Friday, March 21, 2025
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Greenlights for Growth: A Stable and Reliable Path Forward for the Entrepreneurial Practice Owner
James Childress, CPA
Drawing on his personal experiences in therapy and professional expertise in accounting, James Childress provides tools and guidelines for feasible, reliable, and holistically successful private practice growth. The Mental Health Industry was taken by storm after COVID, and many have not managed the demand for their services as well as they could, and certainly not taken full advantage of the opportunities presented. Many issues have arisen in the industry from burnout and competitive pressures, and James’ presentation will provide informative context around these challenges. James meshes his personal understanding of the incredible benefits of counseling/therapy and his longstanding experience in the business world to show private practice owners the strategies that allow their practices to put the clinical experience first, while supporting everything else that is needed to have a stable and thriving private practice as a very close second.
“It’s Hard to Be What You Can’t See”: The Power of Representation in Leadership and Mentorship
Coltan J. Schoenike, MS
Alex Iantaffi, PhD
Finch Houdek, BS
Representation is powerful in any context, and the world of systemic therapy is no exception. For many, representation can be the permission to pursue one’s dreams and ambitions, seeing what has become possible for people who hold similar identities to ours. To support the growing richness of diversity in our field, it’s crucial to have diverse leaders and culturally attuned mentors rising to meet and nurture them. The power of representation in leadership and mentorship will be explored through the stories and lived experiences of the speakers: a current marriage and family therapy student who identifies as trans, their trans supervisor who completed their training in 2020 and currently completing their doctorate, and that supervisor’s own trans-identified supervisor who has been a two decades-long leader in the field. As a still growing and often under-represented population in our field, sharing the lessons from three generations of transgender therapists can be a rich opportunity to explore how representation can meaningfully contribute to the development of clinicians from historically marginalized communities and to nurturing the leadership pipeline within professional organizations. The stories and lessons learned by these three systemic therapists will also highlight how the field has evolved over time, as well as where we can continue to grow as we look toward the future of our profession. In addition to sharing their stories, the speakers will also serve as a panel, with participants being invited to ask questions and engage in a more interactive manner.
Leadership Through an Ancestral Lens: Wisdom from the Elders
Rhonda Welch-Scalco, PhD
In this session, we will explore leadership as a practice deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom and guided by the teachings of Kumeyaay elders. Drawing from the traditions, values, and resilience of my tribe, I will highlight how personality characteristics such as humility, perseverance, relational accountability, and adaptability are cultivated across generations. Participants will gain insights into how these traits can inform leadership approaches that honor community.
Mixed-Reality Simulation Training in MFT: The Future of Supervision is Here
Diane R. Gehart, PhD
Family therapy has been a leader in clinical mental health supervision, consistently maintaining some of the highest standards in the field. In the past decade, mixed-reality simulation has redefined MFT supervision, enabling supervisors to teach in-session micro-skills in ways that were unfathomable only a few years prior. In this session, MFT supervisors and educators will learn how to maximize this new technology to benefit both students and clients.
MFP Breakout Session: Emerging Methods for Implementation Science in LGBTQ+ Youth and Families
Kathleen A. Smith
Family therapy has been a leader in clinical mental health supervision, consistently maintaining some of the highest standards in the field. In the past decade, mixed-reality simulation has redefined MFT supervision, enabling supervisors to teach in-session micro-skills in ways that were unfathomable only a few years prior. In this session, MFT supervisors and educators will learn how to maximize this new technology to benefit both students and clients.
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
MFTs Forging New Paths: Collaborative Leadership in a Gender-Diverse World
Astrid Carrington, PhD, LMFT-S
Amanda Veldorale-Griffin, PhD
In this session, we will explore how to develop a Collaborative Leadership approach based on postmodern-queer theory that moves away binary understandings of gender, hierarchies, and relationships to embrace expansive, inclusive, and dialogical meaning-making as the basis for healthy systemic leadership.
Advancing the Field Through Clinical Supervision: Training the Next Generation
John Robbins, PhD, LMFT
This workshop emphasizes the critical role of supervision and training in the advancement of the MFT field. Supervisors play a unique role in guiding trainees to understand their own personal dynamics and how these influence their therapeutic work. As new leaders, participants will explore how effective supervision can shape the next generation of marriage and family therapists. The workshop will highlight the "Person of the Therapist" approach, which focuses on the therapist's self-awareness, personal development, and relational skills as key components of effective therapy. Helping trainees to become reflective, self-aware practitioners not only improves therapy outcomes but also strengthens the profession as a whole. By focusing on the development of quality therapists, we can ensure the continued growth and evolution of the MFT profession.
Leadership, Education and Training the Integration of Spirituality in Clinical Practice
Christopher M. Habben, PhD, LCMFT
Elizabeth Tally, BA
Elizabeth Stevens Tally, BA
Spirituality is a critical aspect of the human experience and can be a valuable resource of human resilience. The integration of spirituality into the clinical experience is often absent from clinical training and educational programs. This presentation will delineate spirituality from religion and consider the role(s) spirituality plays in the human experience. By utilizing case examples, the presentation will also consider simple steps to begin integrating spirituality into clinical practice and discuss legal and ethical considerations when doing so. Finally, the presentation will offer recommendations for effective training and learning methods.
Treatment Courts: Taking Systems Approaches into New Places
Susan Lea, MMFT
Marriage and Family Therapists are educated and trained to be client-centered, with the client leading treatment goals. Treatment courts are structured, with the client agreeing to strict oversight upon entering treatment court. In this setting, therapists operate from a different perspective than that of counseling that takes place outside of the criminal justice system.
MFP Breakout Session: Re-Engineering the World of Medical Family Therapy: Conceptualizing Collaborative Care in School-Based Health Services
Samuel Heath
Family therapy has been a leader in clinical mental health supervision, consistently maintaining some of the highest standards in the field. In the past decade, mixed-reality simulation has redefined MFT supervision, enabling supervisors to teach in-session micro-skills in ways that were unfathomable only a few years prior. In this session, MFT supervisors and educators will learn how to maximize this new technology to benefit both students and clients.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Preparing for Leadership in Agricultural Behavioral Health
Roberta W. Bellamy, PhD
Agricultural behavioral health is an emerging field of research and behavioral healthcare of the farming community and a new frontier for mental health providers. The health of our family farms directly impacts our nation’s food and national security. Agricultural research from across the globe indicates that family farms are currently in a state of crisis, with farmer suicides at alarming rates. Health and safety studies that focus on farming populations point to challenges that span biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual domains. While a family farm operation is necessarily co-located with the family home, many of these farms are also temporary work/home environments for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. As marriage and family therapists are systems thinkers, we understand the need for a holistic treatment approach. Since family farms are unique in many elements of culture, and because the health implications span biopsychosocial and spiritual (BPS-S) domains, marriage and family therapists are well suited for leadership roles in this emerging behavioral health field.
Leading Together: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within AAMFT Governance Policy and Beyond
Christopher Wirth, MS, LMFT
Have you ever wondered how associations integrate DEI practices into their policy governance? How do associations hold themselves accountable to perform in ways that create true “wholeness?” Through discussion and experiential exercises, and by using AAMFT governance policy as a model, this session hopes to support emerging leaders in integrating association best practices regarding DEI into their work.
Empowering Supervisees of Color: Navigating Identity and Leadership in Integrated Healthcare Settings
Brittany Huelett-Lyons, PhD
"Navigating a medical setting can be an adjustment for most clinicians, as training in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy typically focuses on providing therapy in a traditional clinical context. As clinicians adapt to the changes required to work in an integrated healthcare environment, it's crucial that they are prepared to take on leadership roles and promote family-centered, whole-person care for patients.
One challenge that many individuals face while integrating into a primary care setting is confronting their own identity as therapists. Specifically, clinicians from historically marginalized groups may require additional support to navigate the unique culture of a medical environment. This session will focus on considerations for supervisors overseeing supervisees in an integrated care environment and will provide a framework for interventions that may be used in supervision. The goal is to promote clinicians’ professional development and empower them to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, serving as Behavioral Health Providers in the clinical setting."
Unlocking the Power of Communication: Understanding Code-Switching in Leadership
Charlece Bishop, MS
"While leadership styles vary, all require clear and effective communication to establish a stable work environment. This workshop offers an interactive and essential exploration of code-switching—a powerful communication tool that many professionals, particularly those from minority backgrounds, must navigate in today's diverse environments. It’s important to understand the psychological and emotional weight code-switching can carry by switching the way one speaks, behaves, and presents oneself to fit in. This raises the question: how can leaders create a more inclusive working environment where all team members feel included? As leaders, effective communication is key to building trust, fostering collaboration, and driving inclusivity within teams. By attending this workshop, you'll:
Broaden your cultural competency: Gain insight into the dynamics of language and behavior that shape professional and social interactions across cultures.
Learn how code-switching impacts leadership: Discover how adjusting communication styles can help leaders connect with diverse audiences and enhance their effectiveness.
Develop strategies for inclusive communication: Learn how to create a more inclusive work environment where all team members feel valued, regardless of their cultural background.
Whether you're looking to expand your leadership toolkit, build stronger cross-cultural relationships, or simply improve your communication skills, this workshop will provide you with practical tools to thrive in a multicultural world."
Beyond the Keynote: Deep Dive into Leadership & Innovation in Community Mental Health
Jermaine Lowery
Katrina Edmonds, MS
Natira Mullet, PhD
This breakout session will be a structured discussion in which attendees will rotate between small groups facilitated by panelists, engaging in focused conversations on key themes from the keynote.
Key Themes of the Panel: Leadership in Community Mental health, Innovative Approaches to Mental Health Care, Strength-Based Solutions for Marginalized Populations, Reducing Stigma and Enhancing Accessibility, Sustainable Community Partnerships & Systems Integration
Each panelist will lead one of the following themed discussions, providing real-world applications and guiding the conversation:
- Leadership in Community Mental Health Initiatives
- How do we develop leadership skills in grassroots mental health programs?
- What are examples of strong leadership driving change in underserved communities?
- How can we cultivate emerging leaders in this space?
- Integrating Innovation & Evidence-Based Practices
- What innovative models are currently shaping community mental health services?
- How do we bridge research with real-world applications in marginalized populations?
- What barriers exist to implementing new solutions, and how can we overcome them?
- Strength-Based Approaches to Mental Health & Substance Use
- How can we identify and leverage existing community strengths?
- What strategies work for reducing stigma in different cultural contexts?
- How can we integrate community voices into mental health initiatives?
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Unlocking Governance: The Surprising Key to Organizational Change
Erica E. Hartwell, PhD
Alex Iantaffi, PhD
Think governance is all rules and no results? Think again. This workshop will show you how great governance can drive real change and make your organization stronger. We'll break down the basics, share practical tips, and dive into real-life examples. You'll leave with fresh ideas and tools to build trust, stay aligned with your mission, and create a more inclusive, effective organization.
AI and Leadership in the Digital Age: Preparing MFT Leaders for the Future
Jay Burke, PsyD, Marital and Family Therapy
Ben Toubia, PsyD
Joshua Wyner, PhD
As technology continues to evolve, leaders in marriage and family therapy must be prepared to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to stay ahead. This session will address the ways AI is contributing to leadership by improving decision-making, enhancing effectiveness, and supporting strategic use of data. Participants will learn about practical applications of AI in leadership roles and explore strategies for ethical AI integration. Whether you are a current leader or aspiring to lead, this session will provide the tools and insights needed to navigate the future of leadership in a digital world.
Leading with Ethical Humility
Heather Laird, PsyD
This session discusses the importance of and how to lead with ethical humility. There has been a lot of discussion about cultural humility, but something that seems to be missed in that discussion is ethical humility. This session will cover what this might look like and how we can call more people in to treatment and destigmatize the mental health fields by readjusting our calculus as we think toward our future and future ethical code. This session will define ethical humility, steps needed to achieve it, and aspects we need to consider to embody it.
Where are the Relational, Systemic Approaches to Support Family Caregivers?
Carol Podgorski, PhD
The Family Caregiver Alliance estimates that there are approximately 43.5 million caregivers who provided unpaid care to an adult or child each year. Nearly 40 million caregivers (17% of Americans) provide care to adults over age 18 with a disability or illness, and 16 million adults care for a family member with dementia. Caregiving affects those providing care in profound ways, both positively and negatively. In addition, caregiving affects family and other interpersonal relationships, and impacts the community and larger society as well. Because family caregivers provide the equivalent of billions of dollars of care each year, federal and state governments as well as policy experts regard preservation and support of family caregivers as a top public health priority. The DHHS Administration on Community Living, along with the RAISE Commission, released a report filled with extensive recommendations and a companion tracker to measure progress. Despite these robust, comprehensive efforts, family caregivers continue to feel unsupported, isolated, and depleted both financially and personally. While marriage and family therapists (MFTs) have the systemic and relational skills to support family caregivers and to influence the systems and organizations that impact them, MFTs have by and large not entered these policy or practice arenas. Now that MFTs are able to enroll as Medicare providers access to serving many in the caregiver population has increased. This session will: describe the population of family caregivers in the US and their greatest needs; present examples of efforts by federal and state governments to meet these needs; highlight the gaps between what is being addressed through these initiatives and why family caregivers are not experiencing any relief; and showcase opportunities for MFTs to take leadership in addressing and raising awareness of needs of caregivers.
MFP Breakout Session: Confident Kids: Implementing a Family Psychoeducational Program in the Local Community
Mady Cheng
Family therapy has been a leader in clinical mental health supervision, consistently maintaining some of the highest standards in the field. In the past decade, mixed-reality simulation has redefined MFT supervision, enabling supervisors to teach in-session micro-skills in ways that were unfathomable only a few years prior. In this session, MFT supervisors and educators will learn how to maximize this new technology to benefit both students and clients.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Bridging Economic Justice and Innovation: Pioneering Business Models for Financial Viability in Mental Health
Veronica Viesca, PhD
Kim Nielson, MA
Nikki Isbell
In today’s evolving mental health landscape, financial sustainability is a growing concern for early-career professionals who often face economic disparities and limited support. This session explores the cutting-edge work at the Center for Mental Health Excellence (CFMHE), where a unique blend of business innovation and advocacy for economic justice has led to financially viable pathways for mental health practitioners. Co-speakers Veronica V., Kimberly N., and Nikki I. will explore how novel business models can disrupt traditional systems, providing equitable access to mental health careers while ensuring fiscal responsibility. Attendees will learn practical strategies for building a sustainable practice that prioritizes economic justice and supports early-career professionals as they navigate a financially secure future.
Leading without a Role: How to Support Family Therapy Leadership in Unexpected Ways
Rebecca (Becky) Cobb, PhD, LMFT
Tess Wiggins Goodfellow, MS, LMFT (In Memory)
Mike Fitzpatrick, MSW, LMFT
Many family therapists don’t have the time or capacity to serve in a formal leadership role (e.g., board, committee, supervisor). However, there are ways to lead without taking on one of these roles. The goal of this presentation is to help attendees identify ways in which to support leadership within the field of family therapy when they’re unable to do the work themselves. First, the presenters will share their own experience with leadership in the field of family therapy and their current circumstances which have paused their participation in formal leadership roles. Then, the presenters will share (1) the benefits of supporting leadership without serving in a leadership role, (2) strategies for helping to recruit new leaders in the field of family therapy, and (3) ways in which to support others in leadership roles without having to do much of the work themselves. Specific examples of leading without a role will be provided from each of the presenter’s recent experiences. Finally, the audience will discuss opportunities that they have to lead without taking on a formal leadership role.
Cultivating Authentic & Sustainable Leadership: Priorities, Boundaries, & Time Management Skills
Jackie Williams-Reade, PhD
"As emerging leaders in the field of marriage and family therapy (MFT), it is crucial to cultivate skills that foster both professional success and personal well-being. Learning how to navigate the challenges of leadership in MFT while maintaining your passion and preventing burnout are important for a long and fulfilling career that does not come at the cost of your personal goals and desires. This workshop will equip participants with essential strategies for setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and effectively managing time—skills often overlooked in graduate education but vital for sustainable leadership.
During this one-hour session, we will explore the importance of investing in our energy to enhance productivity and reduce stress. Participants will engage in interactive discussions and practical exercises that illustrate how well-defined boundaries can prevent burnout and lead to greater career satisfaction. For instance, we will conduct a goal-setting activity where attendees will identify their personal and professional priorities, followed by a time-blocking exercise that helps visualize how to allocate their time effectively.
Additionally, we will discuss the concept of “energy management” as it relates to the demands of work and the rest of life. Attendees will learn actionable strategies for recognizing their energy peaks and valleys, allowing for optimized productivity throughout the week. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a toolkit of skills and insights, including methods for setting clear boundaries, prioritizing tasks aligned with their values, and implementing time management techniques that promote a healthier work-life balance."
Using Clinical Skills to be a Leader in Mental Health Advocacy
Jaime Rodgriguez, LMFT
Did you know advocacy impacts you whether or not you impact advocacy? The world is built on strong leaders with varying views on topics that affect the health and well being of our community both in and outside of the therapy room. As MFTs we have a responsibility to ensure our field is progressing and growing in the best interest of the clients we serve. If you ask MFTs how they feel about advocacy work they often respond with "Where would I start?", "I don't have the time" and "I don't have the skills.". Many MFTs don't realize they have the natural skills to be an advocate and a little time can have a large impact. You will learn about the basics of advocacy, what being an advocate looks like in various settings and how to utilize the skills you already possess to step into your advocacy role in your own community. You will learn how to apply systemic clinical skills such as relationship building, systemic assessment and strategic intervention planning towards advocacy work and expand your systemic impact in the Mental Health Community.
* Updates will be made to this page up until the week of the event