About Katie

 

As early as high school, Katie can remember the desire to walk with people who were going through dark valleys. She served in the context of Christian ministry through high school and college, and then became a teacher where she was able to get to know students and to be a safe presence in their lives.

Katie and her husband Dustin, along with their four kids, moved to Monterrey, MX in 2017 to work with orphaned and vulnerable populations with a global ministry. There, Katie was asked to become the staff counselor and she began pursuing her formal education in therapy.

After finishing her education in the US and becoming a licensed therapist, Katie did not believe she had the tools or the personal growth needed to work effectively with people who were seeking skilled care. Katie then began working under the guidance of The Allender Center, and uses the framework of Narrative-Focused Trauma Care as her most trusted tool in helping others heal.

“After experiencing and using multiple therapeutic
modalities for my own personal healing,
Story Work was by far the most effective -
particularly when done in the context of groups.

My passion is offering others what I have found most helpful
in my own healing journey.”
— Katie Leonard

Katie’s education & Experience

  • Facilitator for the Making Sense of Your Worth/Anchored program, HALO 2021

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) externship, ICEEFT 2021

  • M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy, NMSU 2022

  • Narrative-Focused Trauma Care Levels 1 and 2, The Allender Center 2021 - 2023

  • Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Levels 1 & 2, Erikson Institute 2022 - 2023

  • Trauma-Competent Care Trainer, Back2Back Ministries 2017-current

  • Child & Family Development Coach, Back2Back Ministries 2018-2022

  • Staff Care Facilitator, Back2Back Ministries 2022-current

  • Narrative-Focused Trauma Care Level 3, The Allender Center - current cohort

 

the heart behind the work

The growing content of this website is developed and run by Dustin and Katie Leonard, who have a passion to support those involved in the caring for people. What began as a desire to serve orphaned children has grown into a desire to see all of God’s children live out their identity in Christ.