News Items

President’s Greeting! 

Happy Summer! Although it has hardly even felt like Spring with our extensive May Gray and June Gloom. I hope everyone is enjoying the longer daylight hours and lush green of our hills. Please take a moment to read about the exciting events and opportunities we have coming up in June and July. We’re able to offer a few more in person events! Let’s gather and meet some new friends and colleagues! I hope people are taking time for themselves to rest and recuperate and have some fun!!!

– Kathryn

Applications Requested - Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Award

The Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Award is offered in honor of past SGV-CAMFT Board member Rudy Hayek, whose professionalism and commitment to service positively impacted the San Gabriel Valley chapter and therapist community.

This $1000 award is given annually in August to recipients who have demonstrated a commitment to civic engagement, service, and the desire to advance the field of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Applications are open to pre-licensed individuals who are currently enrolled in an MFT program and are an SGV-CAMFT chapter member in good standing. Application deadline is Monday, July 3.

Become a Student Member: https://www.sgvcamft.org/member-application

Learn More: www.sgvcamft.org/Rudy-Hayek-Honorary-Scholarship-Program

Apply: https://bit.ly/RHHScholarship

Questions? Contact Deanna Hudgins, Membership Co-Chair: dhudginsmft@gmail.com.

• Thinking about giving back to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy? No matter where you are in your career, SGV-CAMFT has opportunities for you to volunteer. It is time to start thinking if you’d like to join our Board of Directors. Please see the openings below:

Open positions:

President Elect

Communications Committee Member 

General Volunteer:

• Help with Programs
• Strengthen our Membership Committee
• Join the Finance Committee

For more information, please contact Kathryn Bikle at president@sgvcamft.org or Kathrynbiklemft@gmail.com 

And come visit a Board Meeting to get a feel for how you can contribute. We meet on the first Friday of every month except August from 9:30-11am via Zoom. Contact Kathryn Bikle to receive the Zoom link! Kathrynbiklemft@gmail.com or president@sgvcamft.org  

Board Member Spotlight: Michael Mann, LMFT, Treasurer

"I joined SGV-CAMFT shortly after moving from community mental health into private practice. This work that we do brings me so much joy and purpose and it is only sweetened by the wonderful colleagues I have here in SGV. My work with families feels especially wonderful these days. To see the impact of a single person opening up, feeling safe, gaining insight, expressing themselves in healthy ways spreading into the whole family system right in front of me is definitely a privilege. I always enjoy getting to know my colleagues, so feel free to reach out and we’ll grab coffee or a bite to eat!"

michaelmanntherapy@gmail.com

Events and Programs

CAMFT 2023 State of the Profession with Q & A

Presenter: Joy Alafia, CAE

Thursday, June 29, 2023

12:00 - 1:30 pm

Online on Zoom

1.0 CE Credit

$20  Licensed Members/Licensed Members of Other CAMFT Chapters

$ 5  Pre Licensed SGV-CAMFT Members

$10 Pre Licensed Non-Members

$25 Non-Members

Join CAMFT Executive Director, Joy Alafia, CAE, for an understanding about events, legislation, and internal association processes that are currently impacting CAMFT members.

Designed for Mental Health Professionals, this 90-minute presentation will discuss general CAMFT issues and priorities. There will also be updates on Medicare, the BBS, license portability, as well as California legislative updates. Finally, discussion on why it is important to avail yourself of the Legal Consultation service CAMFT provides. There will be ample time for Q&A

REGISTER

Deadline to Register: Tuesday, June 27, by 5 pm

For event/registration information, contact Lynne Azpeitia at lynnemazpeitia@yahoo.com or Kathryn Bikle at Kathrynbiklemft@gmail.com or 626.755.6437

Media Discussion Group - Now, In Person!!!

Join us every other month to discuss selected books, movies, television shows and podcasts. The next meeting will feature discussion around the 2021 movie “CODA”. 

As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family's fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her passion at Berklee College of Music and her fear of abandoning her parents.

Sunday, July 9, 2023 Starts at 5:00 pm

Location: The Cafe 1894 inside Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena 695 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

Registration required for head count only

Every Other Month

Free! For Members Only (snacks and beverages available for purchase)

Register Here

Working with Infidelity: After an Affair, Who Owns the Relationship?

Presenter: Marty Klein, Ph.D.

Friday, July 21, 2023

11:15 am-1:30 pm

Q&A to Follow

Online via Zoom

1.5 CE Credits

 $25.00 Licensed SGV-CAMFT Members/ Licensed Members of Other CAMFT Chapters

$10 Pre Licensed SGV-CAMFT Members/Pre Licensed Members of Other CAMFT Chapters

$15 Pre Licensed Non-Member

$35 Licensed Non-Member

Although most therapists say they use a “systems approach” to infidelity, it’s hard to maintain that perspective when cases are conceptualized as involving a selfish Betrayer and a heartbroken Betrayed. Learn fresh ways of looking at online and offline affairs, fidelity, and sexuality—to better evaluate patients, sort out individual and relationship issues, and help people heal from the experiences of powerlessness, disorientation, grief, rage, and damaged self-esteem that are common on both sides of betrayal.

REGISTER HERE 

Sponsored by Clearview Treatment Programs

For Learning Objectives and Presenter bio see our website: https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-5312723

For more information: contact Lynne Azpeitia at LynneMAzpeitia@yahoo.com, or Kathryn Bikle at Kathrynbiklemft@gmail.com

Supervisor Collaborative for Licensed Clinicians

Saturday, July 22, 2023

9:00 am-10:30 am

Online Via Zoom

Register Here

Registration closes July 22, 2023, at the start of the event

Looking for support implementing the new BBS changes affecting supervision? Could you use some feedback on issues that pertain to supervision in private practice? Curious about becoming a clinical supervisor and would like some insights from experienced supervisors?

On July 22nd, join us from 9-10:30 am for a facilitated, peer-consultation group. This ongoing Special Interest Group is free of charge but requires registration to receive the Zoom link.

Topic: What sets MFT Supervisors Apart in our Field (Licensed Clinicians Only)

Future dates: 8/26, 9/23, 10/28, 11/25

Happy December! Shorter days and chilly nights! Good weather for curling up with a mug of hot tea and a cozy afghan! I hope everyone is enjoying the change of season and finding time for self-care during this busy holiday time!

Despite the year winding down, we have a few exciting things left to bring your attention to in 2022! And of course, there are lots of things to look forward to in 2023!  

THE SGV CAMFT BOARD INVITES YOU TO PARTICIPATE!

The SGV CAMFT Board currently is looking for some new participants! Although we are currently in desperate need of a Treasurer to replace our invaluable Shana Pallotta in 2023 (see below), you don’t have to make a huge commitment or even sign up as a Committee Chair. We would be happy for some additional peoplepower to pull off some projects that we have big ideas for! Of course, we also welcome folks who are interested in joining the Board in a more official capacity. You don’t have to be a licensed member to help us out. Students and pre-licensed are some of our most valuable assets! Jobs/tasks can be as large or small as the amount of time you have to offer!

Here are some areas in which we could use your help!

• Treasurer position is open in 2023 (Interested but not sure? Don’t worry, Shana will stick around to tutor you into the job! See below for details)
• Social Media posting (IG, FB, etc.) 
• Membership outreach (could be a couple of hours of phone calling!)
• SIG (Special Interest Group) program coordination (see below for details)
• Mentors for our Mentor-Mentee program (it’s such a hit, we need more mentors!)
• Secretary position may be opening up 
• SIG group leaders and SIG Program Coordinator (Have an idea for a SIG? Let us know! See below for details)
• Interested in a pipeline for leadership? Join the board and see how you can build your leadership skills and step into your role as a leader in your professional community!
• Just because you don’t see a position listed, doesn’t mean it isn’t available. Let us know your interests in serving on the board and we’ll see how we can help make that happen!

If you have questions about volunteering on our Chapter’s board in any capacity large or small, please contact Kathryn Bikle at president@sgvcamft.orgor, Kathryn.bikle@gmail.com We look forward to welcoming you to help us better serve the SGV CAMFT community!

UPCOMING EVENTS and PROGRAMS

MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL EVENTS 

Membership Appreciation Event

Plans underway for January 21st 11 am

Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens, Red Car Cafe

SAVE THE DATE!

SGV-CAMFT is grateful to all the members who have enriched and supported our chapter in 2022. We are delighted to be returning to an in-person Membership Appreciation Event for the first time since 2019!

We invite all SGV-CAMFT members to mark SAT JAN 21st 11 am on your calendar and join us for a complimentary* afternoon at Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens.

Stay Tuned - More details to come in the New Year!

*Limited number of admissions available by RSVP to SGV-CAMFT members in good standing - refreshments will be provided to all members

This wonderful event is still in the planning stages. However, we look forward to showing our appreciation for our fabulous members and announcing our new Board of Directors. We’ll keep you posted!

Coffee Connection

Keep your eyes peeled! These popular casual coffee hangs take place about once a month at various coffee shops around the San Gabriel Valley. Look for notices on Instagram or FaceBook for the next SGV CAMFT Coffee Connection. All are welcome! SGV CAMFT members, board members, students, and people interested in learning more about SGVCAMFT or just getting together to chat are encouraged to come!

Thanks to all who were able to join us at Bean Town in Sierra Madre on Nov 6th! We hope to see you next time!

Questions? Email Deanna Hudgins at hudginsdeanna@gmail.com or Michael Bauer at michaelgeraldbauer@gmail.com

Programs 

We’d like to send a shout -out to Lynne Azpeitia for her excellent work in putting together so many exciting, diverse, and informative programs in 2022! Thank you, Lynne! We have all benefitted so much from your skillful and adept commandeering of talented speakers on interesting topics! And online!!! For those of you who don’t know, gathering all the necessary information required to host a CE Credit program online is quite an undertaking! And yet, you have managed it all with such grace and aplomb! We look forward to what you have in store for us in 2023!

Programs in 2023 will be held online unless otherwise advertised. In general, both CE Credit and Connect & Learn Programs are scheduled from 11:30- 1 pm on the third Friday of each month with the exceptions of January, August, and December. (In January we have our Membership Appreciation Event)

In February (exact date TBA) look for an exciting Panel presentation discussing issues pertinent to pre-licensed and early career therapists. Details to come!     

Book Club

December 4th, 7:00 - 8:00 pm Meeting Canceled 

Look to join the Book Club Meeting Online in 2023 and meet with other book lovers eager to talk about things they have read or seen that have provided inspiration as a therapist or as a person! Come prepared to share your current favorite book, article, documentary, or movie and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded bibliophiles! 

The SGVCAMFT Book Club meets online once a month on a Sunday evening usually the first Sunday of the month unless it is a holiday weekend. Registration needed to receive meeting Zoom link. This event is offered free of charge to SGVCAMFT members.

Register for Future Book Club meetings on our website at: https://www.sgvcamft.org 

SIGs (Special Interest Groups)

Join our exciting new SGV Supervision Collaborative (SIG)!

The SGV Supervision Collaborative will meet December 3rd from 9- 10:30 am and will continue monthly through the end of 2023. Current and potential supervisors gathered via Zoom to share resources, offer best practices, and discussed different types of support that this group might offer. Feel free to join us for peer consultation and clinical supervisor support. Check our Events page on the sgvcamft.org website for upcoming meetings and to register for this free ongoing special interest group! 

Dec 3rd 9:00-10:30 am 

Jan 14th 9:00-10:30 am

Facilitators for the SGV Supervision Collaborative are Natasha Morisawa and Mayte Salazar. Questions? Email Natasha at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org

3000 CLUB – Message from our 3000 Club Team!

"Hello everyone! The 3000 Club is making a comeback!”

After a brief hiatus the 3000 Club valiantly returns to serve the needs of San Gabriel Valley's pre-licensed members. This includes students, practicum interns, and associates alike. We aim to support these members through community and connection. If there is demand, we will provide informative workshops or presentations, but the bulk of club meetings will be informal social gatherings. This includes getting together in a park, lunches, renting out a movie theatre, board games, and any other activity members might request.

Connecting with other people at varying levels of licensure is the overall goal of this 3000 Club but meetings will also be a place to ask questions and share solutions with the frustrating process of licensure.

If you'd like to join our meetings or have any questions or comments please email Joe Girillo at jgirillo_57@joegirillo.com 

Mentor – Mentee Program

Putting out a call for Mentors!

Have you been secretly longing to share your professional wisdom with a less experienced colleague? Here’s your opportunity! SGVCAMFT Mentor-Mentee Chair Jessica Ruiz is currently seeking additional Mentors for our popular Mentor-Mentee program. Being a Mentor does not take a huge amount of time, just a willingness to share your expertise and offer support to a Mentee for an hour a month, or whatever feels right to you! Requested areas of expertise include: Supporting a Shift to Private Practice, Developing your Treatment Modality, Exam Prep Support, TeleHealth Technology Support, and Your Expertise Here! Contact Jessica if you would like to become a SGVCAMFT Mentor or are interested in the Mentor-Mentee program: Jessicaruizmft@gmail.com or secretary@sgvcamft.org. Information about our Mentor-Mentee program can be found on our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Mentor-Mentee-Program  

A special thank you to our departing Treasurer,

Shana Pallotta

The Board would like to offer heartfelt thanks to Shana Pallotta who is stepping down from her position as SGV CAMFT Treasurer 2019. In that time, Shana has carefully overseen SGV CAMFT’s finances through the challenges we faced as we transitioned from in-person meetings and venues to virtual during the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown. She has guided us into the digital age, setting up most of our billing online as well as setting up our programs and membership payments to the online format. Most importantly, in her years as Treasurer, Shana has been a vigilant steward of our financial health and has brought savvy recommendations and concerns to the attention of the board on a regular basis. In preparation for her stepping off the Board in 2023, Shana has also thoughtfully, created a detailed template for an incoming Treasurer or Financial Oversight Committee to follow. 

Thank you, Shana! We will miss you! Wishing you all the best in 2023 and beyond!

Seeking New Treasurer!

Treasurer Job description: Term 2-3 years. Serves on the Executive Board. Oversees the fiscal policies and procedures of SGV-CAMFT. Ensures that regular bills get paid and works with the bookkeeper to track finances and file tax forms. Attends regular Board meetings on the first Friday of the month and gives a financial report to the Board. Helps SGV-CAMFT find best practices and reliable resources to help fulfill its purpose. Approximate time commitment is 5-8 hours a month, 2 of those hours are fixed at the Board meeting, the rest are flexible at the Treasurer's availability.

Interested? Have additional questions? Think you might be interested but are worried about the learning curve? Please know that Shana will be available to help train the new Treasurer as needed. Please email Kathryn at president@sgvcamft.org or Kathryn.bikle@gmail.com 

Seeking New SIGs Program Coordinator!

SGV CAMFT’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Program Planning is actively looking for Participants and Facilitators to help launch this program! 

SGV-CAMFT is forming a Special Interest Group Program for professionals to come together around topics and interests related to our field. A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an opportunity to make connections, dig deeper into specialty areas, and form relationships around common interests. We are currently looking for participants and facilitators to help us launch this program! 

Do you have a passion for working with couples, trauma, or a specific diagnosis, and would like to share that with your colleagues? 

Do you work with a specific population and could use some support? 

Would you enjoy co-hosting educational or social programs for Marriage and Family Therapists? 

We are open to your ideas for SIGs. What group would you like to see form? What group could you imagine being a part of? Check our website for details on how to apply to become a facilitator: https://www.sgvcamft.org/Special-Interest-Group-(SIG)-Program Contact Natasha Morisawa for more information at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org or Natasha@mindfulmft.com

Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Program

Applications for the Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Program are accepted year-round. You must be a member of SGVCAMFT and a current student in pursuit of a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in order to qualify. Applicants are evaluated on their dedication to serving the community and advancing the profession of Marriage and Family Therapy. Visit our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Rudy-Hayek-Honorary-Scholarship-Program for instructions on how to apply for 2023. 

A Final Note from the SGV CAMFT Board:

As the holidays are fast upon us, we, the SGV CAMFT Board would like to wish all our members a joyful, safe, and healthy holiday season! 

All the best in 2023!! 

Message from the Prez: SGV-CAMFT September 2022 

From Kathryn Bikle, President

Happy September! Not exactly fall weather, is it? Hopefully, you are finding ways to stay cool and are enjoying the slightly later sunrise in the mornings! 

Despite being “dark” in August, our board has continued to plan fun and interesting ways for us to connect! Our monthly social coffee hangs have been quite popular! We have a new Special Interest Group (SIG) to tell you about! Some exciting programs you won’t want to miss are scheduled in September and October. And we have a new Awardee for the 2022 Rudy Hayek Scholarship! See below for details!  

From our fabulous Membership Committee: Huge thanks to Membership Chairs Deanna Hudgins and Michael Bauer who have scheduled monthly informal social gatherings for the remainder of the year! All are welcome! SGV CAMFT members, board members, students, and people interested in learning more about SGVCAMFT or just getting together to chat are encouraged to come!

On Saturday, August 27^th, folks gathered at the Red Car Coffee Shop at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens! It was such a hit the Huntington Coffee Hang is now planned as a regularly scheduled bi-monthly event! You do not need to purchase admission to the Huntington to take part. Alternate months will meet at various locations. 

On September 25^th, our next coffee social is scheduled to meet at Jones’ Coffee at 563 S. Raymond in Pasadena starting at 1 pm! Keep your eyes peeled for additional details posted on Instagram and FaceBook! RSVPs requested but not required. There’s no agenda! Just come, enjoy some food or a beverage, and relax with SGV CAMFT! Let’s all make some new friends! 

Thanks to all who were able to join us on August 27th! We hope to see you next time!

Congratulations to Kaylene Woo, the 2022 Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Awardee! This scholarship of $1,000 was created in honor of Rudy Hayek (former SGV-CAMFT Board Member and Programs Chair) to support a current student in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy who demonstrates a similar spirit of service, civic engagement, and the desire to advance the profession. Join me in congratulating Kaylene on her achievement! Kaylene’s personal statement can be viewed below and, on our website atsgvcamft.org.

Personal Statement Kaylene Woo 2022 Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Awardee:  

I was drawn to becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist through a desire to provide empathetic, culturally competent care for people of different ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Especially within my own Asian American community I saw a need for greater awareness of mental health issues and openness to treatment. It can be a complex process for a family to initially seek out mental health services. I grew up with difficulty between family and mental health and wish to be support for people in similar situations. 

I hope to serve my community, especially the Asian American community, through treatment, education, advocacy, and research. I have experience in research and community training, conducting implicit bias trainings for Santa Barbara county's Behavioral Wellness, police department, and school district as well as experience as a behavioral health Case Manager. Through these experiences I learned the importance of community supports on a systemic level and the impact these supports have on individuals. I aim to serve the San Gabriel Valley in the same way, increasing awareness of different issues and building greater community supports. – Kaylene Woo

Kaylene is currently a student at Fuller Theological Seminary in pursuit of an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy. She worked for PathPoint Behavioral Health for 2 years. 

The SGVCAMFT Board would like to thank all the excellent applicants for their time and dedication to serving the community and advancing the profession of Marriage and Family Therapy. Visit our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Rudy-Hayek-Honorary-Scholarship-Program for instructions on how to apply for 2023. Please note: you must be a member of SGVCAMFT and a current student in pursuit of a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in order to qualify. Applicants are evaluated on their dedication to serving the community and advancing the profession of Marriage and Family Therapy.   

UPCOMING EVENTS and PROGRAMS

Friday, September 23^th, 11:30-1:30 pm "Is The World Becoming Trans and Non-binary? And What’s They/Them All About?" (Q&A to Follow Presentation) – 1.5 CE Credits Available

Presented by Casey Weitzman, LMFT and Grace O’Connor, LMFT

Program Description: One in six adults in Generation Z identifies as LGBTQIAA+. Discover effective ways to provide support, guidance, and information to the Transgender and Non-binary youth community, their families, and allies. Learn what you need to know to be an effective clinician working with the Transgender and Non-binary youth community even if you have never worked with this population before. Gain knowledge of how the current political environment is impacting the mental health of the Trans and Non-binary population. Gain an understanding of the unique challenges faced by Transgender and Non-binary youth as the societal understanding of the gender spectrum expands.

Educational Goals: Learn what you need to know to be an effective clinician working with the Transgender and Non-binary youth community, their families, and allies even if you have never worked with this population.

This program, hosted by SGVCAMFT includes a short opportunity for member networking and SGVCAMFT updates. See our website for Learning Objectives and other important information. Register on our website at: https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4938079 

This program offers 1.5 CE Credit hours. Registration closes at 8 pm Sept 22, 2022. No exceptions.

Wednesday, October 5th^th, 12:00-1:30 pm:  Online Program CAMFT: State of the Profession with Q & A – 1.5 CE Credits available

Presented by Joy Alafia, CAE, CAMFT Executive Director

Join CAMFT Executive Director, Joy Alafia, CAE, for an understanding about events, legislation, and internal association processes that are currently impacting CAMFT members.

Designed for Mental Health Professionals, this presentation will discuss general CAMFT issues and the importance of a Professional Will. There will also be updates from BBS, as well as California and Federal legislative updates. Finally, discussion on why it is important to avail yourself of the Legal Consultation service CAMFT provides. There will be ample time for Q&A. 

This program is hosted by SGVCAMFT. See our website for Learning Objectives and other important information. Register on our website at:https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4951210  

This program offers 1.5 CE Credit hours.

Friday, October 21^st, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm: Law & Ethics with Ofer Zur, PhD “Digital and Traditional Boundaries and TeleMental Health Ethics, 6.0 CE Credits available 

Details and registration to come! Check our website at sgvcamft.org 

If you have any questions, or are interested in speaking at a future event, please send an email to Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT at lynnemazpeitia@yahoo.com.

BOOK CLUB October 2nd 7:00 - 8:00 pm   Free Online Event 

Please join the Book Club Meeting online and meet with other book lovers eager to talk about things they have read or seen that have provided inspiration as a therapist or as a person!  Come prepared to share your current favorite book, article, documentary, or movie and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded bibliophiles! 

The SGVCAMFT Book Club meets online once a month on a Sunday evening usually the first Sunday of the month unless it is a holiday weekend. Registration needed to receive meeting Zoom link. This event is offered free of charge to SGVCAMFT members.

Register for the Free September Book Club meeting on our website at: https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4637371

MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL EVENTS 

SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, September 25th^th Membership Social - Casual Coffee Date
Jones Coffee, 563 S. Raymond in Pasadena starting at 1pm! Keep your eyes peeled! This event will be announced and advertised on SGV CAMFT’s Instagram and FaceBook accounts. Hope you can join us!

STAYED TUNED FOR October! Membership Social - at the Huntington Botanical Gardens Red Car Coffee Shop
Details forthcoming! 

Questions? Email Deanna Hudgins at hudginsdeanna@gmail.com or Michael Bauer at michaelgeraldbauer@gmail.com

3000 CLUB – Message from our 3000 Club Team!

"Hello everyone! The 3000 Club is making a comeback!”

After a brief hiatus the 3000 Club valiantly returns to serve the needs of San Gabriel Valley's pre-licensed members. This includes students, practicum interns, and associates alike. We aim to support these members through community and connection. If there is demand, we will provide informative workshops or presentations, but the bulk of club meetings will be informal social gatherings. This includes getting together in a park, lunches, renting out a movie theatre, board games, and any other activity members might request.

Connecting with other people at varying levels of licensure is the overall goal of this 3000 Club but meetings will also be a place to ask questions and share solutions with the frustrating process of licensure.

If you'd like to join our meetings or have any questions or comments please email Joe Girillo at jgirillo_57@joegirillo.com 

We are excited to see you!

Joe Girillo, LMFT

A special word of thanks to Adam Snir, AMFT who has been instrumental in bringing the 3000 Club back to life. Unfortunately, Adam will be taking a leave of absence from the SGVCAMFT Board for personal reasons. We are happy to welcome him back whenever he is ready!

SIGs

Join our exciting new SGV Supervision Collaborative (SIG)!

The SGV Supervision Collaborative met twice in August and will be on going through the end of 2023. Current and potential supervisors gathered via Zoom to share resources, offer best practices, and discussed different types of support that this group might offer. Feel free to join us for peer consultation and clinical supervisor support. Check our Events page on the sgvcamft.org website for upcoming meetings and to register for this free ongoing special interest group! 

Facilitators for the SGV Supervision Collaborative are Natasha Morisawa and Mayte Salazar. Questions? Email Natasha at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org

THE SGV CAMFT BOARD INVITES YOU TO PARTICIPATE!

The SGV CAMFT Board currently is looking for some new participants! You don’t have to make a huge commitment or even sign up as a Committee Chair. We would be happy for some additional peoplepower to pull off some projects that we have big ideas for! Of course, we also welcome folks who are interested in joining the Board in a more official capacity. You don’t have to be a licensed member to help us out. Students and pre-licensed are some of our most valuable assets! Jobs/tasks can be as large or small as the amount of time you have to offer!

Here are some areas in which we could use your help!

• Social Media posting (IG, FB, etc.) 

• Membership outreach (could be a couple of hours of phone calling!)

• SIG (Special Interest Group) program coordination

• Mentors for our Mentor-Mentee program (it’s such a hit, we need more mentors!)

• Treasurer position will be opening in 2023 (Interested but not sure? Don’t worry, Shana will stick around to tutor you into the job!)

• Secretary position may be opening up 

• SIG group leaders (Have an idea for a SIG? Let us know! See below for details)

• Interested in a pipeline for leadership? Join the board and see how you can build your leadership skills and step into your role as a leader in your professional community! 

• Just because you don’t see a position listed, doesn’t mean it isn’t available. Let us know your interests in serving on the board and we’ll see how we can help make that happen!

If you have questions about volunteering on our Chapter’s board in any capacity large or small, please contact Kathryn Bikle at president@sgvcamft.org. We look forward to welcoming you to help us better serve the SGV CAMFT community!

Putting out a call for Mentors!

Have you been secretly longing to share your professional wisdom with a less experienced colleague? Here’s your opportunity! SGVCAMFT Mentor-Mentee Chair Jessica Ruiz is currently seeking additional Mentors for our popular Mentor-Mentee program. Being a Mentor does not take a huge amount of time, just a willingness to share your expertise and offer support to a Mentee for an hour a month, or whatever feels right to you! Requested areas of expertise include: Supporting a Shift to Private Practice, Developing your Treatment Modality, Exam Prep Support, TeleHealth Technology Support, and Your Expertise Here! Contact Jessica if you would like to become a SGVCAMFT Mentor or are interested in the Mentor-Mentee program: Jessicaruizmft@gmail.com or secretary@sgvcamft.org. Information about our Mentor-Mentee program can be found on our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Mentor-Mentee-Program  

SGV CAMFT’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Program Planning is actively looking for Participants and Facilitators to help launch this program! 

SGV-CAMFT is forming a Special Interest Group Program for professionals to come together around topics and interests related to our field. A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an opportunity to make connections, dig deeper into specialty areas, and form relationships around common interests. We are currently looking for participants and facilitators to help us launch this program! 

Do you have a passion for working with couples, trauma, or a specific diagnosis, and would like to share that with your colleagues? 

Do you work with a specific population and could use some support? 

Would you enjoy co-hosting educational or social programs for Marriage and Family Therapists? 

We are open to your ideas for SIGs. What group would you like to see form? What group could you imagine being a part of? Check our website for details on how to apply to become a facilitator: https://www.sgvcamft.org/Special-Interest-Group-(SIG)-Program  Contact Natasha Morisawa for more information at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org or Natasha@mindfulmft.com 

Happy Spring! It’s such a joy to see flowers blooming everywhere and a fresh new carpet of green on emerging on our San Gabriel Mountains! Feels like time to get out and start engaging in the world in a fresh new way!   

Our board has been busy thinking of fun and interesting ways for us to gather as a community this spring! We have social mixers planned just for fun, as well as exciting new ways to enhance our professional skills and knowledge with intriguing programs and meetings of Special Interest Groups (SIGs)!  

Here’s a shoutout to our fabulous Membership Committee! Deanna Hudgins and Michael Bauer planned a super fun social mixer at Mimi’s Café this past Saturday April 30^th! In attendance were SGV CAMFT members, board members, students, and folks just interested in coming to meet us and hang out. It was such a hit, Deanna and Michael are planning to make it a regular event! See below for upcoming Membership Socials. And keep your eyes peeled for details posted on Instagram and FaceBook! RSVPs requested but not required. There’s no agenda! Just come, eat, and relax with SGV CAMFT! Let’s all make some new friends! Thanks to all who were able to join us this past Saturday! We hope to see you next time!

Welcome to new 3000 Club Co-Chair Joe Girillo, LMFT! Joe joins Adam Snir on the 3000 Club Team. We are very excited to have someone with Joe’s wisdom and expertise to help navigate our pre-licensed members on their journey towards licensure! See below for a personal message from Joe and Adam as they re-launch SGV CAMFT’s newly revived 3000 Club!

Joe Girillo, LMFT has worked in County mental health since 1999, in acute psychiatric care since 2004, first at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena and since 2014 at Adventist Health Glendale. This work has included treating patients with mood disorders, psychosis, active suicidality, and chemical dependency to name a few. Joe spent the 5 years previous to his hospital work in community mental health, serving homeless teens in Hollywood, incarcerated adolescents at Central Juvenile Hall & underserved communities thru middle school & in-home therapy in Central & East L.A., where he counseled teens in trouble, young adults, and blended family couples.

UPCOMING EVENTS and PROGRAMS

Friday, MAY 13^th Noon-2pm: Online 3000 CLUB Program “NAVIGATING THE ROAD TO LICENSURE” – 2.0 CE Credits available

Program Description: This CAMFT presentation, featuring CAMFT Staff Attorney Luke Matthew Martin, Esq. is intended to provide an overview of the licensing process for pre-licensees as they work toward licensure in marriage and family therapy. Topics to be discussed include the marriage and family therapy licensing process; supervised experience requirements for applicants; supervisor qualifications and supervision requirements; licensing examinations; and common employment issues pre-licensees encounter with their supervisors. 

This program is highly recommended for our pre-licensed members, as well as supervisors, and those interested in becoming supervisors. See our website for Learning Objectives and other important information. Register on our website at: https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4753629

This program offers 2.0 CE Credit hours.

Friday, MAY 20^th, 11:30-1:30 pm:  Online Program “Medical Mimics: Recognizing Psychological Disguises for Medical Conditions When Clients Come to Therapy” – 1.5 CE Credits available

Join presenter Jaelline Jaffe, PhD, LMFT for this intriguing program to help us recognize when a medical condition is actually a psychiatric disorder in disguise.

Program Description: Clients are often misdiagnosed with a psychiatric disorder when they actually have a medical condition. And patients are often diagnosed with a medical condition without consideration of the psychological/emotional impact on their lives and relationships. Our minds, brains, and bodies are connected. To approach treatment of one aspect without the others taken into account is limited thinking and may actually do more harm than good. This presentation will highlight a number of medical issues that may bring clients to a therapist’s office, as well as several emotional aspects that need to be considered when addressing medical conditions.

This program, hosted by SGVCAMFT includes a short opportunity for member networking and SGVCAMFT updates. See our website for Learning Objectives and other important information. Register on our website at: https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4815586

This program offers 1.5 CE Credit hours.

If you have any questions, or are interested in speaking at a future event, please send an email to Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT at lynnemazpeitia@yahoo.com.

BOOK CLUB

June 5^th 7:00 - 8:30 pm   Free Online Event – Special Intro to our Local Author Series!

Please join the Book Club Meeting in June to meet and speak with local author Michael Bauer, LMFT who will be discussing his newly released digital workbook: “10 Meditational Drawing Exercises.” Michael’s workbook is geared for creatives, art therapists, artists, and those interested in the intersections between artmaking, psychology, cognitive behavior therapy, and mindfulness.Join our Book Club for an informal, facilitated discussion, in which Michael will offer insight into his writing process, the book, and how it might be used with clients. Visit Michael’s website to learn more about how you can purchase his book:  https://www.counselingforcreativepeople.com/store/10-meditational-drawing-exercises

Register for the Free June Book Club meeting on our website at: https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4637353  

MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL EVENTS 

SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, MAY 28^th Membership Social - Casual Coffee Date
Location and Time TBD Keep your eyes peeled! This event will be announced and advertised on SGV CAMFT’s Instagram and FaceBook accounts. Hope you can join us!

STAYED TUNED FOR JUNE! Membership Social - Brunch at the Huntington Botanical Gardens
Details forthcoming! 

Questions? Email Deanna Hudgins at hudginsdeanna@gmail.com or Michael Bauer at michaelgeraldbauer@gmail.com

3000 CLUB – Message from our 3000 Club Team!

"Hello everyone! The 3000 Club is here!

After a brief hiatus the 3000 Club valiantly returns to serve the needs of San Gabriel Valley's pre-licensed members. This includes students, practicum interns, and associates alike. We aim to support these members through community and connection. If there is demand, we will provide informative workshops or presentations, but the bulk of club meetings will be informal social gatherings. This includes getting together in a park, lunches, renting out a movie theatre, board games, and any other activity members might request.

Connecting with other people at varying levels of licensure is the overall goal of this 3000 Club but meetings will also be a place to ask questions and share solutions with the frustrating process of licensure.

If you'd like to join our meetings or have any questions or comments please email Adam Snir at mr.adamsnir@gmail.com or text him at (314)479-7294.

We are excited to see you!

Adam Snir, AMFT
Joe Girillo, LMFT

THE SGV CAMFT BOARD INVITES YOU TO COME AND PARTICIPATE!

The SGV CAMFT Board currently is looking for some new participants! You don’t have to make a huge commitment or even sign up as a Committee Chair. We would be happy for some additional peoplepower to pull off some projects that we have big ideas for! Of course, we also welcome folks who are interested in joining the Board in a more official capacity. You don’t have to be a licensed member to help us out. Students and pre-licensed are some of our most valuable assets! Jobs/tasks can be as large or small as the amount of time you have to offer!

Here are some areas in which we could use your help!

• Social Media posting (IG, FB, etc.) 

• Membership outreach (could be a couple of hours of phone calling!)

• SIG (Special Interest Group) program coordination

• Mentors for our Mentor-Mentee program (it’s such a hit, we need more mentors!)

• Treasurer position will be opening in 2023 (Interested but not sure? Don’t worry, Shana will stick around to tutor you into the job!)

• Secretary position may be opening up 

• SIG group leaders (Have an idea for a SIG? Let us know! See below for details)

• Interested in a pipeline for leadership? Join the board and see how you can build your leadership skills and step into your role as a leader in your professional community! 

• Just because you don’t see a position listed, doesn’t mean it isn’t be available. Let us know what your interest is in serving on the board and we’ll see how we can help make that happen!

If you have questions about volunteering on our Chapter’s board in any capacity large or small, please contact Kathryn Bikle at president@sgvcamft.org. We look forward to welcoming you to help us better serve the SGV CAMFT community!

Putting out a call for Mentors!

Have you been secretly longing to share your professional wisdom with a less experienced colleague? Here’s your opportunity! SGVCAMFT Mentor-Mentee Chair Jessica Ruiz is currently seeking additional Mentors for our popular Mentor-Mentee program. Being a Mentor does not take a huge amount of time, just a willingness to share your expertise and offer support to a Mentee for an hour a month, or whatever feels right to you! Requested areas of expertise include: Supporting a Shift to Private Practice, Developing your Treatment Modality, Exam Prep Support, TeleHealth Technology Support, and Your Expertise Here! Contact Jessica if you would like to become a SGVCAMFT Mentor or are interested in the Mentor-Mentee program: Jessicaruizmft@gmail.com or secretary@sgvcamft.org. Information about our Mentor-Mentee program can be found on our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Mentor-Mentee-Program  

SGV CAMFT’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Program Planning is actively looking for Participants and Facilitators to help launch this program! 

SGV-CAMFT is forming a Special Interest Group Program for professionals to come together around topics and interests related to our field. A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an opportunity to make connections, dig deeper into specialty areas, and form relationships around common interests. We are currently looking for participants and facilitators to help us launch this program! 

Do you have a passion for working with couples, trauma, or a specific diagnosis, and would like to share that with your colleagues? 

Do you work with a specific population and could use some support? 

Would you enjoy co-hosting educational or social programs for Marriage and Family Therapists? 

We are open to your ideas for SIGs. What group would you like to see form? What group could you imagine being a part of? Check our website for details on how to apply to become a facilitator: https://www.sgvcamft.org/Special-Interest-Group-(SIG)-Program  Contact Natasha Morisawa for more information at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org or Natasha@mindfulmft.com 

-From Kathryn Bikle, President

Message from the Prez: SGV-CAMFT, February 2022

From Kathryn Bikle, President

I hope you all are staying safe and sane as we move into February 2022! Covid-19’s Omicron variant is definitely challenging our best efforts to get back to normal!

Three new SGV-CAMFT Board Members were voted in this January! They were announced at our Annual Meeting and Membership Appreciation Event on January 21, 2022.

Our new additions to the Board are:

Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT, Programs Chair
Deanna Hudgins, MFT Trainee, Membership Co-Chair
Adam Snir, AMFT 3000 Club Co-Chair
Congratulations, Lynne, Deanna and Adam! We are so fortunate to have your vibrant energies joining the SGV-CAMFT Board!

The Membership Appreciation Event was lots of fun! Online entertainment was provided by LA-based Magician Lauren Cohen (https://www.magiclauren.com/). Winners of our fabulous "door" prizes were as follows!

• Carol Rodriguez won a beautifully crafted 17” black onyx and glass bead necklace created by Julie Gigante
• Karen Young won Two – 1 hour professional coaching sessions with Lynne Azpeitia
• Connie Sorensen won free attendance at 2022 SGV-CAMFT Program of her choice!

If you have questions about volunteering on our Chapter’s board in any capacity large or small, please contact Kathryn Bikle at president@sgvcamft.org. We look forward to welcoming you on board!

January 1^st, 2022 brought changes into law which effects MFTs!!

• The “No Surprises Act” (H.R. 133) ushered in came as a bit of a surprise to most of us (see CAMFT articles cited below for details)
• Changes to Place of Service (POC) billing codes (see Barbara Griswold’s helpful article on the subject at https://theinsurancemaze.com/pos/ )

The “No Surprises Act” includes new requirements for health care providers, facilities, health plans and insurers, and is intended to prevent consumers (a.k.a. patients) from receiving unanticipated medical bills. Don’t get caught by Surprise! See below to educate yourself on the changes:

CAMFT has developed a FREE Online Workshop to help get us up to speed: https://ondemand.camft.org/courses/38728

And/or, you can read about it:

 Attorney Articles  The No Surprises Act - What MFTs Need to Know

https://www.camft.org/Resources/Legal-Articles/Chronological-Article-List/the-no-surprises-act-what-mfts-need-to-know

Templates created by HHS/CMS are linked here:

• Model Notice: Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate of Expected Charges Notice (omb.report)
• Good Faith Estimate (GFE): https://www.camft.org/Portals/0/PDFs/forms/Good-Faith-Estimates-for-health-care.pdf?ver=2021-12-22-101622-857

Shout Out to Board Volunteer Kathleen Telser, LMFT!!!

Thank you, Katie Telser!

For the past five years Katie has worked behind the scenes to vet and upload important information to SGV-CAMFT’s E-Tree Messaging Service. Our E-Tree service offers members the opportunity to post information about workshops, office space, request for referrals, and other items pertinent to our therapy practices. This service is free and is one of the benefits of membership in our chapter. You must be signed up to participate in this important service. Go to our website to sign up now! https://www.sgvcamft.org/e_tree.   

Many thanks, Katie!

SGV CAMFT PROGRAMS

Here are some exciting programs and events coming up! SAVE the dates! Register on our website at sgvcamft.org

Sunday, February 6th, 7–8:30 pm join our monthly Book Club meeting! Attendance is free but you need to make a reservation in order to attend this online Zoom event. This month we are reading an article by Joshua Coleman entitled, “When Therapists Encourage Family Cutoffs: Are We Helping or Harming?” from Psychotherapy Networker. See the Home page of our website at sgvcamft.org to Register and to access February’s article for discussion. Email Julie Gigante at jgigante313@gmail.com for more information.

Friday, February 18, 2022, Noon – 1:30 pm “Exploring Material from Altered States as a Therapeutic Tool,” Amy Jordan, LMFT. Online Presentation. Q&A Format
Description: Modern mainstream psychotherapy is just beginning to appreciate what the ancients have known for millennia: that images, insights, and feelings experienced during altered states of consciousness hold valuable material for the healing of trauma, illness, depression, and addiction, as well as for deep psychological growth. How we as healers make use of this important material is somewhat of a lost art. But not entirely! Whether you are interested in becoming trained in the therapeutic use of psychedelic medicines, or simply want to learn more about how guided visualization and dream work can enhance your therapy practice, this workshop aims to pique your interest on the subject and answer your questions about how it all works! Join transformational therapist, Amy Jordan, LMFT in a stimulating conversation about how the interweaving of indigenous philosophies and practices with Jungian depth psychology and quantum physics informs this exciting new direction in the therapy world and learn how she supports the processing of experiences during altered states in the service of psychological growth and healing.
Connect and Learn. No CE credit available. Registration details available on our website!

SGV-CAMFT Open Roundtable discussion. Online. Spring 2022 date and details to be announced. Do you have an interest in brainstorming, exploring, and discussing how SGV-CAMFT can better serve you? Ideas for activities, programs, or member support? How we can better address issues of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? Look for details announcing this stimulating online Roundtable discussion to be scheduled in February! Facilitated by Susan, Lowe, LMFT and Julie Gigante, IMFT. Free. Registration will be necessary in order to receive Zoom link. Questions? Suggestions? Email Kathryn Bikle at President@sgvcamft.org

If you have any questions, or are interested in speaking at a future event, please send an email to Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT at lynnemazpeitia@yahoo.com.

Putting out a call for Mentors!

Have you been secretly longing to share your professional wisdom with a less experienced colleague? Here’s your opportunity! SGVCAMFT Mentor-Mentee Chair Jessica Ruiz is currently seeking additional Mentors for our popular Mentor-Mentee program. Being a Mentor does not take a huge amount of time, just a willingness to share your expertise and offer support to a Mentee for an hour a month, or whatever feels right to you! Requested areas of expertise include: Supporting a Shift to Private Practice, Developing your Treatment Modality, Exam Prep Support, TeleHealth Technology Support, and Your Expertise Here! Contact Jessica if you would like to become a SGVCAMFT Mentor or are interested in the Mentor-Mentee program: Jessicaruizmft@gmail.com or secretary@sgvcamft.org. Information about our Mentor-Mentee program can be found on our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Mentor-Mentee-Program 

SGV CAMFT’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Program Planning is actively looking for Participants and Facilitators to help launch this program!

SGV-CAMFT is forming a Special Interest Group Program for professionals to come together around topics and interests related to our field. A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an opportunity to make connections, dig deeper into specialty areas, and form relationships around common interests. We are currently looking for participants and facilitators to help us launch this program!

Do you have a passion for working with couples, trauma, or a specific diagnosis, and would like to share that with your colleagues?

Do you work with a specific population and could use some support?

Would you enjoy co-hosting educational or social programs for Marriage and Family Therapists?

We are open to your ideas for SIGs. What group would you like to see form? What group could you imagine being a part of? Check our website for details on how to apply to become a facilitator: https://www.sgvcamft.org/Special-Interest-Group-(SIG)-Program  Contact Natasha Morisawa for more information at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org or Natasha@mindfulmft.com.

Message from the Prez: SGV-CAMFT November/December 2021 

From Kathryn Bikle, President

The Holiday Season is fast upon us replete with the aroma of pumpkin pie spice and pine boughs wherever you go!

What that means for SGVCAMFT is that Nominations for available Board Positions will be opening SOON! Nominations will be open for the two-week period from December 5 – 19^th. Voting will take place online only from January 7 - 20^th, 2022 with the voting results to be announced at our Annual Meeting and Membership Appreciation Event on Friday, Jan 21, 2022. 

Nominations are being solicited for the following Chair Positions (You can nominate yourself): 

3000 Club Chair and Co-Chair: Coordinates support of pre-licensed members. For example, hosting regularly scheduled meetings, and/or social mixers supporting pre-licensed members, and providing programming specific to the needs of pre-licensed members in their journey towards licensure.

Social Media Communications Chair: Coordinates advertising of SGVCAMFT events, programs, SIGs, and issues concerning SGVCAMFT members on Social Media platforms such as FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter. Promotes and monitors SM chat rooms on topics important to SGVCAMFT members. Provides feedback to the Board about SM chat room content. 

SIG Program Chair and Co-Chair: Oversees and coordinates planning of infrastructure for SGVCAMFT’s new Special Interest Group Program. Promotes awareness of SIG leadership opportunities, solicits SIG facilitator volunteers, aides and supports new SIG facilitators and participants in forming and maintaining SIGs. Acts as liaison between SIG facilitators and SGVCAMFT Board regarding SIG Program progress, issues, and concerns. 

If you would like to Nominate yourself for any one of these Chair positions, please email Jessica Ruiz at Secretary@sgvcamft.org with a brief bio of yourself and a few sentences describing why you are interested in serving on the Board, a current headshot, and your contact info. Nominations are due by 8 pm Dec 19, 2021.

Nominations are also open for Volunteers-at-Large:

Volunteers-at-Large lend support in many different areas. For example:

Membership Outreach
Programs
Programs Sponsorship Outreach

If you would like to Nominate yourself to be a Volunteer-at-Large, please email Jessica Ruiz at Secretary@sgvcamft.org with a brief bio of yourself and a few sentences describing why you would like to serve as a volunteer on the board, a current headshot, and your contact info. Nominations are due by 8 pm Dec 19, 2021.

If you have questions about volunteering on our Chapter’s board in any capacity large or small, please contact Kathryn Bikle at president@sgvcamft.org. We look forward to welcoming you on board!

Putting out a call for Mentors!

Have you been secretly longing to share your professional wisdom with a less experienced colleague? Here’s your opportunity! SGVCAMFT Mentor-Mentee Chair Jessica Ruiz is currently seeking additional Mentors for our popular Mentor-Mentee program. Being a Mentor does not take a huge amount of time, just a willingness to share your expertise and offer support to a Mentee for an hour a month, or whatever feels right to you! Requested areas of expertise include: Supporting a Shift to Private Practice, Developing your Treatment Modality, Exam Prep Support, TeleHealth Technology Support, and Your Expertise Here! Contact Jessica if you would like to become a SGVCAMFT Mentor or are interested in the Mentor-Mentee program: Jessicaruizmft@gmail.com or secretary@sgvcamft.org. Information about our Mentor-Mentee program can be found on our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Mentor-Mentee-Program  

SGV CAMFT’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Program Planning is actively looking for Participants and Facilitators to help launch this program! 

SGV-CAMFT is forming a Special Interest Group Program for professionals to come together around topics and interests related to our field. A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an opportunity to make connections, dig deeper into specialty areas, and form relationships around common interests. We are currently looking for participants and facilitators to help us launch this program! 

Do you have a passion for working with couples, trauma, or a specific diagnosis, and would like to share that with your colleagues? 

Do you work with a specific population and could use some support? 

Would you enjoy co-hosting educational or social programs for Marriage and Family Therapists? 

We are open to your ideas for SIGs. What group would you like to see form? What group could you imagine being a part of? Check our website for details on how to apply to become a facilitator: https://www.sgvcamft.org/Special-Interest-Group-(SIG)-Program  Contact Natasha Morisawa for more information at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org or Natasha@mindfulmft.com 

SGV CAMFT PROGRAMS

Here are some exciting programs and events coming up! SAVE the dates! Register on our website at sgvcamft.org

Sunday, January 9th, 7–8:30 pm join our monthly Book Club meeting! Attendance is free but you need to make a reservation in order to attend this online Zoom event. The reading we will be discussing on alternative therapies for working with grief can be found at: http://www.deepcenterforgrowth.com/candyce-counseling/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/Journal-of-IPNB-Studies-Vol-II-2013-Grief-Article.pdf. See the Home page of our website at sgvcamft.org to Register. Email Natasha at pastpresident@sgvcamft.org for more information.

Friday, January 21, 2022 (Time and details to be announced) Membership Appreciation Event and Annual Meeting. Let us show you how much we appreciate YOU! Join us for special activities, games, entertainment, and a raffle, all with the intent of pampering our members! Newly elected Board Members will be announced.

Friday, February 18, 2022 Noon – 1:30 pm “Exploring the Use of Psychedelics in Therapy,” Amy Jordan, LMFT. Online presentation. 1.5 Ce’s offered.

SGV-CAMFT Open Roundtable discussion. Online. February date and details to be announced. Do you have an interest in brainstorming, exploring, and discussing how SGV-CAMFT can better serve you? Ideas for activities, programs, or member support? How we can better address issues of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? Look for details announcing this stimulating online Roundtable discussion to be scheduled in February! Facilitated by Susan, Lowe, LMFT. Free. Registration will be necessary in order to receive Zoom link. Questions? Suggestions? Email Kathryn Bikle at President@sgvcamft.org 

If you have any questions, or are interested in speaking at a future event, please send an email to Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT at lynnemazpeitia@yahoo.com.

Message from the Prez: SGV-CAMFT October 2021 

From Kathryn Bikle, President

Fall is here! Heat wave notwithstanding, at least a few trees are starting to change color and the sun is rising and setting noticeably earlier. Despite the falling of leaves, the change of season hints at new beginnings!

SGVCAMFT has some very exciting things in store for you and some important updates that as healthcare workers we all need to be aware of!

IMPORTANT UPDATE! THE DEADLINE FOR ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO SEE CLIENTS INDOORS WAS SEPTEMBER 30^TH! ARE YOU IN COMPLIANCE?

On August 5th, the State of California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a Public Health Order that requires all MFTs and their workers (both paid and unpaid) who see patients in-person indoors or work in a health care facility where they may come into indirect exposure to patients to be fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 30th. The Public Health Order broadly applies to workers in health care facilities, including MFT private practices.

The Public Health Order requires that by September 30th, all applicable workers must have received either:

1. their first dose of a one-dose regimen of COVID-19 vaccine (Johnson & Johnson); or

2. their second dose of a two-dose regiment of COVID-19 vaccine (either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna or a vaccine authorized by the World Health Organization).

The August 5th Public Health Order provides very limited exemptions that must be documented by the unvaccinated worker in a declination form due to either: 1) religious beliefs; or 2) Qualifying Medical Reasons. If such a documented exemption applies, when entering the health care facility, the worker must:

1. Test for COVID-19 on a regular basis, the frequency of which is dependent on the type of health care facility; and

2. Wear a surgical mask or higher-level respirator mask approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at all times while in the facility.

Additionally, beginning August 9th, the CDPH will require all public and private health care facilities to comply with its July 26th Public Health Order. The CDPH Public Health Order requires: 1) verification that health care providers (who see patients in person and non-clinical staff who could be exposed to COVID-19 while working in a health care setting) are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or regular diagnostic screening testing for those who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated; and 2) required masking for all individuals in health care settings regardless of vaccination status.

CAMFT has reviewed the recent public health orders and has consulted with other psychotherapy associations, and are of the joint opinion that these orders apply to all MFTs as falling under Section (I)(c)(13) "clinics...including behavioral health." Therapists who see patients in person will have until August 23, 2021, to be in full compliance with the July 26th Public Health Order. To review this order in its entirety, click here.  

To find a COVID-19 vaccine site near you click here.

To find a COVID-19 diagnostic testing site near you click here.

Putting out a call for Mentors!

Have you been secretly longing to share your professional wisdom with a less experienced colleague? Here’s your opportunity! SGVCAMFT Mentor-Mentee Chair Jessica Ruiz is currently seeking additional Mentors for our popular Mentor-Mentee program. Being a Mentor does not take a huge amount of time, just a willingness to share your expertise and offer support to a Mentee for an hour a month, or whatever feels right to you! Requested areas of expertise include: Supporting a Shift to Private Practice, Developing your Treatment Modality, Exam Prep Support, TeleHealth Technology Support, and Your Expertise Here! Contact Jessica if you would like to become a SGVCAMFT Mentor or are interested in the Mentor-Mentee program: Jessicaruizmft@gmail.com or secretary@sgvcamft.org. Information about our Mentor-Mentee program can be found on our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Mentor-Mentee-Program  

The day in January is approaching when we vote in new SGVCAMFT Board Members! Currently, we have openings for Chair positions and volunteer participation in Social Media Communications, 3000 Club (in support of pre-licensed members) and SIG Infrastructure planning. We can also use support in Membership Outreach, Programs, and Program Sponsorship Outreach. If you would like to join us as a volunteer on our Chapter’s board in any capacity large or small, please contact Kathryn Bikle at president@sgvcamft.org. We look forward to welcoming you on board!

SGV CAMFT’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Program Planning is actively looking for Participants and Facilitators to help launch this program! 

SGV-CAMFT is forming a Special Interest Group Program for professionals to come together around topics and interests related to our field. A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an opportunity to make connections, dig deeper into specialty areas, and form relationships around common interests. We are currently looking for participants and facilitators to help us launch this program! 

Do you have a passion for working with couples, trauma, or a specific diagnosis, and would like to share that with your colleagues? 

Do you work with a specific population and could use some support? 

Would you enjoy co-hosting educational or social programs for Marriage and Family Therapists? 

We are open to your ideas for SIGs. What group would you like to see form? What group could you imagine being a part of? Check our website in early October for details on how to apply to become a facilitator. Contact Natasha Morisawa for more information at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org or Natasha@mindfulmft.com 

SGV CAMFT PROGRAMS

Here are some exciting programs and events coming up this fall! Register on our website at sgvcamft.org

Friday, October 22^nd Noon-1:30 pm: “Dia De Los Muertos: Honoring People, Pets, Experiences, and More by Incorporating the Therapeutic Elements of Day of the Dead.” Presenter Tina Cacho Sakai. 

Learn the therapeutic elements of Dia De Los Muertos and how to incorporate them into treatment for grief and loss and life transitions. Dia De Los Muertos provides a framework on how to process, remember and connect to important aspects of a person’s life; such as people, pets, experiences, and more. Leave with an understanding of how to provide clients with the tools to create a personalized altar to assist in their healing journey. Register on our website at sgvcamft.org for this exciting Online Connect ‘n Learn Zoom event!  $20 – Licensed SGV CAMFT members and licensed members of other CAMFT Chapters, $5 – Pre-licensed SGV CAMFT members, $10 – Pre-licensed non-members. Registration limit is 25. Deadline to Register Thursday October 21^st 8 pm. This program does not offer CE credit. https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4513838

Sunday, November 7th, 7–8:30 pm join our monthly Book Club meeting! Attendance is free but you need to make a reservation in order to attend this online Zoom event and  receive a link to the reading we will all be discussing. See the Home page of our website at sgvcamft.org to Register. Email Natasha at pastpresident@sgvcamft.org for more information.

Friday, November 19^th 9:30–4:00 pm 2021 Law & Ethics Workshop “Standard of Care in Mental Health Services: Ethical, Clinical & Boundary Considerations,” Presenter Ofer Zur, Ph.D. 6 CEUs. (30 min lunch break) 

This 6-hour Live CE interactive presentation will review current standards of care that all LMFTs, social workers, counselors, and licensed psychotherapists need to maintain. It will include clinical examples to highlight potential ethical conflicts, along with discussions of best practices and how to resolve conflicts. Time will be allocated to addressing never before considered concerns arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and this new era of Telemental Health. In addition to the PowerPoint, the presentation will include small group discussions and polls as well as Q &A as time permits. 

Topics to be covered are:

• Different forms or types of consultations

• Ethical, Legal and Clinical aspects of each clinical case

• Common State Licensing Board Complaints: Inappropriate custody recommendations, texting into the night, drunk driving, sex w/ current clients, etc.

• Standard of Care: Myths and facts

• Therapists Googling clients, Digital Boundaries

• Responding to a negative YELP review

• Practicing in the next phase of the COVID-19 epidemic

• Ethical issues in social networking

• Ethical issues in Telemental Health: Crossing state lines, emergencies, fitness, and more.

• Boundaries in Therapy: Gifts, Touch, Dual Relationships, Bartering, Out of Office

Register on our website at sgvcamft.org for this exciting Online CE Law and Ethics Program!  $60 – Licensed SGV CAMFT members and licensed members of other CAMFT Chapters, $20 – Pre-licensed SGV CAMFT members, $25 – Pre-licensed non-members, $75 Licensed non-member. Deadline to Register Thursday November 18^st 10 pm. This program offers 6.0 CE credit. Register on our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4508190

Outdoor In-Person Membership Appreciation event TBA – Details to come!

If you have any questions, or are interested in speaking at a future event, please send an email to Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT at lynnemazpeitia@yahoo.com.

PRE-LICENSED CORNER

FREE CAMFT Program October 9th 9:00 am – Noon “Pre-licensed Job Symposium: How to Build a Success Career as an MFT.” This half-day symposium will combine three workshops on career tips, deconstructing job ads, resume tips and what your dream employers look for in a potential hire, as well as Q&A opportunities to ask questions and connect with current employers that are hiring Pre-licensed MFTs. We will also be providing exclusive opportunities on how to build your career as an MFT and more information on becoming a member of your local chapter. Visit the CAMFT website to Register at https://www.camft.org/virtual-pls

I am pleased to announce Deanna Hudgins as the recipient of the first ever Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship! This scholarship of $1,000 was created in honor of Rudy Hayek (former SGV-CAMFT Board Member and Programs Chair) to support a current student in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy who demonstrates a similar spirit of service, civic engagement, and the desire to advance the profession. Join me in congratulating Deanna on her achievement!

-Kathryn Bikle, President

Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Recipient Deanna Hudgins’ Personal Statement:

Service and support have been guiding principles throughout my life. Prior to pursuing a path in Marriage & Family Therapy, I sought out professions and volunteer opportunities through which I could leverage my skills and contribute to a positive impact on individuals and my community. I was fortunate to teach high-school music programs for 12 years and I have volunteered as a group leader and coach for nonprofit programs such as Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Professionally, I currently serve as an event coordinator for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the lives of children and adults who are affected by these diseases. It was my work with students and patients, coupled with my personal growth in individual therapy, that inspired me to apply for an MFT program.

Since joining the Department of Marriage & Family Therapy (DMFT) at Azusa Pacific University, I have been dedicated to forging deeper connections among the student community, with the knowledge that we might one day lean on each other as colleagues. During the pandemic I founded and facilitated a study group to give an opportunity for classmates to meet online in both a practice and personal capacity, and in 2021 I was fortunate to be elected to the position of DMFT Student Union Co-Representative. I am excited to be working with a supportive faculty and a willing cohort as we build and launch programs designed to benefit the DMFT student body, including a Peer Mentor Program for incoming students. I am glad to volunteer for the Membership Committee of SGV-CAMFT and am excited for future opportunities to be of service as I move through my journey towards licensure. 

I am proud to be under the supervision of longtime SGV-CAMFT member Patty Gieselman at Living Success Center and would like to thank Rudy Hayek for his guidance, support, and contributions to SGV-CAMFT as well as the SGV-CAMFT Scholarship Committee for this wonderful and meaningful award. 

-Deanna Hudgins

From Kathryn Bikle, President

The slow lazy days of summer are drawing to a close and with the onset of Fall challenges and opportunities both new and familiar, arise to greet us. Who would’ve thought back in March 2020 that we’d still be navigating shutdown procedures and safety precautions to keep us safe from the Covid-19 virus? And yet, we continue to adapt and seek to find creative ways to do the important work we do serving the mental and behavioral health needs of our community. In these stressful times it is essential that we practice healthy self-care and take the time we need to re-charge and refresh ourselves in whatever ways feel most nourishing. Having the energy to dream creates hope. And hope creates an environment for positive things to happen! 

Let’s take a look at some of the positive things that are happening in our SGV-CAMFT community!

Are you eager to grow your leadership muscles? SGV-CAMFT is always eager to involve future community leaders as volunteers on our Board of Directors. Currently, we have openings for participation in Membership Outreach, Programs, Social Media Communications, 3000 Club (in support of pre-licensed members) and SIG Infrastructure planning. If you have any interest in volunteering on our Chapter’s board in any capacity large or small, please contact me at president@sgvcamft.org.

SIG Program Planning Kickoff Events in September:

SGV-CAMFT is forming a Special Interest Group Program for professionals to come together around topics and interests related to our field. A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an opportunity to make connections, dig deeper into specialty areas, and form relationships around common interests. We are currently looking for participants and facilitators to help us launch this program! 

Do you have a passion for working with couples, trauma, or a specific diagnosis, and would like to share that with your colleagues? 

Do you work with a specific population and could use some support? 

Would you enjoy co-hosting educational or social programs for Marriage and Family Therapists? 

We are open to your ideas for SIGs. What group would you like to see form? What group could you imagine being a part of?

Imagine….

• Therapists who knit, crochet, embroider, or needlepoint

• Guerilla Garden MFTs

• Therapists who work with Polyamory and Open Relationships

• Happy Hiker MFTs

• BIPOC Therapists in Private Practice

• Somatic Therapists

• Cinematherapy for MFTs

• Ecopsychology

• Therapists for Social Justice Action

• Growing a Sustainable Private Practice

• Vegan Therapists 

• LGBTQ therapists who brunch

• Therapists who write together

• Art Therapists of the SGV

• (your ideal group here)

Join us for one of our virtual kick-off events to understand how to launch a group, how the chapter can help, imagine ways of forming community, and finding out what comes next.

Saturday, September 25^th  10-11am

Register to attend: https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4487870

Monday, September 27^th  7-8pm

Register to attend: https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4487891 

PROGRAMS

Here are some exciting programs and events coming up this fall! Register on our website at sgvcamft.org

Sunday, September 12th, 7 – 8:30 pm join our monthly Book Club meeting! Attendance is free but you need to make a reservation in order to attend this online Zoom event. See the Home page of our website at sgvcamft.org to Register. Email Natasha at pastpresident@sgvcamft.org for more information.

Thursday, September 16^th 6 - 7:30 pm Register to attend Connect ‘n Learn Online Program “Using the Body to Regulate Emotion: Perspectives from DBT” with Suzette Bray, founder and Executive Director of Village Counseling and Wellness. Register on our website at sgvcamft.org for Online Zoom event.  $20 – Licensed SGV CAMFT members and licensed members of other CAMFT Chapters, $5 – Pre-licensed SGV CAMFT members, $10 – Pre-licensed non-members. Deadline to Register Tuesday, September 14^th 8 pm. This program does not offer CE credit. Register at https://www.sgvcamft.org/event-4428683

Happy Summer!

I hope people are finding some time to relax and enjoy themselves despite the confusion of opening up from the pandemic only to partly shut down again. It’s a challenging time. I hope you know how essential all of you are to the overall mental health needs of our SGV community! Your hard work and dedication is much appreciated.

Although SGV-CAMFT is slightly less active during the summer there are still a few exciting things to bring to your attention!

First, and most importantly, I would like to say a huge THANK YOU! to Susan Lowe, LMFT, who has been a member of SGV-CAMFT since 2014 and an enormously vital and active Board member for all or most of that time! Susan is moving out of the San Gabriel Valley and so will be bringing her vibrant energy and enthusiasm to the San Bernadino Chapter. We will miss her terribly and wish her well! During her time on the SGV-CAMFT Board Susan has been active on the Membership Committee, promoted Hospitality at in-person events, she was active on the Programs Committee, and most recently, as the Chair of the 3000 Club, she has generously guided and nurtured our pre-licensed members on their journey towards licensure. Susan has helped to spearhead SGV-CAMFT’s new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative, which is making slow but steady progress this year. In addition, she was instrumental in bringing us Dr. Sayida Peprah’s July 9th program “Cultivating Humility: Dismantling Implicit Bias and Building Allies in Therapy.” For those of you who attended, I’m sure you can attest to what an important and eye-opening program that was! So again, THANK YOU, SUSAN! We are so grateful for all of your hard work and generosity of spirit on the SGV-CAMFT Board all of these years! Please join me in thanking Susan Lowe! She will be missed but we wish her well and hope that our paths will cross often in the years to come!

Of course, the departure of Susan Lowe leaves a glaring hole in the SGV-CAMFT Board roster! Fortunately, we are excited to welcome Deanna Hudgins into our fold! Beginning in August, Deanna will be joining Michael Bauer to assist with membership outreach! Deanna is just over halfway through her 3-year track at Azusa Pacific University and is proud to be pursuing her traineeship at Living Success Center under the supervision of Patty Gieselman. Deanna, we’re excited to meet you and have you join us! Thank you for coming on Board! And just a plug—we are always looking for enthusiastic folks to join us on the Board for specific projects or a Board position! We are currently needing additional support with our Programs Committee, Membership, Social Media and Communications, and 3000 Club. You must be both a member of SGV-CAMFT and CAMFT to be on the Board. Please contact me if you are interested: president@sgvcamft.org

Mark your calendars! We have some exciting activities on the horizon!

Sunday, August 1st, 7 – 8:30 pm join our monthly Book Club meeting! Attendance is free but you need to make a reservation in order to attend this online Zoom event. See the Home page of our website at sgvcamft.org to Register. Email Natasha at pastpresident@sgvcamft.org for more information.

Thursday, September 16th 6 - 7:30 pm. Register to attend the Connect ‘n Learn Online Program “Using the Body to Regulate Emotion: Perspectives from DBT” with Suzette Bray, founder and Executive Director of Village Counseling and Wellness. Register on our website at sgvcamft.org for this Online Zoom event. $20 – Licensed SGV-CAMFT members and licensed members of other CAMFT Chapters, $5 – Pre-licensed SGV-CAMFT members, $10 – Pre-licensed non-members. Deadline to Register: Tuesday, September 14th 8 pm. This program does not offer CE credit.

Friday, September 24th, Noon – 1:30 pm: “CAMFT State of the Profession” Online workshop. Join CAMFT Executive director, Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD, CAE, for an understanding of events, legislation, and internal association processes that are currently impacting CAMFT members. This 90-minute presentation will discuss issues and the importance of a Professional Will. It will include updates from BBS and both the California and Federal legislatures as well as discussion on why it is important to avail yourself of the Legal Consultation service provided by CAMFT. Register on our website at sgvcamft.org. $20 – Licensed SGV-CAMFT members and licensed members of other CAMFT Chapters, $5 – Pre-licensed SGV-CAMFT members, $10 – Pre-licensed non-members. 1.5 CEs available. Deadline to Register: Wednesday, September 22, 8 pm.

Kathryn Bikle, MA, LMFT
President, SGV-CAMFT