2025 Awardees

The 2025 AAMFT Awards Committee received many thoughtful and inspiring nominations that highlight the important work being done by AAMFT members to advance the profession of marriage and family therapy. We thank the Committee, chaired by Heather Laird, PsyD, and comprised of members Rikki Patton, PhD, Kelly M. Roberts, PhD, Erin C. Schaefer, MAEd, Gita Seshadri, PhD, and Domonique L. Rice, PhD, for reviewing these nominees and selecting our winners.
	*Excellence in Media Award* Paul Hokemeyer, PhD Dr. Paul Hokemeyer believes #mentalhealthmatters for everyone, everywhere. A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in New York, he is also a graduate of the Global Leaders in Healthcare program at Harvard Medical School.
	*Excellence in Media Award* Tracey Laszloffy, PhD Tracey A. Laszloffy, PhD., maintains a private practice in individual, couple and family therapy in Norwich, Connecticut where she also directs her group practice, the Center for Healing Connections. She received her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University in New York. She has over 25 years of experience as a therapist and has been a Professor of Family Therapy within several accredited MFT graduate programs. Dr. Laszloffy has presented family therapy workshops and seminars both nationally and internationally on healing the wounds of trauma and oppression, working with troubled adolescents and their families, and promoting culturally sensitive approaches to therapy. She also has published extensively in academic journals and has co-authored five books including Teens Who Hurt, Raising Biracial Children, Eco-Informed Practice: Family Therapy in an Age of Ecological Peril, and You Can Go Home Again: Reconnecting with Your Family.
	Lifetime Achievement Award Dan Lord, PhD Daniel Lord is a native Kansan whose career path blended clinical pastoral education, family systems training, and the advancement of the Marriage and Family Therapy professional context. His contribution to the MFT field centered in Friends University’s COAMFTE accredited MSFT degree and the success of its graduates as Licensed MFTs. Dr. Lord balanced his commitment to MFT graduate education with leadership in KAMFT-AAMFT, state and national regulatory bodies, and MFT professional accreditation.
	Lifetime Achievement Award In Memoriam: Tresa (Tess) Wiggins Goodfellow, MS Tresa (Tess) Wiggins Goodfellow, MS, was a deeply respected and cherished member of the marriage and family therapy community. Based in Seattle, Washington, Tess dedicated more than 35 years to the field as a skilled and compassionate therapist, specializing in helping individuals and families navigate meaningful relationships and life transitions. Tess generously served the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and later brought her insight and leadership to the national level as a valued board member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), completing two terms—her second as an officer of the association. In recognition of her extraordinary dedication, she was honored with AAMFT’s Outstanding Service Award in 2018. A strong advocate for the field’s growth and integrity, Tess was also a supporter of the Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems (FAHS). Her warmth, commitment, and lasting contributions continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.

The 2025 FAHS Awards Committee received many thoughtful and inspiring nominations that highlight the important work being done by AAMFT members to advance the profession of marriage and family therapy. We thank the Committee, chaired by Erin C. Schaefer, MAEd, and comprised of members Sarah Lyon, PhD, Isha D. Williams, PhD, and Heather Laird, PsyD, for reviewing these nominees and selecting our winners.
	*Outstanding Research Publication Award* “Naming and Navigating Matters: Family Therapists’ Perspectives Facilitating Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices With Latino Parents" Melissa Yzaguirre, PhD, LMFT Melissa Yzaguirre, PhD, LMFT, is an assistant professor at the University of San Diego dedicated to advancing culturally relevant practices in therapy with Latino families. Her work centers on integrating ethnic-racial socialization into clinical practice to help families navigate the impacts of discrimination and foster resilience across generations. Through qualitative inquiry and community-engaged research, she elevates the lived experiences of Latino parents and therapists to inform inclusive, systemic change. Dr. Yzaguirre’s scholarship positions family therapy as a space for healing, empowerment, and cultural affirmation.
	*Dissertation Award* “Perceived Barriers to Care, Resilience, and Stress in Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)” Chrystal N. McDowell, PhD Dr. Chrystal N. McDowell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Director of Group Mental Health Programs at the FSU Multidisciplinary Center. She specializes in group-based interventions supporting emotional regulation in neurodiverse children and leads clinic-wide efforts to enhance caregiver involvement in treatment. Her research focuses on family resilience and systemic barriers to care for families of children with autism. Born in Macon, Georgia, Chrystal is a fan of fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games, and enjoys life in Tallahassee with her fiancé and their two pets, Zeke and Zoey.
	Dissertation Award “Do relationship investment plans increase couples’ commitment to therapy?” Brady C. Eisert, PhD Brady completed his MS in Statistics and PhD specialization in Couple and Family Therapy at Kansas State University in 2024. His work centers on romantic relationship processes and therapeutic change, framed by Self‐Determination Theory. He provides statistical consulting to clinicians, students, and faculty. He is also an AAMFT‐Approved Supervisor and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (JMFT).
	Dissertation Award “Parentification and the Protective Factor of Familismo in the Latine Community” Leury Peña, PhD Dr. Leury Peña earned a doctorate in Couple and Family Therapy from Antioch University, New England in 2024, with a dissertation titled, “Parentification and the Protective Factor of Familismo in the Latine Community.” This significant research explores the complexities of parentification in Latine households and highlights how familismo can serve as a protective factor against its challenges. With extensive experience in various environments, including healthcare settings and private practices, Dr. Peña utilizes a collaborative, client-centered, and systemic approach to foster meaningful therapeutic relationships. Committed to uplifting underserved communities, particularly Latine and Hispanic populations, Dr. Peña is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and creating a culturally sensitive, supportive space for healing and growth.
	Diversity Award for Emerging Leaders Atlas Briar Willow Atlas Willow, is a third-year graduate student in the Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy Master’s Program within the College of Counseling and Education at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. They’re passionate about social justice work, serving the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and paving the way for future AAMFT professionals from marginalized communities to become fulfilled, successful marriage and family therapists. In their personal life, you’ll find them spending time with friends, exploring the forest, or snuggling with their cats at home with a cup of tea.
	Diversity Award for Emerging Leaders Austin Gage Austin is a queer, biracial, cisgender man working at The LGBTQ Center Orange County as a Marriage & Family Therapist Trainee. He is passionate about serving LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. His therapeutic approach is client-centered, strength-based, and grounded in positive psychology and liberation psychology. Austin’s goal in treatment is to empower clients to become their own therapists.

Awards

2025 Awardees