2026 ALAMFT Conference:
Enlighten: Enhancing knowledge through deeper clinical applications
FRIDAY February 20th
- registration 8:15-8:45
- information meeting 8:45-9:30am
Drew Richard, LMFTA
When She Becomes “Mom”: Centering the Black Postpartum Experience for Mothers and Couples
(Friday February 20th 2026, 9:30am-10:30am CT)
Postpartum is often described as a time of joy, yet for Black families, it is shaped by cultural
expectations, systemic inequities, and emotional experiences frequently overlooked in traditional maternal health discussions. Generational narratives such as the “Strong Black Woman” or the need to “stay strong” pressure mothers and fathers to embody resilience without vulnerability, creating tension with the mental, emotional, and physical demands of postpartum recovery. These dynamics also affect couple relationships, influencing communication, emotional intimacy, and joint adjustment to new parenthood.
Marriage and Family Therapists bring a unique perspective to support individuals, couples, and families, helping navigate cultural pressures, systemic barriers, and emotional vulnerability in postpartum care. This session will provide concrete examples of how therapists can apply family therapy models in ways that honor the lived experiences of Black women and couples. Applied in a culturally attuned manner, these evidence-informed approaches allow therapists to consider family dynamics holistically, enhancing intervention effectiveness and promoting positive outcomes for both postpartum mothers and their partners.
Participants will acquire culturally responsive strategies to navigate postpartum transitions for individuals, partners, and families in a coordinated and holistic way.
PANEL: Beyond the Couch: Exploring Unique Career Paths for Marriage and Family Therapists
** Conference speakers will sit on panel
Friday February 20th 2026, 10:45-11:45 am CT)
The traditional path for a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) often leads to private practice or agency work. However, the unique, systemic training that MFTs receive—focusing on relationships, context, and change within complex human systems—makes them invaluable in a wide array of non-traditional settings.
Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring MFTs who have successfully leveraged their clinical skills and relational expertise to forge distinctive career paths. Hear firsthand accounts of their journeys, the challenges they overcame, and how they apply systemic principles in fields like corporate consulting, public speaking, academic development & leadership, and specialized areas of wellness and advocacy.
This session will challenge your assumptions about the limits of an MFT degree and provide a roadmap for translating your clinical training into diverse professional opportunities.
-Lunch onsite 11:45am-1:15pm
Tony Watkins, LMFT
Dale Bertram, PhD
Artificial Intelligence and the Business of Therapy: A look at how AI can enhance the business practices of systemic therapists.
(Friday February 20th 2026, 1:30pm-4:45pm CT)
As marriage and family therapists, we are trained to think systemically about human relationships—but what if we applied that same systemic lens to the business side of therapy? This engaging and practical session invites participants to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the administrative, financial, and operational dimensions of clinical practice.
Co-led by Tony Watkins and Dale Bertram, the training will first present a systemic framework for understanding the business of therapy, emphasizing the interconnected roles of marketing, documentation, scheduling, client engagement, and financial viability. Participants will then be introduced to a range of AI-powered tools and platforms designed to support therapists in managing and growing their practices with greater efficiency and less burnout.
SATURDAY February 21st
- Breakfast onsite 7:45-8:45am
Esther Boykin, LMFT
Pace, Pause, Pivot: Moving Beyond Burnout to Sustainable Practice Through Self-Compassion and Intentional Rhythm
(Saturday February 21st 2026, 8:45am-12:00pm CT)
In a profession where caring for others is central to our identity, therapists often find themselves caught in cycles of overextension, emotional depletion, and professional burnout. This interactive 3-hour workshop introduces the Pace, Pause, Pivot framework—a cyclical approach to sustainable practice that honors both clinician wellbeing and therapeutic effectiveness.
Through the lens of empathic distress and self-compassion research, participants will explore how traditional self-care falls short and learn practical strategies for creating sustainable rhythms in both personal and professional contexts. We'll examine how systemic pressures contribute to therapist burnout and discover how the Pace, Pause, Pivot framework can serve as both a personal wellness practice and a therapeutic container for client work.
This culturally-attuned session combines psychoeducation, experiential exercises, and group reflection to help therapists reclaim their professional vitality while enhancing their therapeutic presence. Participants will leave with concrete tools for implementing this framework in their practices and personal lives.
- lunch on your own 12-2pm
Angela Nauss, LMFT
Building a sustainable treatment model for first responder mental health
(Saturday February 21st 2026, 2:00-5:15pm CT)
This session explores the unique challenges and opportunities of providing mental health care to first responders, with an emphasis on building a sustainable and ethical treatment model. Attendees will learn about the distinct ways trauma presents in this population, informed by recent studies and professional guidelines. We will also examine the market conditions shaping the mental health industry and how they impact practice funding models. Topics include legal and ethical considerations, best practices for specialized approaches such as first responder couples therapy and addiction treatment, and strategies for developing cultural competency. Finally, participants will receive practical guidance on how to collaborate with local departments and build a practice model that both supports first responders and sustains clinicians.