President's Message

Tales from the late 1900s: The Summer of ’76

Jenni Wilson, LMFT, President

50 years ago, I was 5-years-old.  The Summer of ‘76 had been Yankee Doodled to its utmost dandy for the U.S. Bicentennial, and we were feeling it.  Everywhere I looked there were American flags, red, white, & blue fire hydrants, and houses festooned with stars-and-stripes bunting, as seemingly endless parades marched by throughout the year.

It was the late days of Disco and the early days of Yacht Rock listening to the likes of Donna Summer, KC and the Sunshine Band, Hall & Oates, Wings, and Fleetwood Mac - sailing away on the blue waters of the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair.  Everyone was BBQ’ing the hell out of those long golden days, Nixon was out, Vietnam was over, and people wanted to feel good about this nation again. My undiagnosed unmedicated ADHD barely-out-of-kindergarten self was taking the Pepsi challenge and mainlining processed foods, while inhaling second-hand smoke in the backseat of our Ford Fiesta, with the windows rolled down for summer, no car seats and no seatbelts.  We seemed to be living an American Dream.

Bicentennial Chic was pervasive and almost cult-like.  The country’s fascination with the simpler times of Little House on the Prairie in the mid-seventies invited in the commercialization of a frontier folksy aesthetic.  Women began wearing calico or gingham dresses in bohemian silhouettes made of breathable fabrics, stepping away from the polyester mod of the late ‘60s-early ‘70s.  A surge of idealized American Revolution iconography was seeping into the far corners of fashion and interior design with a fevered Patriotism, perhaps meant to distract the disillusioned Vietnam vets and aging hippies who were struggling to reacclimate to some aspirational idea of suburban safety and conformity they were being sold.

A bit short-sighted, IMHO, neighbors of ours decorated their entire home in bold Early American Revival, with red-white-and-blue shag carpets throughout, and a variety of wall papers covered in sketched images like cannons, the Liberty Bell, and giant Eagles holding banderoles reading “E Pluribus Unum”.  The rooms were all filled with selections from Ethan Allen’s colonial collection, accent tables with thick spindle legs, and conversation pieces like a convex Girandole Mirror, a butter churn, and toy soldiers peppered throughout.  The house truly possessed a neurodiverse splendor I didn’t fully appreciate at the time.

In 1976, the first class of women were initiated into the naval academy, and every adult I encountered was telling me I could grow up to be ANYTHING I wanted to be some day.  “You could even be President!”, they’d say – although no female had ever been President at the time.  At 5-years-old I had no idea what an impossible dream the adults were pushing onto me.

And there was so much to be hopeful about.  Three years earlier women won the right to choose, more recent than that women had been “granted” the right to apply for their own credit cards without needing a man to co-sign, and with prominent women like Shirley Chisholm and Betty Ford supporting the Equal Rights Amendment, it seemed inevitable that it would be ratified by all 50 states before the deadline in 1979. The future DID look bright to the women in my world. What couldn’t we do?

That summer, a progressive candidate from the deep south named Jimmy Carter became the Democratic nominee to run against Ford in the fall, and a 14-year-old Nadia Comaneci inspired every kid under 12 to contort and toss our bodies in unnatural ways, whether we had actually been trained properly or not.  Bruce Jenner won the Decathlon at the same ‘76 Montreal Summer Olympics, and everyone started eating Wheaties just for the box.  Everyone I knew watched Family Feud, What’s Happening!!, The Muppet Show, and Charlie’s Angels - and we were staying up late to watch Saturday Night Live because we weren’t supposed to. 

In ’76, a record-setting heatwave struck the Midwest, and Michigan was no exception.  Many summer afternoons my older sister and I would be dropped off at the Punch & Judy on Kercheval or the Woods theater on Mack with a bunch of other kids whose parents did theater with ours.  We were left all day to watch the Bad News Bears or some random double feature on loop in the air-conditioned spaces, while our parents went to rehearsal, to drink, or to do whatever it was they did that would end their marriages not long after.

When our parents didn’t unload us at the movies, all the kids were at the City Park pool - on our own – until the streetlights came on.  Three-years my senior, my eccentric, brilliant, and creative older sister was tasked with “watching” me - meaning she resentfully dragged me around in my red, white, and blue swimsuit with the rest of this feral pack of 12-and-unders, while she attempted to read adult novels and ignore us.  Occasionally we’d be under the eye of a 16-year-old babysitter named Sue, but most of the time we were out there descending into a Lord-of-the-Flies-like savagery; no sunscreen, hopped up on Faygo Red Pop, stuffing our faces with Hostess cupcakes and bologna sandwiches with wilted lettuce and Miracle Whip, in all our budding Gen X glory.  We were getting used to the sweet terrifying taste of Independence – and in 1976 that was the kind of hands-off childrearing that was shaping our still-nascent prefrontal cortexes.

But as American as it all was, as we ALL were, my sister made sure I was aware that we weren’t just American, we were Mexican-American - because my dad was Mexican. She made sure I understood what it meant that my father was Chicano, why people had such a hard time spelling and pronouncing our last name, and why people looked at us funny when we were out with him sometimes – his resemblance being more like Chico than The Man.

An avid reader beyond her years, my sister also schooled me on Judaism after reading The Chosen, how growing-up in suburbia is actually depressing as hell after reading Ordinary People, and how people can be the anti-Christ, after reading The Exorcist – she turned 9-years-old that summer.  She pointed out the overtly racist Cream of Wheat ad in the aforementioned Bicentennial fanatic’s breakfast nook, wanting me to see how The Great American Experiment was maybe not so great.  My sister contextualized a lot for me early on, emphasizing that the world we experienced on the day-to-day did not reflect the world as it was.  These were important lessons I would understand more deeply in years to come.

I find myself wistfully thinking of those days now, noting how much has changed – or not - in the past 50 years.  July 2026 marks the 250^th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and I feel crushing disappointment, with no desire to don that mask of innocent patriotism again. I cannot find the wherewithal to celebrate the dismantling of all I once thought possible and the rolling back of so much progress made.  Instead, I wear the authentic passion of a cis-gender Gen X perimenopausal bisexual Midwestern Californian non-Spanish-speaking Mexican-American Post-Modern 3^rd-Wave Feminist therapist who loves the diversity and collective spirit of this country, in spite of its ugly and dark origins, fervently hoping the power of community and democracy will take down home-grown fascism in my lifetime. I know it’s radical, but I believe that most of us intrinsically want the same things and strive to not be horrible to other people.  Please prove me right.

My wish for any 5-year-olds today is that in 50 years they can look back having enjoyed the freedom of youth this summer of ’26 - free of adult concerns, hatreds, and illusions.  But if they don’t, and most probably won’t, I hope they’ll look back to see that the adults of their youth – the Gen-Xs, Xennials, Millennials, Generation Jones’, and older Gen Z-ers - were able to right the ship before it capsized.  Perhaps this is the impossible dream I’m pushing onto them as an adult now, that in 50 years we can create healthier systems to leave this yet-unclaimed already-named Generation Alpha and their children.  Maybe by then a woman will be or will have been President.  I hope I live to see it.  A girl can still dream.

Be safe this July 4^th holiday, stay hydrated, and look out for yourself and those who need looking after.

Paz y Amor,

JJVW - Jenni June Villegas Wilson

Jenni J.V. Wilson, LMFT (she/her): As a collaborative conversationalist passionate about empowering and advocating for marginalized groups and underrepresented voices, Jenni uses an integrative approach based on post-modern principles to provide culturally-mindful and trauma-informed therapeutic services and clinical supervision. She works with creative, anxious, mixed race/culture, and co-dependent clients on improving and eliminating toxic relationships, while increasing authentic expression. She has a BA in theatre from Occidental College, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University LA, and is trained in EMDR, Brainspotting, and certified in Narrative Therapy. She is an accomplished writer, has produced/co-hosted multiple podcasts, worked in addiction treatment for nearly a decade, and sees the “worried well” in her private practice in Sherman Oaks. Website: www.JenniJVWilson.com

July 2026
CE Networking Event & Presentation
including Q&A

Friday, July 17, 2026
9:00am-11:00am

Online Via Zoom

2 CE Credits

Sponsored by

Uncovering What’s Invisible: Cultural Considerations in Therapy with Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Clients

with Perla Hollow, M.A., LMFT and Susan Abdel-Haq, M.A., LMFT

This presentation offers a clinically grounded framework for understanding how cultural, historic, and sociopolitical factors shape the mental health experiences of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) clients. Drawing from clinical practice and lived experience, the presenters explore cultural values such as family centrality, honor, and collectivism, alongside systemic barriers including stigma, mistrust, and underrepresentation. Special attention is given to identity development, intergenerational conflict, trauma, and LGBTQ+ considerations within MENA contexts. Participants will gain practical tools for culturally responsive care, deepen their understanding of nuanced client presentations, and learn how to adapt therapeutic approaches to build trust and provide more effective culturally attuned treatment.

Educational Goals:

Attendees will gain a clinically grounded understanding of how cultural, historic, and sociopolitical factors shape the mental health experiences of MENA clients and how these factors influence engagement, trust, and treatment in therapy.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

1. Identify key cultural values and how they impact clinical presentation and help-seeking behaviors among MENA clients.
2. Recognize common barriers to care and how these may show up in the therapy room.
3. Apply culturally responsive strategies to adapt therapeutic approaches when working with MENA clients, including addressing identity-related complexities (e.g. immigration, LGBTQ+ identity).

Presenter(s):

Perla Hollow, M.A., LMFT (she/her) is a Middle Eastern therapist in private practice in Manhattan Beach, CA, providing therapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her specialties include utilizing CBT to address anxiety, depression, phobias, body-focused repetitive behaviors, and OCD. She also provides family therapy for families with challenges around child behavioral issues. Previously, she worked in community mental health at The Help Group Outpatient Services. She has also received training in CBT at the CBT Treatment Center in Manhattan Beach. Perla earned her B.A. in Psychology from USC and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. She is a first-generation immigrant from Beirut, Lebanon who is passionate about psychotherapy as well as bridging the cultural gaps that exist in the field, especially for Middle Eastern therapists and clients. She is also excited about being the co-founder of the LA-CAMFT Therapists of Color Mentorship Program and co-founder and co-facilitator of the LA-CAMFT MENA Therapist Community Group.

Susan Abdel-Haq, M.A., LMFT (she/her/hers) is a second generation Palestinian and a licensed psychotherapist practicing in California. She graduated from Pepperdine University in 2015 and has worked across school-based, inpatient, outpatient, and substance use treatment settings. She is trained in EMDR and Brainspotting and specializes in relational trauma, narcissistic abuse recovery, family-of-origin work, anxiety, substance use, and cultural identity exploration. Susan is passionate about holding space for people to work through the hard stuff and tap into their strengths. She is dedicated to creating culturally responsive spaces for clients and communities that have historically faced stigma around mental health. She has presented on cultural considerations when working with Arab and MENA clients in clinical and educational settings, including college campuses, community spaces, and corporate trainings on inclusion. She has also facilitated community groups supporting those impacted by the ongoing genocide in Palestine and currently serves as a co-facilitator of the LA-CAMFT MENA Therapist Community Group.

For more information, contact Course Organizer/CE Networking Chair Shiji Yuan.

Event Details:

For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, Students, & Related Professionals

When: Friday, July 17, 2026 from 9:00am-11:00am

            8:30-9:00: Check-In
            9:00: Meeting/Presentation Begins
            11:00: Meeting/Presentation & Related Announcements End
            11:00-11:30: Participant Announcements (optional)

If you are interested in expanding your professional networking, sign up for Participant Announcements when you register. This segment is from 11:00am-11:30am, and is an optional 1/2 hour after the presentation.

After the presentation we will provide you with a link to a simple online test and evaluation questionnaire. When the test questions and the evaluation are completed, you will be provided with an online CE Certificate that can be personalized with your name and license information and either printed or saved on your computer.

Where: Online Via Zoom (Your registration confirmation email will include the Zoom link and instructions for accessing the event. A reminder email will be sent prior to the event.)

Cost:

$25 for LA-CAMFT/Other CAMFT Chapter Members, CSCSW Members

$15 for LA-CAMFT/Other CAMFT Chapter Prelicensed Members

$35 for Non-Members

$20 for Prelicensed Non-Members

Cost (2 weeks before event for licensed members):

$30 for LA-CAMFT/Other CAMFT Chapter Members, CSCSW Members

$40 for Non-Members

*Registration closes Thursday, July 16 at 10:00pm.*

(To be sure you receive any information we send prior to the event, please add networkingchair@lacamft.org to your known contacts or safe list and check your bulk, junk or promotions mailboxes for any emails from us about this event.)

Register online today! We look forward to seeing you on Zoom.

CAMFT Approved Continuing Education Provider 59450. LA-CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs. LA-CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 2 continuing education credits for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. To receive CE certificate: Participants must sign in/sign out, and must complete an evaluation form upon course completion. For a Course Schedule, please contact Course Organizer at NetworkingChair@LACAMFT.org. Refund policy: 48-hour notice required for refund of fee minus $5.00 administrative cost. Exceptions can be made for 48-hour notice in cases of emergency. Contact Course Organizer at NetworkingChair@LACAMFT.org. Accommodations for Special Needs: Contact Course Organizer at NetworkingChair@LACAMFT.org. Grievances: Program Administrator/CFO manages all grievances—and will acknowledge, investigate and remedy grievances. Response to grievances will be made in writing within 30 days. Contact them at cfo@lacamft.org.

https://lacamft.org/event-6737406

Editor's Note

A Lynne-Shaped Hole

Jenni Wilson, LMFT, President, Voices Guest Editor

As most of you probably know, after about seventeen years of volunteering for LA-CAMFT, serving on the Board of Directors for many of those, and spending the last eight years as LA-CAMFT’s Newsletter Editor, Super Volunteer Lynne Azpeitia decided it was time for her to move on.

My earliest memories of LA-CAMFT include witnessing Lynne passing the microphone around during the speed networking period during CE-events as far back as 2012.  Her notably strong presence was impossible to ignore amongst a group of folx who all possessed strong presences.  Being part of the team that revived LA-CAMFT in 2009, she demonstrated a sense of ownership within the chapter and was an intimidating force of nature to many of us who were mere students and interns, wobbly in our footing and new on the scene. Years later I would be moved by the kindness and softness Lynne showed me as she helped prepare me to take on the role of Speaker Chair (which seemed like such an enormous undertaking to me at the time), sharing her extensive institutional knowledge about the chapter and cheering me on.

I remember first really connecting with Lynne in the context of a Marketing breakout group she was facilitating as Communications and Marketing Chair at the 2016 Leadership Retreat at Clearview in Venice.  At that point I was close to finishing my 3000 hours and had no interest in the seemingly Herculean tasks of marketing and branding myself.  I was feeling overwhelmingly uncertain of how to get out of my own way enough to start building the private practice I wanted. Over the course of that afternoon, Lynne took me aside and encouraged me to attend her upcoming marketing seminars and even offered some of her valuable one-on-one time to meet with me in her office to explore what might be possible, free of charge.  She role-modeled a kind of generosity of spirit that afternoon that I had not found often in my former career travels within the entertainment business.  A virtual stranger, she extended herself to me in a way I had always tried to offer others whenever I was positioned to do so, and continue to do to this day.

My partner Tom recalls how charged I was returning home that day and sharing with him all the encouragement I’d gotten from the LA-CAMFT leaders, and particularly from Lynne.  What struck me was that Lynne was/is good at many things I am not, and I knew I could learn from her.  And I did.

I served on the Board of Directors with Lynne for many years, and when I was President in 2021 she was already doing the roles of multiple people – serving as Communications and Marketing Chair, performing the Newsletter Editor duties, creating the LA-CAMFT calendar to track events, creating an extensive document of deadlines for all Board of Directors deliverables throughout the year, and serving as the liaison to our Web Administrator at the time.  I am likely forgetting a multitude of other things she was doing at that time, but regardless, I always felt confident that whatever Lynne was doing, I didn’t have to worry about it.

I regret if I ever took Lynne’s competence and commitment for granted, as that is far from what has ever been in my heart.  Her constancy let me sleep a little better at night at the end of last year and for the first five months of this one.

There will be a Lynne-shaped hole in the chapter for a while, for sure, but another thing I believe I KNOW about Lynne, is that she understood how committed I am to creating processes and systems within the chapter that would allow for amazingly dedicated leaders like herself and others to take care of themselves without the chapter folding.  She understood ways I am always looking to avoid gatekeeping, burnout and/or long-standing resentments amongst our leaders who selflessly volunteer their time in service of the larger membership.  I’ve always felt Lynne and I shared a belief that one did not have to be on the Board of Directors to be significant to the LA-CAMFT culture, and that there was pride in stepping into less demanding but essential forms of leadership and participation – like being the Newsletter Editor, serving on a committee, facilitating a support group, or forming a Special Interest Group (SIG). 

Lynne has been and will continue to be a respect advisor to me, part of my LA-CAMFT Mastermind, as I attempt to finish the work I started in 2020 of putting the pieces into place to easily hand over the chapter reins to new and future generations of leaders as smoothly as possible.

Thank you, Lynne, for your many years of service to the chapter.  Thank you for your support and encouragement in becoming the leader I strive to be.  Where there is only one set of footprints in the sand…

Now, dear reader, if you or someone you know, has copywriting skills and might be interested in serving as LA-CAMFT’s next Newsletter Editor, let’s have that conversation.  It’s a new day and a reimagining of Voices is possible and inevitable upon Lynne’s departure.  We’re not looking for the next Lynne – there is only one – but we could absolutely be looking for the next YOU.  Please contact me at President@lacamft.org.

Jenni J.V. Wilson, LMFT (she/her): As a collaborative conversationalist passionate about empowering and advocating for marginalized groups and underrepresented voices, Jenni uses an integrative approach based on post-modern principles to provide culturally-mindful and trauma-informed therapeutic services and clinical supervision. She works with creative, anxious, mixed race/culture, and co-dependent clients on improving and eliminating toxic relationships, while increasing authentic expression. She has a BA in theatre from Occidental College, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University LA, and is trained in EMDR, Brainspotting, and certified in Narrative Therapy. She is an accomplished writer, has produced/co-hosted multiple podcasts, worked in addiction treatment for nearly a decade, and sees the “worried well” in her private practice in Sherman Oaks. Website: www.JenniJVWilson.com

Guest Article

Why the Parent, Adult, and Child Model Still Matters in Relationships

Kim Scott, LMFT

Wife: Honey, you are driving too close to that car! Slow down!

Husband: Stop telling me what to do! I know how to drive! Damn, you get so hysterical! (He hits the gas and swerves around the car in front of them.)

Wife: I am never going to drive with you again!

Husband: Fine. You drive if you think you are so much better! I’m done chauffeuring you around!

The couple brings this flash temper tantrum into therapy. Each hopes I will side with them.

But instead of taking sides, I invite them to pause.  I ask them to replay the interaction and reflect on what was going on:

• Where were they coming from at that moment?
• What could they have done differently?
• How might the behavior of each have impacted their partner?

There are of course many ways to approach a dynamic like this in couple’s therapy. One of my go-to frameworks is looking at interactions through the lens of Parent, Adult, and Child. This is a core concept from Transactional Analysis developed by Eric Berne in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Transactional Analysis is based on the idea that we all operate from three internal ego states: the Parent, Adult, and Child. While it is not often emphasized in modern couples therapy, it remains a powerful and accessible way to help couples recognize how they are showing up and how their patterns impact one another.

What I appreciate most about this framework is how quickly it resonates. People tend to recognize these parts within themselves almost immediately. It also pairs beautifully with other approaches to relationship therapy. Whether we are using Gottman, EFT, or Imago, we are often describing the same interactions, just in different language.

The Parent, Adult, and Child model helps us recognize how we are showing up, while these other approaches help us understand what is happening underneath and between us. When we put those together, we create real opportunities for change.

Let’s come back to our couple.

The wife is speaking from her Parent ego state, more specifically her Critical Parent. This part can show up as controlling, correcting, or overly directive. It often carries a tone of urgency or authority, and you might hear words like “should,” “always,” or “never.” While this part is often rooted in care or concern, it can land as criticism or control. It is also important to remember that the Parent can show up in nurturing and supportive ways.

Unlike the wife’s response, the husband’s response comes from the Child ego state, specifically the Rebellious Adapted Child. Just as the Parent has different expressions, so does the Child. The Child can be authentic, playful, curious, and connected, or adapted, which may show up as people-pleasing or rebellious.

In this moment, the husband’s Rebellious Child shows up through defensiveness, dismissiveness, and acting out. He disregards his wife’s concern and reacts impulsively, hitting the gas pedal and speeding past the car in front of him.

And just like that, we have a familiar cycle: Critical Parent meets Rebellious Child.  I imagine this sounds as familiar to you as it does to me. Once couples get pulled into this kind of cycle, each partner tends to trigger the other. When one partner speaks from a Parent ego state, it often invites a Child response in the other, and the pattern reinforces itself.

So how do we help couples shift out of this dynamic?

The first step is awareness. When couples can begin to identify the roles they are stepping into, and how those roles impact their partner, they create space for change.

Here’s a helpful hint. When a partner responds with defensiveness or anger, it is often a sign they are experiencing the message as critical or blaming. In Transactional Analysis language, this is a Critical Parent tone, which tends to activate the defensive Child in the other person.

While we cannot control our partner’s behavior, we can begin to notice these patterns in ourselves and the reactions they receive from our partner. When we do, we gain valuable feedback about how to shift toward a more respectful, Adult-to-Adult way of communicating, which is far more likely to invite a positive response.

So what does that actually look like?

When we are speaking from our Adult, we:

• Pause and regulate before responding so we are responding rather than reacting
• Use a gentle start-up instead of defending, for example: “I’m sorry my driving is stressing you out. I’ll slow down.”
• Use “I” statements rather than blame: “I feel anxious when we are driving this close to the car in front of us. I know you are a good driver, and it would really help me relax if we had a bit more space.”
• Get curious instead of defensive: “I can see you are feeling anxious. How can I help you feel more comfortable?”
• Step back and take a meta view, almost like observing the interaction from the outside, and asking: What pattern are we in right now, and how can I shift it?

One of my favorite interventions came from a therapist my husband and I once worked with. He suggested that in those heated moments, we ask ourselves: “What could I do right now that would surprise my partner?” In other words, how can I surprise my partner by breaking this pattern?

That simple question can interrupt old patterns and create space for something new.

While Transactional Analysis may feel a bit old school and is not always emphasized in an evidence-based practice, its concepts can be thoughtfully integrated into modern treatment. Sometimes a small shift in perspective can make a powerful difference.

Kim Scott, LMFT is a licensed marriage, family and child therapist. She has a private practice in Granada Hills where she works with couples and individuals, in-person and via Telehealth. Kim has been licensed for 30 years and has expertise in working with older adults and women issues. To learn more about Kim's practice and to read more of her articles visit her website: www.kimscottmft.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

*SEEKING GROUP FACILITATOR*

Contact diversitycommittee@lacamft.org if interested.

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

https://lacamft.org/Diversity-Committee

Member Article

LA-CAMFT has Swag!

Jennifer Stonefield, LMFT (Past-President, 2025 & 2026), with additional copy & editing provided by Jenni J.V. Wilson, LMFT (President, 2026)

Attention All Therapists

LA-CAMFT is Launching Our First Ever Online Swag Store

Shop with Purpose and Support Change

Every purchase tells a story, and we’re excited to invite you to become part of ours.

Established in 1977, LA-CAMFT has been a long-standing part of the Los Angeles mental health community. When hard times have threatened to slow the chapter’s progress in the not-so-distant past, it was community-minded members like YOU that came together and helped LA-CAMFT survive.

But wait - that’s not the whole story; it’s just the prologue.

In 2026, LA-CAMFT Leadership has been taking stock and are more committed than ever to securing the chapter’s survival for future generations of therapists who seek more than just CEs and referrals, but who are also seeking a robust community celebrating diversity, encouraging lively rejuvenation, and embracing positive change.

Got Swag?

Yes We Do!

Six months into 2026 and LA-CAMFT isn’t just surviving any more, we’re thriving. That ever-present LA-CAMFT spirit and pride is clearly reflected in the dedication and designs of Board-Member-At-Large/TOCMP Chair Keonna Robinson, LMFT and Past-President Jennifer Stonefield, LMFT who enthusiastically undertook the creation of the first LA-CAMFT e-store and have made this chapter dream a reality - where purpose meets action.

Leadership has listened when members have repeatedly shared that they’d love to be able to purchase a beanie, a sweatshirt, or tee to show their support and affiliation to our unbelievably cool chapter.  And as a nonprofit, LA-CAMFT is always looking for new engaging and sustainable ways to fund the fabulous offerings put forth for members and the community at-large.  With that in mind, LA-CAMFT is proud to announce the launch of The LA-CAMFT Online Swag Store in July 2026.

This isn’t just about merchandise and branding; It's about people, impact, and the future we’re building together.

Each purchase will directly support the development and administration of LA-CAMFT events, programs, and initiatives.  When you shop, know that you’re not just buying a sweatshirt or a hat, you’re investing in the present and future of LA-CAMFT. 

LA-CAMFT’s merchandise collections will feature thoughtfully curated items that align with many of LA-CAMFT’s foundational values, like, creativity, inclusivity, and community. Every image and phrase has been chosen with care, meant to spark conversation and connection through representation.

   

For a limited time, the first 50 people who sign-up for

LA-CAMFT Swag Store pre-orders

will receive a 10% discount on their first purchases.

Sign up now!

https://lacamft.org/online-store

LA-CAMFT will continue to expand our Swag Store offerings, so be sure to check back on occasion since there will always be something new to discover, as well as special limited-edition drops. We will be sure to keep you apprised via email and social media posts when new and special limited-edition merchandise are headed your way.

Your purchase will help to empower the communities we serve, while raising awareness about our cause.

It’s a simple action with a meaningful ripple effect. 

We invite you to explore the store, share it with your network, and be part of this new chapter in our chapter’s history. Whether you’re a longtime member or just discovering us, your involvement matters and we are grateful for you.

Together, we can turn an everyday purchase into lasting impact and ensure the survival of LA-CAMFT.

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer to be part of future initiatives like the Swag Store, please reach out to Jennifer Stonefield at Jstonefieldmft@gmail.com, or Keonna Robinson at TOCMentorshipProgram@lacamft.org.

On behalf of the entire 2026 LA-CAMFT Board, we are excited to present this initial offering to you. We hope you love it!

LA-CAMFT Diversity Committee

presents

White Therapists Fighting Racism (WTFR)

Third Sunday of Every Month

Next Meeting:
Sunday, July 19, 2026
3:00pm-5:00pm (PT)

Online Via Zoom

The goal of White Therapists Fighting Racism (WTFR) is for white-identified therapists to become effective allies in support of decolonization and racial justice in our clinical practice, therapy association, and community. Recognizing that racism is maintained when whiteness is invisible to white people, WTFR provides a forum for white-identified therapists to explore what it means to be white. While this process includes learning about structural racism and deconstructing the false narrative about race, a primary focus in the group is on doing inner work.

How Do I Join? To join this group, please click here to complete our online submission form. Once submitted, a group facilitator will reach out to you for next steps.

Open to LA-CAMFT Members and Non-Members.

For more information or if you have additional questions, please send all inquiries to the facilitators WTFR@lacamft.org.

Event Details:

For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, and Students

When: Sunday, July 19, 2026 from 3:00pm-5:00pm (PT)

Where: Online Via Zoom (Once you complete the online submission process, you will be emailed a monthly Zoom link.)

Cost: No charge

Facilitator(s): Estelle, Randi, Hazel, and Stephen

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

https://lacamft.org/event-6513180

LA-CAMFT Upcoming Events

Save the Date!

(Note: events without links may not yet be open for registrations.  Please check LACAMFT.org for more information)

July 6^th – 9:00-10:00am - via Zoom - MENA support Group - https://lacamft.org/event-6470347

July 13^th – 6:00-7:00pm - via Zoom - BTSG gathering - https://lacamft.org/event-6475305

July 17^th – 9:00am-11:00am - via Zoom - 2CE event - Perla Hollow & Susan Abdel-Haq "Advocating for the MENA population"- with post-event networking from 11:00-11:30am - https://lacamft.org/event-6737406

July 26th - 10:30am-11:30am - via Zoom - 3000 Club Support Group

August 3^rd – 9:00-10:00am - via Zoom - MENA support Group - https://lacamft.org/event-6470348 

August 10^th – 6:00-7:00pm - via Zoom - BTSG gathering - https://lacamft.org/event-6475306

August 9^th – 12:00pm-4:00pm - Special Event – In-Person - LA-CAMFT’S ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC – Cheviot Hills/Rancho Park - https://lacamft.org/event-6734704

August 29^th – 8:30-11:30am - In-Person - Long Beach EL DORADO MEET-UP HIKE - https://lacamft.org/event-6720232

August 30th - 10:30am-11:30am - via Zoom - 3000 Club Support Group

September 14^th – 9:00-10:00am - via Zoom - MENA support group - https://lacamft.org/event-6470350

September 14^th – 6:00-7:00pm - via Zoom - BTSG gathering - https://lacamft.org/event-6475308

September 18^th – 9:00am-11:00am - via Zoom - 2CE event - Dr. Nicole Siegfried "Navigating Teen Suicide Risk"- with post-event networking from 11:00-11:30am

September 26^th – 6:30pm-10:30pm - In-person - SELF-CARE SATURDAY BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT - MEET-UP EVENT at House of the Dragonfly in Valley Glen

LA-CAMFT Diversity Committee
presents

Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Therapists Community Group

First Monday of Every Month

Next Meeting:
Monday, July 6, 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, July 6, 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-6470347

Member Article

How Deliberate Practice Shaped My Confidence as a Therapist

Mikaela Abundez Toledo, MA, Registered AMFT

I have spent a lot of my life learning through practice. Before I became a therapist, I was a volleyball player at CSU San Bernardino and was part of the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship team for women’s volleyball. That experience shaped the way I think about growth. In athletics, improvement was never treated as something that happened just because we understood the game. We watched, repeated, adjusted, received feedback, and tried again.

Because of that background, the idea of deliberate practice stood out to me when I was looking for practicum sites in graduate school. I was drawn to the Sentio University MFT Program’s emphasis on building clinical skill through observation, feedback, and repetition. At the time, I did not have language for everything I was looking for, but I knew I wanted training that would help me do more than talk about therapy. I wanted to feel confident in my clinical skills when I was sitting across from clients, not just in my understanding of theory.

My training at Sentio Counseling Center helped me understand the difference between learning a concept and being able to use it in the room. In class, I could understand the importance of slowing down, tracking emotion, reflecting process, and staying connected to the client’s experience. But in actual sessions, those skills felt much more complex. A client might become guarded, overwhelmed, self-critical, or disconnected, and I would have to respond in real time.

That was where deliberate practice became meaningful for me. Because client sessions were recorded, I was able to review actual clinical moments with my supervisors instead of relying only on my memory of the session. We could pause the video, notice where I moved too quickly or missed an emotional cue, and identify one specific skill to practice. Instead of only asking, “What happened in the case?” I began learning to ask, “What was I doing in that moment, and what skill could I strengthen?” That small shift made the work feel less vague and less overwhelming. I could focus on one clinical move at a time: pausing before responding, reflecting emotion more simply, staying with a client’s experience longer, or noticing when my own anxiety made me want to move too quickly.

This process reminded me of volleyball, but it also challenged me in a different way. In sports, feedback can be direct and visible. You can see whether the ball went where you wanted it to go. Therapy is more relational and nuanced. Sometimes the most important learning happened in subtle moments: when I missed an emotional cue, asked a question too soon, or shifted into explanation instead of staying present. Deliberate practice gave me a way to slow those moments down and learn from them.

It also helped me become more compassionate toward myself as a developing clinician. Early in training, it is easy to interpret uncertainty as a sign that you are not good enough. Looking closely at my work helped me see uncertainty differently. The moments where I felt stuck were not proof that I could not do the work. They were invitations to practice a specific skill with more support and intention.

Over time, this helped me feel more confident. Not confident in the sense that I always knew exactly what to do, but confident that I had a process for continuing to grow. I began to trust that if something felt difficult in session, I could bring it into supervision, look at it honestly, practice a different response, and return to the work with more clarity. That kind of confidence felt grounded because it was built through repetition rather than performance.

I also appreciated that deliberate practice did not make therapy feel mechanical. At first, I wondered if practicing specific clinical responses would make the work feel less natural. My experience was the opposite. The more I practiced, the more present I felt. Skills that once took a lot of mental effort became more available, which allowed me to listen more closely and respond with more intention.

As I continue developing as a therapist, I find myself returning to this lesson often. Growth is not only about knowing more. It is also about being willing to look at what actually happens in the room, receive feedback, and practice the parts of the work that feel hardest. That willingness can be uncomfortable, but it can also be deeply reassuring.

I am still very much in the process of becoming the therapist I hope to be. What deliberate practice gave me was not a shortcut or a guarantee. It gave me a structure for growth. It helped me understand that confidence can be built slowly, through humility, feedback, and repetition. For me, that has been one of the most meaningful parts of my clinical training.

Mikaela Abundez Toledo, MA, is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in California providing online therapy for adults navigating anxiety, perfectionism, and the intersection of sport and identity. She trained at Sentio Counseling Center at the Sentio MFT Program. Website: growwithmikaela.com