Los Angeles Chapter — California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Voices — May 2026
Funding the Future
Jenni Wilson, LMFT, President
I grew up without a strong legacy of financial literacy or stability.
After my parents divorced, things became tighter.
During high school I lived with my father who had a good union job but beyond title promotions, was repeatedly told he couldn’t get a raise because he lacked a college degree – he was also brown-skinned, which in the ‘80s was too often an obstacle.
Almost daily I scrounged in the loose change jar on the kitchen counter, hoping to find my father had emptied enough from his pockets the night before that I might be able to buy myself something for lunch. Asking him for money was hard, because there was never enough, and I knew the scarcity embarrassed both my father and me if I did. Needing and asking for money has never been easy.
There were dark times and dark days, when my father’s depression and transgenerational trauma converted to rage, reinforcing in me that the goal was to get through and get the hell out. When things became really tough at home, parents of friends took me in for months at a time, fed and sheltered me, offered me safety and stability.
Because I was good at organizing and typing, parents of friends gave me admin work - they helped me open a checking account, pay my taxes, and balance a checkbook. My ex-boyfriend’s mother threw me a graduation party and when the time came, she traveled with me and dropped me off at the Occidental College campus which I’d never seen beyond the brochure, in this amazing city I’d only seen on the screen.
Another friend’s mother, unbeknownst to me, had advocated for me to receive a “Mother’s Club” scholarship upon graduation, a small grant that allowed me to arrive at school with enough money in my pocket to buy my textbooks and maybe cover a phone bill or two. These elders changed the course of my life, one small gesture at a time.
I have carried these kindnesses with me my entire adult life and aspired to pay it forward. Whenever I found myself with the privilege to help a friend with a meal, a small loan or gift, or a couch to crash on - I did.
I’m not an expert in financial literacy to any extent, but over time I learned to set boundaries and limits for myself, “Never loan anyone anything you can’t afford to lose”.
So, here goes… I’m asking you, my fellow members, to consider donating what you can afford to lose to LA-CAMFT this year and possibly ease someone’s daily burden.
As most of you probably know, LA-CAMFT is an all member- and sponsor-funded organization. The chapter doesn’t receive state or federal funding. Programming and initiatives are traditionally funded by sponsorships and revenue brought in from events and memberships.
Unfortunately, rising administrative costs over the past six years has led to a reassessment of what LA-CAMFT can responsibly offer members, as some initiatives were set in motion without a solid plan to fund them moving forward.
The Financial Committee has been considering where expenditures can be eliminated, reduced, and/or funded by new revenue streams, and ways we can afford updates and modernization to chapter systems without losing valued programs.
Following the example of other CAMFT chapters, LA-CAMFT will be launching a Donation Page this year - the intent being to consistently fund LA-CAMFT’s award grant programs without depleting our reserves.
While the chapter is retiring the TOC Grant Award, due to solvency issues, as well as to protect the chapter from unnecessary legal exposure under this current federal administration, we are driven to set up a Donation Page to raise enough for LA-CAMFT to pay-out a minimum of three yearly grant awards– at $500/each.
When a minimum of $3000 has been raised, the following grants will begin to be offered to pre-licensed and newly licensed members:
Your donations or sponsorships will help fund grant awards for these future and newly licensed therapists. Your gifts matters as they will allow LA-CAMFT to keep expanding networking and career-strengthening opportunities for all our members. Together we can continue to build and bolster our LA-CAMFT community.
In the end, if every licensed member gifted a minimum of $10/year to help fund these award grants, LA-CAMFT would be truly investing in the future of our profession. So, when you see the Donation Page on the website, or a Donation Button upon event registrations, I encourage you to join me in pledging some tax-deductible support – whatever you can. Even a small gift can go a long way and could make all the difference in the world.
As a teenager I had this quote taped above my bed: “Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”. If we can help ease someone’s fight, even just a little, we may be contributing to something much larger - a long line of good deeds that we may never know about, but the Universe will.
I am inspired by the parents of my friends who took me in, my alma mater’s Mothers Club, the friends who picked up the tab or floated me until my next paycheck when I struggled to find my way in Hollywood, and all those I’ve never known who generously donated to scholarships that helped me afford undergraduate school when I had nearly nothing and no one to help me pay my way. Perhaps you or someone you know has experienced similar?
I’d love to hear your stories and am excited to see those of you who can make it to the SPRING CELEBRATION AND NETWORKING EVENT on Saturday, May 16th, sponsored by Lightfully Behavioral Health at the Cheviot Hills Park in Picnic Area #1 (by the pool and tennis courts, not by the archery courts!).
I’ll also be joining other LA-CAMFT members at the CAMFT Annual Conference in San Diego May 1st and 2nd.
Lastly, be sure to sign-up soon for the free member-only dining series lunch at The Strand House in Manhattan Beach on May 21st at 12noon – SEATING IS LIMITED, so keep your eye on your inbox and register ASAP.
And don’t forget to check out the Diversity Committee and 3000 Club offerings on the website, too!
Paz y Amor, my beautifully generous colleagues!
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
Annual Spring Celebration & Networking Event 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026
12:00pm-3:00pm
Cheviot Hills Recreation Center
Sponsored by
Join LA-CAMFT at our annual Spring Celebration & Networking Event! There will be food, prizes, and fun opportunities to grow your network and make new friends with fellow LA-area therapists, associates, students/trainees, and other mental health or related professionals.
For more information, contact Special Events Chair Jessica Forrester.
Event Details:
For: LA-CAMFT Members and Non-Members
When: Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 12:00pm-3:00pm
Where: Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, Picnic Area #1 (2551 Motor Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064)
(Map: https://recreation.parks.lacity.gov/sites/default/files/reccenter/cheviot-hills-recreation-center/media/newest-greatest-map.pdf)
Cost:
$15 for LA-CAMFT Members
$10 for LA-CAMFT Prelicensed Members
$20 for Non-Members
$10 for Prelicensed Non-Members
Cost (2 weeks before event):
$20 for LA-CAMFT Members
$15 for LA-CAMFT Prelicensed Members
$25 for Non-Members
$15 for Prelicensed Non-Members
Cost (at the door):
$25 for LA-CAMFT Members
$20 for LA-CAMFT Prelicensed Members
$30 for Non-Members
$20 for Prelicensed Non-Members
*Registration closes Friday, May 15 at 10:00pm. *
https://lacamft.org/event-6622520
Getting Paid: Embracing the Private Practice Life–The Journey of Running a Successful Practice as a Psychotherapist and or Coach
Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT, Voices Editor
Running a private or group practice as a psychotherapist or coach is a multifaceted journey requiring dedication, perseverance, resilience, and creativity—and involves transitioning from a clinician to a business owner and entrepreneur, which requires the ongoing and careful navigation of ever changing and evolving legal, financial, demographic, and clinical logistics.
It can offer flexibility and autonomy but also presents challenges like blurred boundaries and the need for business acumen. Embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, nurturing personal growth, and cultivating work-life integration are key to success and well-being in this life work.
Embracing the Private Practice Life: The Journey of Running a Successful Practice as a Psychotherapist and or Coach
Running a private or group practice as a psychotherapist and or coach is more than just a business endeavor; it's a lifestyle as well as a vocational choice, and a significant developmental change. It's a journey of personal growth, professional fulfillment, the pursuit of an integrated life—and a psychological transition from employee to owner—a shift that is often more difficult than the paperwork itself!
Today we’ll explore the unique aspects of Private Practice Life, the challenges it presents, and how to navigate them to achieve success as well as well-being.
The Path Less Traveled
Choosing to establish a private or group practice as a psychotherapist and or coach usually means stepping off the beaten path. It requires courage, determination, perseverance and a deep commitment to one's craft and profession. Unlike traditional employment settings, where schedules are predetermined and roles are clearly defined, being a private practitioner offers a level of freedom and autonomy that is both liberating, challenging, and creative–and can have a steep learning curve.
Blurring Boundaries
One of the defining characteristics of working in and running a private practice is the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life. Unlike a traditional 9-to-5 job, the demands of managing a practice can seep into every aspect of one's existence. It's not uncommon for therapists to find themselves thinking about clients during off-hours or feeling the pressure to constantly market their services.
Embracing Flexibility
At the same time, the Private Practice Life can offer unparalleled flexibility. As a private practitioner, you have the freedom to set your own schedule, choose your clients, and design your therapeutic approach. This flexibility allows for a greater sense of work-life balance and the opportunity to tailor your practice to align with your values, priorities, needs and life circumstances. Private practice is a flexible container that is very rewarding and can expand and contract to support a therapist through a 30-year career.
I’ve experienced and appreciated this through the birth of my children, children’s schooling, parenthood, managing a chronic illness, separation and divorce, being a single parent, caretaking parents before their deaths, and more. During each life circumstance it was helpful to integrate my life challenges with my work schedule and number of clients while still providing enough income for living.
Nurturing Personal Growth
Running a successful practice is not just about helping others; it's also a journey of personal and professional growth and self-discovery. As you navigate the complexities of human psychology and interpersonal dynamics, you inevitably learn more about yourself and about business, the profession. And clients. Each client interaction offers an opportunity for reflection and insight, deepening your understanding of both the human condition and your own inner world.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
To thrive as an independent practitioner, you must discover and embrace your inner entrepreneur alongside your inner clinician and professional. Building a successful, sustainable, and adaptable practice requires not only clinical expertise but also business acumen and includes the development of a network, as well as an advisory team and professionals and vendors that are useful to your ever changing practice and life during different or changing times. From marketing and branding to financial management, community outreach and engagement and client retention, you can wear many hats as a business owner. Embracing the entrepreneurial spirit means being willing to take calculated risks, adapt to change, and continuously innovate.
Navigating Challenges
Running a practice certainly comes with its fair share of challenges. From managing finances and navigating legal requirements to dealing with difficult clients and maintaining self-care, there are numerous challenges and obstacles along the way. It's essential to develop resilience and seek support and professional advice when needed. Building a network of peers, mentors, and professional associations can provide invaluable guidance and encouragement.
Cultivating Work-Life Integration
Rather than striving for a strict work-life balance, many private practitioners aim for work-life integration. This approach acknowledges that work and personal life are interconnected and seeks to find harmony between the two. This might involve setting parameters around work hours, values, prioritizing self-care, and finding ways to incorporate personal interests and passions into your professional life.
Embracing the Journey
Ultimately, running a successful and sustainable long term practice--in any form--as a psychotherapist and or coach is an adventurous journey, not a destination. It's about embracing the ups and downs, the challenges and triumphs, and the knowledge, expertise, and growth that comes with each experience. It's about finding meaning and purpose in your work, while also nurturing your own well-being and fulfillment. You can see how therapists in private practice are part of a brave, creative cohort rather than just isolated individuals in an office.
In conclusion, the life of running a successful private or group practice as a psychotherapist and or coach is a multifaceted journey that requires dedication, perseverance, resilience, creativity, and a commitment to personal, professional, and business growth. By embracing flexibility, creativity, nurturing personal and professional development, cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit, and navigating challenges with grace and resilience, you can create a practice that not only supports your clients but also enriches your own life while doing good by helping others and contributing to the community as well as the profession.
Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, is in private practice virtually, and in Santa Monica where she works with Couples and Gifted, Talented & Creative Adults across the lifespan. Lynne’s been doing business and clinical coaching with mental health professionals for more than 15 years, helping therapists create even more successful careers and practices. She offers in-person & online services, workshops, presentations, & monthly no-cost Online Networking & Practice Development Lunches. Website: www.Gifted-Adults.com or www.LAPracticeDevelopment.com
Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Therapists Community Group
First Monday of Every Month
Next Meeting: Monday, May 4, 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.
For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, and Students
When: Monday, May 4, 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-6470342
Guest Article
Therapeutic Musings: Joyspan: Expanding Life, Not Just Lengthening It
Kim Scott, LMFT
Inspired by the work of Dr. Kerry Burnight
As our clients age, one question often rises quietly to the surface: How much time do I have left?
For some, this question brings fear or dread. For others, a kind of acceptance or even hope. Many also worry that their healthspan won’t match their lifespan, leaving them facing years marked by pain, limitation, or dependence. But there is another, far more empowering question we can invite into the room: How much joy is available to me in the time I have? This is where the concept of Joyspan comes in.
Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, coined the term to shift our focus from how long we live to how well we live. Unlike lifespan, Joyspan is something we have meaningful influence over. And perhaps even more importantly, the quality of our daily experience, our joy, can also support longevity.
While this concept is especially relevant in the second half of life, I see it resonate across all ages. Many of my younger adult clients ask some version of, “Is this all there is?” The demands of working and “adulting” often crowd out pleasure, play, and meaning, leaving a quiet grief in their wake.
What Is Joy, Really?
In her book, Dr. Burnight defines Joyspan as “the experience of well-being and satisfaction in longevity.” Joy, as she describes it, is not the same as happiness. Happiness often depends on external circumstances, such as being pain-free. Joy, on the other hand, can coexist with difficulty.
In this way, joy becomes less about feeling good all the time and more about living well, even when life is imperfect.
The Four Pillars of Joyspan
Dr. Burnight outlines four essential elements that expand our Joyspan:
As therapists, we cannot change the realities of aging or mortality. But we can help our clients expand their experience of life within those realities.
Adapting: Making Space for What Is
Aging often brings losses: losses of loved ones, health, independence, and roles that used to fulfill us. Denying these realities doesn’t serve our clients. Instead, we begin by helping them feel seen, heard, and supported in their grief. From there, we gently shift toward adaptation.
This is where principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be especially helpful. We can support our clients in accepting and making space for pain while expanding their awareness of what still matters.
I’m thinking of a client who experienced significant vision loss. After honoring her grief, we explored ways she could adapt such as, hiring part-time support, modifying her home environment, using audiobooks and a Kindle, and accessing resources through the Braille Institute. What was most meaningful, though, was her realization that her deepest value was her connection with family, and this remained very much intact. Even as her world changed, her capacity for connection did not.
Adapting is not giving up. It is reorienting toward life as it is now.
Growing: Challenging the “Too Late” Narrative
A common and deeply limiting belief I hear is: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” or “Most of my life is behind me, so what’s the point?”
These are not truths. They are narratives. The brain remains capable of learning and forming new connections throughout life. Growth doesn’t have an expiration date. Growth can look like:
At its core, growth is about staying engaged with life. Growth may mean doing something small, like reading a new book, trying a class, visiting a museum, or joining a group. Or it may involve something much bigger, like taking a trip or learning a new skill.
Curiosity is the doorway.
Giving: Finding Meaning Beyond Ourselves
When clients are immersed in loss, their world can understandably become very small. Gently helping them step outside of themselves, even in small ways, can restore a sense of meaning and purpose. Giving is a way to step outside of oneself. Giving doesn’t have to be grand. It might be:
Even small acts of giving can reconnect clients to a sense of value and contribution.
Connecting: The Heart of Joyspan
If there is one factor that consistently supports both Healthspan and Joyspan, it is connection. Humans are wired for relationship. Community matters. Belonging matters. Whether it’s family, friends, neighbors, or a chosen community, connection nourishes both emotional and physical well-being.
Bringing Joyspan into the Therapy Room
One simple and powerful starting point is this question: “What kind of older adult do you want to be?” From there, we can explore:
And then translate that vision into small, meaningful steps because Joyspan isn’t built in big, sweeping moments. It’s built in the quiet, daily choices that shape how we live.
A Final Thought
We cannot control how long we live. But we can influence how fully we live within the time we have. It is never too late to create a meaningful, connected, and joyful next chapter, or, as I like to think of it, a deeply intentional third act.
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.
The Wealthy Spirit: Your Best Guess for Today Will Do!
Chellie Campbell, Financial Stress Reduction Expert
"Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it." -Andy Rooney
Do you know what your perfect goal is?
Have you ever changed your mind about your goals?
Along the path from one to another, new goals always appear!
When people ask me how to determine the "right" goal for themselves, not sure which choice before them is best, I just say, "Your best guess for today will do." Goals aren't about achievement of a dream. It looks like they are at first, but that's an illusion. The joy of the achievement lasts about a minute and a half. The movie star that wins the Academy Award for Best Actor hugs the Oscar, giddily thanking everyone they ever met in their whole life, and parties all night in celebration. Then they go home, go to sleep, and the next morning what is it they want? Another acting job! They just want to continue their work, their art, their craft. It's the daily doingness - the process of inventing and pursuing their goal--that creates joy in their life. The acknowledgment and applause is wonderful but it is a by-product, not the thing itself. The thing itself is the work--the daily exploration of human behavior, mood, friendships, enmities, glories and disasters. It's the process that matters in the end. That is what is experienced daily, that is what creates a happy person--not the high point of an end goal. The painter doesn't paint one picture, call it perfection, and sit and look at it for 60 years. Every day they paint, their glory is to paint, their desire is to paint, it is their life to paint. That they offer this to the world for understanding and communication, is the purpose of their lives and it is ongoing, continuing, unbroken, endless. There is no goal where you stop becoming. The importance of every goal is that it is a path leading you through this existence in a particular direction. You choose the initial direction, but life will take over and lead you on through byways and highways you can't determine from your beginning. Years later you will look back and, with a sense of child's wonder, will exclaim, "Ah, so that's what I was doing there - that's the lesson I was learning." Your job is to pick a path and begin, but it doesn't matter what you choose - life knows what you need and will guide you there. When I rejected acting because it wasn't nourishing my soul any longer, I took the office manager job, became the owner of the bookkeeping service, then started teaching Financial Stress Reduction® Workshops and wrote books, I was just "following my bliss" as Joseph Campbell said, taking each next step as it appeared because it seemed logical, felt good, and made me happy in pursuit of the goals I dreamed of. Now so many years later I can look back and see what was the underlying theme - that what most empowered me and made me happy was working with a small creative team to invent a common good that empowered everyone. The thing I enjoyed most about acting was rehearsal. It was the process of creating that was enjoyable--after the show was set and we just did endless repetitions of it, I was bored. The bookkeeping job was with a small dynamic company filled with creative, happy, intelligent people that was growing--another small creative team with a goal to help our clients and ourselves to prosper and grow. The bookkeeping service was the same. Then when I started teaching workshops, I immediately rejected the Tony-Robbins-motivational-big-room-seminar-48-employee model and decided that small, interactive master-mind groups of 8-12 people was the way to go. I was 63 when I figured this out. So don't worry if your life doesn't seem to make sense or your choices are erratic and your goals changeable. You are being led by Life to your highest good and greatest bliss. What feels good to you today? What feels empowering and creative and exciting? Those are the signposts Life is giving you. Go do that. Set a goal—any goal. It will lead you where you need to go. Today’s Affirmation: “I am open to receive prosperity, joy, and love from all directions!”
Chellie Campbell, Financial Stress Reduction Expert, is the author of bestselling books The Wealthy Spirit, Zero to Zillionaire, and From Worry to Wealthy: A Woman’s Guide to Financial Success Without the Stress. She has been treating Money Disorders like Spending Bulimia and Income Anorexia in her Financial Stress Reduction® Workshops for over 25 years and is still speaking, writing, and teaching workshops—now as Zoom classes and The Wealthy Spirit Group on Facebook—with participants from all over the world. Website: www.chellie.com
Therapists of Color Support Group
Meets Every Quarter
Next Meeting: Sunday, 2026 11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT)
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.
For more information, contact the Diversity Committee.
Event Details: Sunday, January 2026 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT) Time of Check-In: 10:50 am
In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.
Maya Angelou
Stay tuned!
https://lacamft.org/Diversity-Committee
Angela Mull, LMFT - Life is Always in Session: Transforming your deepest vulnerability into your greatest strength.
Angela Mull is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the founder of Creating Beautiful Minds Family Therapy where she is dedicated to helping individuals and families heal and build healthier relationship patterns.
At Creating Beautiful Minds Family Therapy Inc., Angela Mull embraces the profound wisdom of Audre Lorde: “…and that visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the source of our greatest strength.” Angela understands that the first step into therapy can feel deeply personal and vulnerable, yet she specializes in guiding individuals to see that their vulnerability is the key to unlocking their inner superpowers. By fostering a safe, supportive environment, she helps clients navigate the complexities of life, ensuring they realize that their struggles are not a reflection of weakness, but a bridge to transformation.
Her work centers on breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma, a mission deeply informed by her own lived experiences and personal journey.
Before transitioning into the field of mental health, Angela spent 20 years working in civil service while raising her family. Her path to becoming a therapist emerged during a meaningful second chapter in life.
Following divorce and as her children prepared to leave for college, Angela took time to reflect on her strengths, qualities others had long recognized in her: being a gifted listener, a thoughtful problem solver and strong advocate who maintains healthy boundaries.
Realizing these abilities were well suited for the therapeutic profession, she returned to school with a renewed purpose, eager to use her life wisdom, knowledge and experience to support others navigating their own transitions.
In her private practice, Angela works with individuals, couples and families seeking healthier dynamics and deeper emotional understanding. Her approach is grounded in systems theory and attachment informed work, drawing from an evidence based and flexible blend of therapeutic modalities. She places strong emphasis on collaboration, tailoring treatment to each client’s unique goals while helping them develop insight, resilience and healthier patterns of connection.
Angela first learned of CAMFT through her Clinical Supervisor who encouraged students and trainees to become involved to familiarize themselves with the therapist community, pursue ongoing professional development and expand networking opportunities.
Inspired by that guidance Angela became an actively engaged member of LA-CAMT.
In 2020, amid the global health crisis and heightened racial tensions, Angela joined the LA-CAMFT Black Therapist Support Group. This community provided a vital and safe space where she could connect with fellow clinicians facing similar professional and personal challenges, further strengthening her commitment to culturally responsive care and collective healing.
Motivated to give back, Angela served as a Therapist of Color Mentor for four cohorts, guiding pre-licensed therapists through the early stages of their careers. She later joined the Therapist of Color Committee continuing her dedication to mentorship and to supporting the next generation of clinicians.
As a leader, Angela strongly encourages therapists at all levels--trainees, newly licensed and seasoned professionals to engage with CAMFT. She values the organization’s diversity, rich variety of programs and perspectives, opportunities for education and continuous professional development, and the ability to build meaningful professional networks. Angela also emphasizes the importance of service through volunteering, teaching, and lifelong learning as essential pathways to growing as leaders in the field.
Angela L. Mull, LMFT, founder of Creating Beautiful Minds Family Therapy Inc., provides compassionate evidence-based therapy for teens and adults navigating anxiety, depression and the long-lasting impact of trauma. With a focus on healing and resilience, Angela helps clients break intergenerational cycles, strengthen emotional well-being, and rediscover their strengths empowering individuals and families to create healthier, more hopeful futures. Website: www.angelamulltherapy.com
Talking with Children about Divorce
Barry Davis, MDiv
A recent study found that more than 50% of all divorcing parents never sit their children down and have a specific conversation with them about their divorce. Unfortunately, this leaves the children in the very de-stabilizing position of assuming/guessing how things will change or has them relying on television or other media to figure out what is going on.
This is a shame because parents are passing up an important opportunity to provide their children with information that can significantly lower the stress and uncertainty that children often experience during divorce. However, if the parents proactively discuss the divorce with their children, they have the opportunity to:
There is no denying that this conversation is extremely intimidating to parents (they are overwhelmed by how their children will react) – which is why they’re tempted to avoid it. However, having the structure of specific themes to address as well as either practicing what they will say or getting some professional coaching helps parents to get comfortable with this talk and present it in a more effective manner. Recently, parents I had coached on how to approach this conversation recounted the following:
They were so happy they had proactively talked with their children because their pre-teen daughter was reading a book where the main character’s parents were going through a nasty divorce. The girl in the book had to watch what she said around each parent and was really feeling caught in the middle. My client’s daughter told her parents how happy she was that they “weren’t fighting like the parents in my book.”
Barry Davis, Divorce Mediator, Founder of Davis Mediation, has been helping clients get through the divorce process in the most amicable, affordable manner possible for more than16 years. His passion is keeping children out of the middle of divorce so they can grow up healthy. As a divorce mediator, Barry holds Masters Degrees in Clinical Psychology and Conflict Management and has served on the Torrance Family Court and Second Appellate District mediation panels. Websites: www.DavisMediation.com or Davis Divorce Mediation’s YouTube Channel.
Black Therapist Support Group
Second Monday of Every Month
Next Meeting: Monday, May 11, 2026 6:00pm-7:30pm
A safe place for healing, connection, support and building community. In this group, licensed clinicians, associates and students can come together and process experiences of racism (systemic, social, and internalized), discrimination, implicit bias, and micro-aggressions, along with additional experiences that therapists of African descent encounter in the field of mental health. As the late great Maya Angelou once said, “As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal someone else.” May this space, be the support needed to facilitate that journey.
When: Monday, May 11, 2026 from 6:00pm-7:30pm (Check-In: 5:50pm)
https://lacamft.org/event-6475303
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