LA-CAMFT Diversity Committee
presents

Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Therapists Community Group

First Monday of Every Month

Next Meeting:
Monday, February 2, 2026
9:00am-10:00am

Online Via Zoom

The MENA Therapists Community Group is a safe place across the Middle Eastern and North African therapist diaspora to build community and a sense of belonging. We hold an inclusive space to process the impact of cultural biases experienced by people of MENA descent and the effect it may have on our work as mental health professionals. Within the process, we will strive to create healing, support, and empowerment. We will collaboratively exchange ideas, experiences and resources while acknowledging cultural differences and shared similarities. As the poet Khalil Gibran states — “The reality of the other person lies not in what he reveals to you, but what he cannot reveal to you.” — our community will create a place to be seen, heard, and understood.

Special Note: MENA Therapists Community Group meetings are intended as a place for MENA-identifying therapists to have a safe place amongst others in the same ethnic and cultural community to share and process their personal and professional experiences. Therapists from similar cultural backgrounds (e.g., South Asian, mixed identities that include MENA, etc.) are also welcome. If you are not MENA-identifying or from a similar cultural background and instead wish to join these meetings for the purpose of learning about the MENA population, we offer consultations separately. You are more than welcome to schedule a one-on-one consultation by emailing us.

Open to LA-CAMFT Members and Non-Members.

For more information, contact the facilitators at mena@lacamft.org.

Event Details:

For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, and Students

When: Monday, February 2, 2026 from 9:00am-10:00am

Where: Online Via Zoom (Upon registration for the presentation, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to our Zoom meeting.)

Cost: No charge

Facilitator(s): Perla and Susan

*Registration is open and available until the group begins.*

https://lacamft.org/event-6470304

Member Article

How to Build a Strong Support System During Divorce

Steven Unruh, MDiv, LMFT

The good news is that there are tangible ways to create a support system that can help you through the toughest moments. You don’t have to do this on your own.

1. Lean on Trusted Friends and Family

Now is the time to reach out to those who have your best interests at heart. It’s important to surround yourself with people who will listen without judgment, offer practical help, and remind you that you’re not alone. Don’t hesitate to ask for what you need—whether it’s a meal, someone to watch the kids, or just a comforting presence.

2. Join a Divorce Support Group

There’s something incredibly powerful about sharing your experience with people who understand exactly what you’re going through. Divorce support groups can provide a sense of belonging and validation, offering a safe space to talk openly about your struggles. These groups remind you that your feelings are normal and that others have been in your shoes and come out the other side.

3. Seek Professional Support

Whether it’s a therapist, a counselor, or a divorce mediator, having professional guidance can make a world of difference. Therapy can help you process the emotional aspects of divorce, while divorce mediation helps you work through the legal and logistical challenges in a way that’s fair and balanced for both parties. Mediation is especially beneficial because it encourages collaboration and helps avoid the emotional toll of a courtroom battle.

4. Engage in Self-Care Activities

Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being during this challenging time is crucial. Make it a priority to engage in self-care activities that recharge your spirit, whether it’s exercising, practicing mindfulness, or pursuing hobbies that bring you joy. These activities can serve as an outlet for stress and help you reconnect with yourself as an individual, providing the strength you need to navigate your new reality.

5. Create New Connections

Consider expanding your social network by seeking out new friendships and connections. This can be through community activities, classes, or even online forums. Engaging with new people who share your interests can introduce fresh perspectives and support, helping you to build a more diverse and resilient support system. Surrounding yourself with a variety of voices can enrich your experience and remind you that there’s a life beyond your current circumstances.

Take the First Steps Today

As a divorce mediator with over 30 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful mediation can be in creating a more peaceful, respectful divorce process. Mediation allows both parties to have a say in the outcome, rather than letting the courts make decisions for you. It’s a more collaborative approach that helps reduce conflict, saves time and money, and focuses on finding solutions that work for everyone involved—especially when children are in the picture.

Not only does mediation make the process smoother, but it also helps preserve your dignity and emotional well-being. You’re not just walking away from a marriage—you’re building the next chapter of your life. Mediation gives you the tools to do that with clarity and confidence.

Divorce doesn’t have to mean isolation. With the right support system, you can navigate the challenges and come out stronger. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek out help. Whether it’s leaning on a friend, joining a group, or working with a mediator, every step you take brings you closer to healing.

Steven Unruh, MA, MDiv, is a Divorce Mediator and LMFT. He and his team at Unruh Mediation complete the entire divorce process, including all assets, pensions, properties, alimony and child support—along with all required documentation. Unruh Mediation files in 13 different courthouses throughout Southern California. Website: stevenunruh.com

LA-CAMFT Diversity Committee

presents

Therapists of Color Support Group

Meets Every Quarter

Next Meeting:
Sunday, 2026
11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT)

Online Via Zoom

A safe place to receive peer support and process experiences of racism (systemic, social, and internalized), discrimination, implicit bias, racist injury, aggression, and micro-aggressions, along with additional experiences that therapists of color encounter in the field of mental health.

Open to LA-CAMFT Members and Non-Members.

For more information, contact the Diversity Committee.

Event Details:

For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, and Students

Event Details: Sunday, January 2026 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT)
Time of Check-In: 10:50 am

Where:  Online Via Zoom (Upon registration for the presentation, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to our Zoom meeting.)

Cost: No charge

*Registration is open and available until the group begins.*

In diversity there is beauty
and there is strength.

Maya Angelou

Stay tuned!

https://lacamft.org/Diversity-Committee

LA-CAMFT’s Declaration
of Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism

Psychotherapy can be transformative in a democratic society, and can open intellectual inquiry that, at its best, influences and results in lasting positive change. In recognition of our shared humanity and concern for our community and world, LA-CAMFT loudly and overtly disavows all racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, classism, ableism, ageism, and hate speech or actions that attempt to silence, threaten, and degrade others. We in LA-CAMFT leadership hereby affirm our solidarity with those individuals and groups most at risk and further declare that embracing diversity and fostering inclusivity are central to the mission of our organization.

As mental health professionals, we value critical reasoning, evidence-based arguments, self-reflection, and the imagination. We hope to inspire empathy, advocate for social and environmental justice, and provide an ethical framework for our clients, our community, and ourselves.

We in LA-CAMFT leadership are committed to:

(1) the recognition, respect, and affirmation of differences among peoples

(2) challenging oppression and structural and procedural inequities that exist in society, generally, and in local therapeutic, agency, and academic settings

(3) offering diverse programming content and presenters throughout our networking event calendar, as well as in our workshops, trainings, and special events

While we traverse the turbulent seas of the important and necessary changes taking place in our country, in order to form a “more perfect union.” we wish to convey our belief that within our community exists an immense capacity for hope. We believe in and have seen how psychotherapy, therapeutic relationships, and mental health professions can be agents of positive change, without ignoring or denying that the practice and business of psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy have historically been the cause of great harm, trauma, and emotional toll, particularly for people of color and other marginalized groups. We are committed to doing our part to help remedy that which we have the position, privilege, and/or resources to do so.

At LA-CAMFT events, all members are welcome regardless of race/ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, disabilities, religion, regional background, Veteran status, citizenship, status, nationality and other diverse identities that we each bring to our professions. We expect that leadership and members will promote an atmosphere of respect for all members of our community.

In a diverse community, the goal of inclusiveness encourages and appreciates expressions of different ideas, opinions, and beliefs, so that potentially divisive conversations and interactions become opportunities for intellectual and personal growth. LA-CAMFT leadership wants to embrace this opportunity to create and maintain inclusive and safe spaces for all of our members, free of bias, discrimination, and harassment, where people will be treated with respect and dignity and where all individuals are provided equitable opportunity to participate, contribute, and succeed.

We value your voice in this process. If you feel that our leadership or programming falls short of this commitment, we encourage you to get involved, and to begin a dialogue with those in leadership. It is undeniable that the success of LA-CAMFT relies on the participation, support, and understanding of all its members.

Wishing good health to you and yours, may you find yourself centered in feelings of abundance, safety, belonging, and peace.

Standing together,
The LA-CAMFT Board of Directors and Diversity Committee