainer, CCSS
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised in the South Valley, Richard Yáñez is co‑founder and personal trainer at Voces de Vida, where movement, healing, and culture come together. As a trauma‑informed, healing‑centered trainer, Richard helps individuals reconnect with their bodies and emotions through somatic movement practices that support emotional processing, grounding, and release. His approach combines physical conditioning, mindfulness, and compassion, creating a space where the body becomes a bridge to healing.
Richard’s story is one of resilience. He was born exposed to drugs and raised in foster care before being adopted. From a very young age, he experienced disconnection and hardship, which shaped his understanding of pain, perseverance, and purpose. As a person in recovery, he deeply understands the challenges faced by those struggling with addiction, as well as the powerful capacity each person has to heal, grow, and fully recover.
Living with ADHD and depression, and as a father of neurodivergent children, Richard understands the importance of meeting people where they are — with patience, presence, and love. He has worked with children with autism and system‑involved youth, creating spaces that foster trust, strength, and hope.
Richard has lived experience with Catholicism and Christianity, and his spiritual path evolved through his recovery process and personal awakening. He came to understand that God exists beyond religion. He embraces a faith that unites the sacred with the everyday, raising his two children with openness, love, faith, and curiosity.
A proud Native American from Kewa Pueblo, Richard is actively reconnecting with his Indigenous and Viking roots, integrating spirituality, art, and ancestral strength into his wellness practice. A creative soul and lifelong learner, he is also an artist, musician, and car enthusiast.
He holds certifications as a personal trainer and group fitness trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and is also certified in Reiki and as a Community Comprehensive Support Services Specialist (CCSS). He is additionally trained as a Behavioral Technician (BT) and identifies as a peer. Known for his big heart and childlike joy, Richard loves Pokémon, superheroes, and Legos — and often uses them to connect with youth and adolescents in a safe and authentic way.
As a husband, father, and spiritual man, Richard believes in creating spaces where men can talk about their emotions, healing, and identity without shame.
In his free time, Richard enjoys watching live comedy, playing with his two children, playing video games on the Nintendo Switch, and watching movies with his wife.
A. Gabriela Casavantes, Office Coordinator, CCSS
Born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, Gaby (Angelica Gabriela Casavantes Rodriguez) is the heart and backbone of Voces de Vida. As Office and Project Coordinator and a Certified Community Comprehensive Support Services (CCSS) provider, she brings organization, care, and compassion to every part of the team’s work. With over 10 years of experience as an interpreter and translator, she ensures that language is never a barrier to healing or a sense of belonging.
A proud DACA recipient, wife, and mother within a neurodivergent family, Gaby understands firsthand the beauty and complexity of navigating life with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and complex PTSD — challenges she herself continues to face with faith, courage, and grace. Her Christian faith is her foundation — God is at the center of who she is — and guides the way she leads, loves, and serves others.
Before joining Voces de Vida, Gaby worked in immigration law, where she gained valuable knowledge of immigration systems and policies. This experience deepened her ability to support families and individuals navigating complex legal and bureaucratic processes and strengthened her commitment to advocacy, justice, and equitable access for immigrant and newly arrived communities.
At Voces de Vida, Gaby not only coordinates daily operations, but also provides community navigation support, helping clients access vital resources, referrals, and systems of care. She brings empathy, patience, and understanding to every interaction, ensuring that every person who connects with Voces de Vida feels safe, valued, and respected.
Gaby continues to live out her Christian faith with devotion and gratitude, while also honoring and respecting the diverse spiritual paths of others. She creates spaces where all people are welcome, regardless of belief or tradition, and believes that God’s love is big enough to embrace everyone.
She is also passionate about event coordination and creative DIY décor projects, bringing her artistic touch to Voces de Vida community gatherings and events. She actively serves in her church, where her deep faith continues to guide her service and advocacy.
In her free time, Gaby enjoys singing karaoke, trying new foods (especially desserts), and watching stand‑up comedy, suspense films, and Friends (for the millionth time).