Professional Will Writing Workshop
with Natasha Morisawa, LMFT & Vanessa Fierstadt, LMFT
In-Person CE Event for Therapists
WHEN
Friday, October 16, 2026 | 9:00am - 2:00pm
9:00am check-in, presentation starts 9:30am
See specific timeframe breakdown below.
A catered lunch will be served. Vegan and gluten free will be accomodated.
WHERE
Villa Parke Community Center Conference Room
(363 E Villa St #1021 Pasadena, CA 91101)
COST
Licensed Members: $90
Licensed Non-members: $100
Associate Members: $75
Associate Non-members: $80
CE CREDITS
4
PROGRAMS CHAIR/EVENT ORGANIZER
Kathryn Bikle, LMFT
SPONSOR
About This Event
Working on a professional will is challenging in isolation. We may put it off or not update it regularly. SGV-CAMFT is providing an opportunity to do a deeper dive by looking at the reasons why we struggle with this and any end-of-life planning. Then we’ll support each other in taking the next steps to work on our own professional will or update the one we already have.
Therapists in private practice have the ethical responsibility to have plans in place for their clients and practice should they become incapacitated or die suddenly. In addition, if the practice isn’t properly managed in these circumstances, the therapist’s estate could be legally liable for any breaches of privacy or HIPAA violations among other issues.
A recent New York Times article highlighted the struggle clients had getting notified of their therapist’s death and the complicated impact of losing a therapist. An up to date professional will which is effectively communicated and implemented can reduce the gap in continuity of care and tend to the needs of the clients left behind in these instances.
Most of us already know this yet don’t have a professional will in place or haven’t updated it in many years. Drawing on studies parallel in nature to this kind of preparation, most people state the number one reason they don’t do this preparation is because they “haven’t gotten around to it yet.” In addition, we as MFTs understand our society and social systems don’t have a lot of capacity to hold the existential and mortality issues impacting the psyche around death and dying.
This workshop is designed to address these barriers and hold a container together for doing this work. Come join us while we explore some of the underlying issues of death and dying which can show up in our practices. Then we will sit together and work on shoring up our own practices by starting the process of writing our professional wills.
Registration is limited to 30 people, with a waitlist opportunity, so be sure to register early. We look forward to seeing you there! Registration closes evening before event.
Education Goals/Learning Objectives
By the end of this presentation participants will:
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Name 3 barriers to end of life planning.
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Identify 3 complimentary practices therapists can work with around death and dying.
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Understand parts of a professional will through a provided template.
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Construct a plan to complete and update a professional will.
Presenter(s)
Natasha Morisawa,LMFT has interest in helping people prepare for and respond to disasters formed over 20+ years in paid and volunteer roles with the American Red Cross. As a Marriage and Family Therapist and Supervisor in private practice, her specialties include working with families and individuals exploring the impact of individual and generational trauma through systems-based, somatic, mindfulness, eco-psychotherapy, and attachment-based lenses. In addition to private practice, she’s the current Executive Director of The Place Within- Southern California, a non-profit community mental health center in Monrovia, CA. She is also a Veriditas Trained Labyrinth Facilitator and co-hosts a passion project podcast called Ponder While We Wander. It is likely that if you cross paths with her in the wild, you may be in a local garden or bookstore, generally walking about, or around a campfire. Feel free to connect with Natasha on Instagram @natashamft_ or visit her at www.MindfulMFT.com or ponderwhilewewander.com/podcast-info.
Vanessa Fierstadt, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Grief Specialist in Pasadena, Ca. For over ten years Vanessa has found meaning specializing in grief work for those in more complex grief. Vanessa leads numerous workshops in addition to lecturing at universities throughout California. Today, she channels her lived experiences and specialized training to create containers for courage, support, and community at the newly opened Kintsugi Grief Center in Pasadena. Kintsugi offers various loss specific in person and virtual grief and loss support groups throughout the year. In addition, Kintsugi Legacy their sister nonprofit is creating more community outreach and connections for grievers. For more information and to learn more you can reach out at www.kintsugigrief.com or vanessa@kintsugigrief.com.
Event Schedule
9:00am Check in and networking
9:30am Welcome and housekeeping with instructions on how to get CEs
9:40am Introductions and outline of day
9:45am Presentation (CE program begins)
11:45am Lunch Break (catered; working lunch, 15 min Non-CE section)
12:00pm Introduction to Professional Will (CE program resumes)
12:45pm Exercise to prepare for writing
1:00pm Go through template
1:30pm Accountability and follow through groups
2:00pm Conclusions, evaluation, CE
Questions?
Please email Kathryn Bikle, LMFT at kathryn.bikle@gmail.com with further inquiries about this event.
Other Details
View event policies here.
This is an introductory, intermediate, and advanced level course. This program will benefit LMFT, LPCC, LEP and LCSW licensees and pre-licensees.
This course meets the qualifications for 4 hours of continuing education law and ethics credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
CE credit will be awarded after completion of this course and a course evaluation, sent via email.
The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (SGV-CAMFT), provider #60957, is approved by CAMFT to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. SGV-CAMFT maintains the responsibility for the program and all its content.
