Jen Panhorst, LCSW

Jen Panhorst, LCSW, graduated with a Master in Social Work from the University of Nevada Reno in 2007 and, after briefly practicing in Michigan, moved to Albuquerque in 2009. Jen has had a longtime commitment to providing therapy to youth and families in community mental health and school settings using a relational and trauma-informed approach. Due to concerns with the many gaps in services in the state, along with a passion for mentorship, Jen began working at the University of New Mexico’s Division of Community Behavioral Health (CBH) in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science in 2017 as a clinical supervisor, trainer, and clinician. As part of CBH’s Access to Telesupervision New Mexico program from 2017-2024, Jen supervised over 60 LMSWs across 17 counties in New Mexico who lacked access to the clinical supervision needed for career advancement. Jen’s work at CBH also included leading the Behavioral Health Coalition subcommittee of the New Mexico Healthcare Workforce Committee, as well as working in the NM Clinical Supervision Learning Community on co-writing both editions of the New Mexico Clinical Supervision Implementation Guide. In 2023, Jen further expanded on improving behavioral health workforce through teaching as adjunct faculty at New Mexico Highlands University’s Facundo Valdez School of Social Work master’s program.

Jen is an experienced trainer on a variety of behavioral health topics, such as workforce development; assessment and diagnosis; clinical supervision; shared mass trauma; professional ethics; motivational interviewing; and the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer (LGBTQ+) communities. Since 2011, Jen has presented at workshops and conferences around the state and country. Jen also provides service to the profession through volunteering as the president of the New Mexico Queer and Trans+ Provider Network and a member of the New Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners Rules Committee as a licensing content expert.

Jen began as Interim Director of UNM’s Master of Social Work program in October 2024 and is focused on collaboratively creating a master’s program that addresses the state’s unmet needs. Jen is also a Doctorate of Clinical Social Work candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, with anticipated graduation in spring 2026.