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The Redwood Empire Therapist

RECAMFT's Online Newsletter

September 2026

This month's event - please mark your calendars and REGISTER NOW! 

Join us for some great events this fall! 

Puzzle partially completedGetting Unstuck: Hard-to-Identify OCD Symptoms that Can Prevent Treatment Progress

Presented by

Brian Crites, LMFT &

Litsa Tanner, LMFT

Friday, Sept. 18th, 2026
9:00 am - 12:00 pm PT

Zoom, 2.5 CEs

Everybody knows about contamination and excessive washing OCD, however, the lesser known, and harder to differentiate subtypes of OCD, such as harm, sexual, and suicidal obsessions, can cause treatment challenges, and stump even the most seasoned of clinicians. This presentation will help clinicians gain the knowledge and confidence necessary to differentiate between OCD and other mental health disorders with similar presentations. This will enable therapists to identify and engage the most effective treatments for their clients, leading to better outcomes, less client drop outs, and less therapist burnout. This course is appropriate for all clinicians of all experience levels.

About our speakers

Brian Crites, LMFTBrian Crites, LMFT has been specializing in working with anxiety disorders and OCD since 2014. He began his career at Santa Rosa Center for CBT where he received extensive training in the treatment of anxiety disorders, OCD, and OC spectrum disorders including Trichotillomania and Compulsive Skin Picking. Outside of working at SRCBT, he has worked at Kaiser Permanente's Child Psychiatry Department where he facilitated their OCD group therapy for adolescents, and where he provided extensive trainings on the diagnosis and treatment of OCD. Additionally, he is a member of IOCDF as well as The Trichotillomania Learning Center and has presented at their annual conference. Brian has served on the Board of Directors of RECAMFT since 2025.


Litsa Tanner, LMFTLitsa Tanner, LMFT began her career as a therapist in 1998, treating children, adolescents, and adults. Although she has used a variety of therapeutic approaches over the years, she has always been drawn to the practical skills based nature of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (CBT). Consistently she found that when using CBT, her clients got better faster and reported higher levels of overall satisfaction with their therapy. Over time she began to focus her personal development as a therapist predominantly in the use of CBT and continues to do so today. She feels that the learning process as a therapist never ends. She consults regularly with experts in the field and attends advanced trainings in CBT in order to provide the highest quality of services possible.She received advanced training in the treatment of OCD from Drs. Paul and Arna Munford, and was a clinical staff member at the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center for OCD & Anxiety. She is also a graduate of the Trichotillomania Learning Center Professional Training Institute.

Register here.

Expressive Arts Therapy: Creative Interventions

Two women drawing.

Presented by

Danielle Saporta, LMFT

Friday, October 2nd, 2026

9:00 am - 12:30 pm PT

3 CEs - On Zoom

This foundational course is designed for therapists at any stage of their career who wish to deepen their understanding of trauma-informed expressive arts approaches and explore how creative interventions may support meaningful therapeutic work with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Through experiential activities, participants will learn about expressive arts modalities and consider client needs, readiness, safety, and trauma-informed principles, while also attending to scope of practice and professional competence. No prior expressive arts experience is necessary, and minimal materials are required—a writing utensil and paper are sufficient, though participants are welcome to bring additional art materials. This course does not constitute training or credentialing in art therapy or qualify participants to practice outside their existing scope of competence.

Danielle Saporta, LMFTDanielle Saporta, LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a passion for using the arts, play, humor, and connection as vehicles for transformation and healing. Practicing in Sonoma, CA, she specializes in trauma-informed Expressive Arts Therapy and treat kids, teens, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship and stage of life changes, new motherhood, job stress, trauma, grief and loss.

Danielle received her masters in Expressive Arts Therapy from California Institute of Integral Studies in 2015 and when not seeing clients or providing clinical supervision at community mental health non-profit, trains other therapists, educators, and behavioral health workers to implement the arts into their practices.

Register here. 

Questioning woman, orange shirt, with colorful question mark above her."Where do I start?" Launching and sustaining a private practice

    When: Sat., Oct. 24
    Time: 9 am to 12 pm
    Where: Zoom
    Who: Prelicensed masters/doctoral students, trainees, and associates, and licensed clinicians, too!

      So, you want to start a private practice? Thinking about launching a practice - or ready to reinvigorate the one you already have? RECAMFT is here to offer support and understanding of the nuts and bolts of starting, building, and sustaining a private practice in today’s environment.

      The RECAMFT Prelicensed Committee hosts and sponsors a 3-hour workshop focused on the practical side of private practice, including:

      • Operations: Understanding systems, workflow, and the day-to-day flow of private practice
      • Taking insurance: Navigating the ins and outs of insurance
      • Sustainable marketing: Planning and building effective marketing strategies and habits
      • And more: Practical considerations for building and sustaining a successful practice

      The workshop will feature RECAMFT Prelicensed Committee members sharing helpful insights, experiences, and lessons learned from building and sustaining their own practices, along with three experts from our community! 

      Expert Commentators

      • Lori L. Crowley, LMFT, LPCC 
      • Tatra-Li de la Rosa, LMFT 
      • Kira S. Kayler, LMFT, Author 

      Cost

      • RECAMFT members - no charge
      • Marin CAMFT members (you need a code) - no charge
      • Prelicensed non-members - $25
      • Licensed non-members - $50

      Find out more here! 



      TABLE of CONTENTS

      Click any section to jump to the article.

      Featured member


      Did you miss the BBS-MANDATED  3 CE Telehealth course? 

      Woman on computer

      Telehealth: Law & Ethics, Technology, and Best Practices for Connecting with Your Clients with Dr. Lisa Wenninger, PhD, LPCC, BC-TMH

      Catch it on video here, and get your mandated 3 Telehealth CEs.           Return to top

      RECAMFT Rainbow Rings logo

      RECAMFT's Mission Statement

      The purpose of RECAMFT is to promote and maintain professional competence and integrity with knowledge, innovation, compassion, humor and respect for human dignity and diversity.

      We do this by providing opportunities for networking, education and community outreach for our members. (Note: "For our members" was added to the Mission Statement by the Bylaws Task Force on May 19, 2025). 


      Looking up at faces of group of people holding their fingers out to connect in a star shape

      Sept. CARE Circle (Compassion, Acknowledgement, Recharge, Empower - formerly Compassion Fatigue) Support Group Meeting


      Are you creative? Please join us for our Makers Guild (formerly Crafting Group)!

      Yosemite the Autumn Dragon by Tara D'Orazio, LMFT

      Bring any craft you like, get on Zoom with us and visit with your colleagues while we knit, sew, paint, draw, cook, create, etc.

      Join us at our next meeting:

      • Fri., Sept. 11th, 11:30 am -12:30 pm
      • Second Friday monthly
      • Register here                    
         Return to top

      President's Message

      Passion

      By Pat Hromalik, LMFT

      2026 RECAMFT President

      Dear RECAMFT Community: 

      Welcome back to RECAMFT after our summer break. I hope you have been able to relax and enjoy the weather and the fruits of summer!

      While your RECAMFT board tried to take a break in July and August, we’ve actually been busy with several important events. On August 8th the Board had its annual retreat where we looked at the initiatives we set out for 2026 and evaluated our progress. (See our group photo below.) Through our evaluation we continued to grapple with the questions around engagement:

      • What makes RECAMFT relevant to our members?
      • How do we engage effectively with multiple generations of members?
      • Can we accept that with the diversity of needs and interests that we cannot be all things to all members?

      We are still in discussion on these questions along with the practical side of where to put our limited resources (time, energy, money) for the rest of 2026 and into 2027. We welcome your thoughts - email me at info@recamft.org


      One key point raised in the discussion around engagement was about how easy it can be to work on something when we are passionate about it. We pointed to the Racial and Social Justice Committee under the leadership of Past President, Emily Larkin, as an example of an energized group who rallies around our involvement in PRIDE and Lez-A-Palooza and is now discussing education around working with the marginalized who are incarcerated.

      This summer, Elle Saunders, Director at Large, volunteered to organize and chair the launch of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) because she has a passion around working with spirituality. She and fellow board member, Jenny Patterson-Kerr who also shares the same passion will be co-chairing the Spirituality SIG that will be launching this fall.

      I am excited about two activities that I am personally working on that I have deep care and passion about. I’ve been involved with Prelicensed support since joining Marin CAMFT in 2011 and RECAMFT in 2014 when I became the Prelicensed Chairperson. I’ve been passionate about financially supporting our Prelicensed and newly licensed members through our Scholarship program from its inception. I love interacting with Prelicensed members, finding out about their journey, what they are interested / passionate about and answering their questions. I am currently part of a team creating a workshop for Prelicensed and Newly licensed members called, "Where do I start?" Launching and Sustaining a Private Practice that will be offered on October 24th ( see https://www.recamft.org/event-6791226).

      I also have a passion for couple therapy work, one of my specializations, so I have volunteered to partner with member Chaela Stewart to co-chair a SIG on Couple Therapy, also launching this fall. I can’t wait for our first in-person meeting and to engage with other therapists passionate about this topic. If you are passionate about something – an idea, an event, a SIG and are willing to do the work to bring this into fruition, please email me or Info@RECAMFT.org.

      “Passion is energy.

      Feel the power that comes from focusing

      on what excites you.”

      – Oprah Winfrey

      With gratitude and passion, 

      Pat Hromalik, LMFT

      2026 RECAMFT President

      Pat Hromalik, LMFT, President, RECAMFT.org

      Pat Hromalik, LMFT is the President of RECAMFT's Board of Directors. She has a private practice in Petaluma, CA.

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      Please note: our new email address is info@recamft.org. 


      How to edit your Short Description which appears in our

      Therapist Directory in 4 easy steps! 


      Screenshot of Edit Profile

      1. Log into your RECAMFT account.
      2. On your profile page click the orange Edit Profile button.
      3. On the Edit Profile page, scroll down near the bottom of the page to the Short Description (which is just above the Long Description). Make changes to it.
      4. Click the orange SAVE button at the top of your profile. Now you will have a short description of your practice appearing in our directory!

      Questions? info@recamft.org

      Kim Ives Hicks, LMFT, CGP advertisement


      Congratulations to the 2026 Joe and Pamela Ward Memorial Scholarship Winners! 

      The Scholarship and Awards Committee is delighted to introduce the recipients of our 2026 Joe and Pamela Ward Memorial Scholarships for prelicensed and newly licensed RECAMFT members! With funds raised throughout the year by our wonderful therapist community, we are able to support emerging clinicians with scholarships of $1,000. Each year we aim to provide this significant gesture of support to two prelicensed clinicians and one newly licensed clinician. We could not do this without the incredible support of members like you. Thank you for helping us invest in the next generation of local clinicians. Let me introduce you to our award winners!

      Winner of the Newly Licensed Scholarship

      Caitlin Blair, LCSWCaitlin Blair, LCSW, is a newly licensed clinical social worker in solo private practice with a strong focus on culturally responsive mental health care. A multiethnic Chinese American and daughter of an immigrant, she earned her Master of Social Welfare from UC Berkeley after working as a case manager for older adults in Los Angeles. Before becoming licensed she continued serving older adults and adults with disabilities through the County of Sonoma. She became licensed in January 2025 and opened her telehealth practice, Tiny Cottage Therapy, in California and Washington.

      Her clinical focus is on AAPI, multiracial, mixed-heritage, multicultural, and third-culture adults, particularly those experiencing anxiety, burnout, and the challenges of navigating multiple cultural identities. She hopes to complete formal IFS Level 1 training to deepen her IFS-informed clinical work. Beyond private practice, she facilitates an AAPI Caregiver Support Group and hopes to expand community-based, culturally responsive mental health services for underserved populations.

      Winners of the Prelicensed Scholarships

      Rudy Tescallo, AMFTRudolph (Rudy) Tescallo, AMFT has more than a decade of experience in the mental health field. His career began in 2014 as a volunteer with the San Francisco Suicide Prevention Center, followed by a BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University and counseling roles in foster care and outpatient mental health. He earned his master’s degree through CIIS’s Somatic Psychology program and currently works at a community clinic in Sonoma County while completing the path toward licensure.

      His professional interests have been shaped by extensive experience with serious mental illness, suicidality, community mental health, and somatic approaches to therapy, as well as personal experience navigating financial hardship and barriers to accessing effective care. He is committed to making therapy financially accessible and hopes to remain rooted in collaborative, community-based practice. His long-term goals include becoming licensed, supervising future trainees, and eventually helping operate an integrated community mental health clinic modeled after his positive training experience at Lomi Clinic in Santa Rosa.

      Monica Najera, Student, SSU CMHC Graduate ProgramMonica Najera is a bicultural Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student at Sonoma State University with six years of experience supporting individuals with significant mental health, behavioral, and neurological needs. She has worked in special education and Counseling Enriched Programs, where she advocated for student accommodations.

      She is particularly passionate about reducing stigma and supporting people experiencing psychosis and bipolar-related disorders. Her clinical goal is to become a therapist specializing in these populations, bringing both professional knowledge and lived experience to her work. She will soon begin a traineeship at Canyon Manor, working with clients with severe mental health conditions.


      Please join us in congratulating Caitlin, Rudy, and Monica! We are honored to support these three clinicians as they continue their training, deepen their work, and serve our North Bay community.

      Our Joe and Pamela Ward Memorial Scholarship application period opens every January. We hope that if you are eligible to apply you will consider submitting your application in 2027. You can find out more about how to apply and read about past winners on our Scholarships page. [https://recamft.org/Scholarship]

      We also encourage all prelicensed RECAMFT members nearing their exams to enter our monthly scholarship partnership with Therapist Development Center (TDC). The Tzedekah scholarship is issued to one applicant every month, September to June, and provides $250 toward exam prep materials through TDC. Learn more on our Scholarships pageReturn to top


      Check out RECAMFT's Summer Events: Pride Parade and Lez-A-Palooza

      Pride Parade and booth photos from Courthouse Square, June 6, 2026. Various RECAMFT member photographers. We handed out cards at the booth with sayings on the front, and a link to our Therapist Directory on the back. The cards had various sayings, such as "You are enough" and "You are worthy".  We had a wheel people could spin to choose a prize giveaway (various Pride swag items).  We marched in the parade with Redwood Psychological Association for the third year in a row. 

      Lez-A-Palooza photos from Courthouse Square, June 21, 2026. Various RECAMFT member photographers. We handed out cards at the booth with sayings on the front, and a link to our Therapist Directory on the back. The cards had various sayings, such as "You are enough" and "You are worthy".  We had a wheel people could spin to choose a prize giveaway (various Pride swag items). 

      Thank you to our Racial and Social Justice Committee for planning this year's two Pride events! Thanks to: 



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      Red Show Ticket

      FREE to Members - Visit our On-Demand CE Video Library! 

      Multiple new ONLINE offeringsFind all the latest here (including 6 CEs Law & Ethics)


      Check it out! RECAMFT's On-Demand CE Library link: https://recamft.thinkific.com/

      On-Demand CE Video Library - most programs FREE to members! 

      Julie Frumin, LMFTCatch "Mental Wellness in the Digital Age with Julie Frumin, LMFT (on-demand)  - FREE to members! 

      In today's digitally-driven world, technology plays an integral role in our daily lives, often blurring the lines between healthy and unhealthy use. This talk offers therapists a comprehensive understanding of the psychological impact of technology on mental health, particularly in children and adolescents. We will explore evidence-based strategies for promoting intentional and balanced technology use, delve into clinical tools for addressing media addiction, and discuss the importance of fostering digital literacy and critical thinking. Attendees will leave equipped with practical interventions to support clients in developing a healthier relationship with technology, ultimately enhancing their well-being and family dynamics.

      Julie Frumin, LMFT has provided mental health support to individuals, couples and families. She holds a Masters degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. In addition, Julie is the Mental Wellness expert at The Four Seasons Center for Health and Wellbeing in Westlake Village, California, where she creates and provides workshops that help couples, families and organizations connect to their purpose, their goals and each other. Her most recent project is called ‘Healthier-Tech’, which began in 2023 after she could no longer stay quiet about the youth mental health crisis and its connection to compulsive technology use. She currently leads workshops for parents, families and schools, where she encourages intentional, balanced technology use. She leads the Conejo Valley Chapter of MAMA, Moms Against Media Addiction.

      To see a preview of this dynamic program... CLICK HERE.

      Movie camera and filmMembers - you can access recordings of our zoom events from 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021  in our new on-demand library which has been migrated over to Thinkific (https://recamft.thinkific.com/).

      Topic List 

      Addiction 

      Anxiety & Depression

      Couples

      Culture

      Eating Disorders

      Ketamine Law & Ethics 

      LGBTQ+ 

      Neuro-Biological 

      Sleep

      Members can watch the video, pass the test, fill out the evaluation, and download your certificate. It's that easy! You can earn CEs for any recorded event if you didn't already earn CEs from the live event. And our RECAMFT Thinkific platform keeps track of all your CEs and Certificates!   Return to top

      Prelicensed Support - 3000 Hour Club

      Exciting Prelicensed events planned for Fall 2026! 

      Hello RECAMFT Pre Licensed members, we have some exciting events planned for the fall! 


      We will be hosting an informal meet and greet and networking gathering Sat., Sept. 12th at Brew Coffee and Beer, 555 Healdsburg Ave, Santa Rosa. This is an opportunity to connect with other pre-licensed members, to network, and share community. The gathering is open to any pre-licensed folk- students, trainees, and associates whether or not you are a member of RECAMFT. 

      Additionally, the pre-licensed committee is sponsoring a workshop about starting a private practice titled “Where Do I Start? Launching and Sustaining a Private Practice.” This event is an opportunity to get an overview of the various aspects of starting a private practice and will include local clinicians who have launched thriving practices themselves, sharing their expertise. It is a free workshop for RECAMFT members. Additional info can be found here: https://www.recamft.org/event-6791226 

      If you have any questions or concerns about the road to licensure, and how RECAMFT can help, or want to connect with Brian, please email info@recamft.org.

      Professor Brian Crites, LMFTBrian Crites, LMFT, he/him

      Chair, Prelicensed Committee

      RECAMFT Director at Large

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      Scholarships, Honors and Awards

      Scholarships for Pre-Licensed and

      Newly Licensed Members

      Money sign

      We’re offering two scholarships to support our pre-licensed and newly licensed members:

      • The Joe & Pamela Ward Memorial Scholarship offers three $1,000 awards and a free RECAMFT membership. Opens: Jan. 1st.  Deadline: May 15th.

      • The Tzedakah Scholarship, in partnership with Therapist Development Center (TDC), offers $250 toward exam prep materials. Winners are drawn monthly through the end of 2026.

      Learn more and apply at recamft.org/scholarship    Return to top

      Clay figure with sign stating "Emeritus Memberships Available?. Emeritus Membership is now available! 

      Are you retired, age 65+, and have been a RECAMFT member for 5 years, and CAMFT member for 10 years? If so, you might qualify for our new Emeritus Membership. If you want to just offer consultation to other therapists, but don't offer therapy, you can even appear in the directory.  More: https://www.recamft.org/emeritus

      Programs Committee Update

      Hello RECAMFT community! We are so excited to share some of the upcoming monthly CE events.


      First of all, a big thank you to Brooke Ransom-Burr who has joined our Programs Committee as its Co-chair! Thank you so much, Brooke!! 


      RECAMFT Zoom presentations

      • September - Brian Crites and Litza Tanner, CBT topic
      • October - Daniella Saporta - Expressive Arts Therapy
      • November - Dene Carrol - Supporting Couples through separation
      • December - Kara Cruz - Supporting Penopause (male menopause)
      We are reviewing applications for presentations to be scheduled for Spring 2027. Please submit an application if you have a presentation idea to info@recamft.org.

      Are you interested in seeing what we have coming up? Consider microvolunteering with the Programs & Conferences Committee! Microvolunteering opportunities: providing support at in person CE events; driving outreach to potential speakers for CE events; writing up a short article about each presentation for the newsletter ("What You Missed"), and more! Reach out to info@recamft.org if you have ideas of how you'd like to help out.

      We look forward to another year of bringing you quality, enriching presentations which support your professional growth and development.

      With gratitude, 

      Brooke Ransom-Burr, LMFTBrooke Ransom-Burr, LMFT, she/her Programs Co-chair

      Programs Committee




      Gwendolyn Watson, LMFT

      Gwendolyn Watson, LMFT, she/her

      Programs Co-chair

      Programs Committee

      RECAMFT Director at Large

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      RECAMFT's Racial and Social Justice Pledge

      RECAMFT Rainbow Rings logoRECAMFT is committed to equity including addressing structural racism and systemic injustice. We endeavor to be inclusive and value individuals from all ethnicities, ages, races, sexual orientations, genders, languages, abilities, religions, citizenship statuses, and socioeconomic backgrounds into our chapter and into treatment.

      We strive to advocate, educate, collaborate, and strategize for positive racial and social justice change within our membership and our community.

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      Check out RECAMFT's Library page for books authored by our members!


      Have you written a book? Be sure to let us know so we can include it on our Library page. Email info@recamft.org

      Book with rings and pages folded into heart shape



      More upcoming events

      Upcoming events

      Featured member


      RECAMFT's Listserv For All! Check it out! 


      Dog with laptopOur listserv has around 400 members on it, and is active daily with great conversations, resources, offerings, in search of, books, movies, office rentals, jobs, internships, etc. You can view the home page of our listserv at https://groups.io/g/recamft.

      If you are not currently enrolled in the listserv, please email therapy@recamft.org and ask to be added. You have the option of setting up your account to be 

          • Read individual emails
          • Read a digest of 12 emails
          • Or read online only

      After you have been added to the listserv, you can change the way you receive the emails to any of the above choices. In Gmail the emails will appear under your Forums tab. To send an email to the listserv, simply address your email to recamft@groups.io


      If you do not want to be on our listserv, you can delete your account or write to info@recamft.org and ask to not be a part of the listserv. But we urge you to give it a try. You are missing out on a ton of meaningful collaboration with your colleagues. We hope you will enjoy being part of our online community! 

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      Please note: our new email address is info@recamft.org. 


      Advertise Jobs here!

      Contact info@recamft.org to advertise a job. 

      Featured member

      Highlights from RECAMFT's Board of Directors

      June 12th, 2026 Board Meeting on Zoom

      • President welcomed the Board to our meeting. No members were in attendance. 
      • Up to $1300 was approved for a legal consult regarding RECAMFT's risk of reverse DEI lawsuits. The monies will be taken from reserves.  
      • Up to $500 was set aside to reimburse travel expenses for the August 8th Board Retreat. This money will be used to help defray costs the CFO incurs to travel to our in-person Board meetings from SoCal.  
      • It was decided to sponsor a RECAMFT Chapter table at the CAMFT Fall Symposium on Oct. 16th in San Jose. 
      • There are jobs available in the prison system. The Board decided to have the Racial and Social Justice Committee (RSJC) compose a statement about this before posting a job listing.  
      • Brooke Ransom-Burr has agreed to be the Co-chair of the Programs Committee. Thank you, Brooke! 
      • The Scholarship Committee has awarded the Joe & Pamela Ward Scholarships: Newly Licensed winner is Caitlin Blair, LCSW; Prelicensed winners are Monica Najera (student), and Rudolph (Rudy) Tescalo, AMFT. Congrats to our winners! 
      • Brian Crites, Prelicensed Committee Chair, reported the committee is making plans to hold a workshop on how to start a private practice this fall.
      • We are participating in both the Pride Parade with a booth, and Lez-a-Palooza on June 21st with a booth as a form of outreach to the community. There will be swag and cards to giveaway which have a nice message on one side, and a QR code to RECAMFT's directory on the other. 
      • Tara D'Orazio (who recently joined the CAMFT Board as a Director at Large) said at the CAMFT meeting, the CAMFT Prelicensed Committee has noticed there is a brewing concern in not having enough trainee internship sites. She also learned we are the only license that allows trainees to do clinical work. Brian Crites said finding trainee sites is a huge problem because places who are seeking to use prelicensed labor, often have high acuity patients, and do not provide the best supervision, and are putting clients and trainees at risk.  
      • Note: Board meeting Agendas and Minutes are available on the Members Only page. 

      Photo of the June 2026 Zoom Board meeting by Laura Strom.

      Screenshot of RECAMFT Board Zoom Meeting, June 12, 2026

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      August 8th Day-long Annual Board Retreat

      On August 8th, the Board held its annual Board Retreat at the home of President Pat Hromalik in Petaluma. The day included creating collages, analyzing our progress on the goals of the Strategic Plan the Board adopted in 2025, lunch and a sound healing ceremony with Michelle Minero, LMFT. There will be more on this in the future.  In the meantime, here are some photos of the event. 

      2026 Board (missing Elle Saunders)


      Board discussion



      More discussion


      Michelle Minero, LMFT sound healing



      We love our Community Partners and Sponsors! 



      Supporters & Sponsors - We appreciate you! 


      MEN SonomaCountyMEN.org ad

      Please note: our new email address is info@recamft.org. 


      Find out more about advertising with RECAMFT here

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      Rose Recovery Outpatient Drug-Free Program by Siyan Care

      Featured member

      Featured member

      Volunteer Corner - our volunteers ROCK!!! 

      Can you help? Jobs for Awesome Volunteers

      PROGRAMS Committee needs

      Colorful raised handsPrograms Advertising/ Social Media manager

      ·  Work with the Programs committee to promote events

      ·   One hour per month.

       

      Programs Non CE event Coordinator

      · One hour per month plus time at the events one or two times per year.

       

      Programs Committee Member

      ·  One hour per month plus – support the committee and its members

       

      RACIAL and SOCIAL JUSTICE Committee needs

       

      RSJC Members (Openings for 2+)

      ·  One hour per month and a little more when we are involved in community events or launching a project.

       

      MEMBERSHIP Committee needs

      Social Media Volunteer

      ·  Post monthly events to LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.

      ·  One hour per month


      Membership Committee Members (Openings for 6+)

      ·  Participate in committee meetings

      ·  One hour per month

        Please send an email to info@recamft.org if you can help.     

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        This month we'd like to thank the following awesome volunteers who, in addition to our Board of Directors, are helping us plan future events! 


        Members Meeting Committee - thank you to all these wonderful volunteers are planning our next networking event!  

        Prelicensed PREP Committee

        Thank you to our volunteers who help make RECAMFT great! 

        Ethics Roundtable

        Got a sticky problem?

        Come discuss it confidentially with your colleagues at our next Ethics Roundtable


        Not consultation, just a great way to get some ideas about how to handle your sticky case. Friendly and open group.  Learn more here.

        Gina Culver, LMFTHosted by Gina Culver, LMFT, she/they. Thank you, Gina! 

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        RECAMFT Rainbow Rings logo


        Members Messages

        Members please submit your messages by the 15th monthly to have them appear in the Newsletter

        (500 word maximum)

        Book Review: Parenting with Self-Compassion: 12 Ways to Improve your Parenting While Being Kind to Yourself

        By Hannah Caratti, LMFT, RECAMFT member

        Parenting with Self Compassion, by Jen FerrisI recently read a wonderful book entitled Parenting with Self-Compassion: 12 Ways to Improve your Parenting While Being Kind to Yourself by my friend and colleague, Dr. Jen Ferris, PhD.  Dr. Ferris is a former professor of child development and mother of two teens who lives in Marin County with her family.  In the book, she expresses empathy and understanding for parents who feel stretched thin, overwhelmed, guilty or exhausted.   She also offers practical tools that can help parents let go of perfectionism, build better relationships with their children and utilize tools for self-acceptance that can translate into healthier lives for parents and their children.

        One thing I love about this book is it is relevant for anyone in any relationship--it’s about how to relate well to others, how to understand things from their viewpoint, and how to interact in positive ways even when things are challenging. She explains that when we are mindfully kind and caring to ourselves, even during difficult moments, it can help us be more kind and caring to those around us.

        Another part of the book I thoroughly enjoyed was the bonus chapter about meditation. Even though I have studied and practiced meditation for decades and led a weekly Meditation Group for 10 years, I found myself writing down her recommendations of various meditation websites / apps, and specific creators of meditation videos.

        Here is a phrase from her own writings:

        “In hard times, self-compassion let’s us talk to ourselves with kindness,

        be aware of how we’re feeling and why, and know that we aren’t alone."

        All in all, I highly recommend this book, especially for parents, whether they be first-time parents of infants or seasoned parents of teens. Even those of us who are not parents can benefit greatly from this book!

        Below are recommendations from readers that I found to be right on target:

        • “This book is warm and practical. A lovely read for parents or for anyone who wants to better understand emotions, relationships, and themselves.”
        • “This book is thoughtful, reassuring, and incredibly supportive. It reminds parents that taking care of themselves isn’t selfish—it actually helps them become calmer, more present, and more connected with their children. A truly comforting and empowering read.”
        • “I’ll definitely be coming back to it whenever I need a reminder to take a breath and cut myself some slack.”
        • “This book was a breath of fresh air because it reminded me that I’m not alone, and that it’s okay to be human.”
        • “It highlights how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and self-compassion can create calmer reactions, stronger relationships, and a more peaceful home environment.”
        • “Highly recommended for parents who want more peace, connection, and confidence in their parenting journey.”

        Here below are recommendations from other professionals:

        • “A quick-read survival guide for busy parents.”   Corinne Crossley, author of Self-Care for New Moms.
        • “Packed with actionable, non-judgmental practical advice and support from an expert source, this book is a comprehensive guide to showing up for our kids in a way that feels good for us all.”   Shawna Morales, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of Breathe Mama Breathe and Don’t Forget to Breathe.
        • “Every parent needs this book!”  Michelle C Brooten-Brooks, therapist and health writer.

        Hannah Caratti, LMFTHannah Caratti, LMFT, has a private practice in Santa Rosa.   

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        Link to our Therapy Groups page and a PDF of current offerings - RECAMFT.ORG/Therapy-Groups

        CLICK HERE to learn more about local group offerings, and payment to advertise your group. 

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        Past President's Notepad

        See all our Past Presidents here.

        RECAMFT Summer Updates

        by Emily Larkin, LMFT, RECAMFT Racial and Social Justice Committee (RSJC) Chair

        2026 RECAMFT Past President

        Welcome back RECAMFTers! I hope this message finds you well-rested after some time away during the summer months. While the summer is a time to relax, your Racial & Social Justice Committee (RSJC) has been busy behind the scenes.

        June was a busy month for the RSJC! This was RSJC’s 3rd year participating in PRIDE festivities in Santa Rosa, and our first year tabling at Lez-A-Polooza and walking in the Dyke March. I am so proud of the participation and action of our members who showed up to support our LGBTQ+ community. We were able to speak directly with attendees who visited our booths about mental health, including directing those in need to appropriate services and resources. I feel so proud of how we showed up! Our committee is continually discussing additional ways we may be of service to the marginalized and underrepresented. We are hoping to participate in other events in the future and be a reliable referral resource to the broader community.


        In late June and July, the RSJC began discussing a new and exciting educational opportunity for therapists both within and outside of RECAMFT. The RSJC is in the process of supporting our programs committee in hosting a CE training on working with incarcerated individuals and their families. This passion project was sparked by in-depth conversations about the importance of understanding the unique experiences of those impacted by the incarceration system, even for those who have never been incarcerated themselves. Keep an eye out for a training on this topic coming in early 2027! If you are interested in helping bring this event to life, please reach out to me at emily@emilylarkintherapy.com.

        I am grateful for RECAMFT’s leadership team for their commitment to increasing representation and prioritizing inclusivity. I want to especially thank our Programs Committee for their dedication to featuring more trainers from diverse backgrounds and requiring presentations to address the unique systemic struggles faced by underrepresented communities.

        Our organization is always looking for unique, interesting topics for our trainings! If you have an idea for a presentation topic, have a speaker to suggest, or are interested in speaking on a topic yourself, please reach out to our Programs Director at recamftprograms@gmail.com.

        RECAMFT and the RSJC are focused on our organization’s ongoing development and on supporting our members in providing affirming mental health care to the community by offering the most up-to-date educational opportunities possible. We welcome ongoing feedback about our efforts to make RECAMFT a safe space for all. If you have any questions, concerns, or shout-outs, please feel free to share your thoughts with us at info@recamft.org. We are here to listen and grow.

        Emily Larkin, LMFT

        RECAMFT Past President

        RECAMFT RSJC Chair

        Emily Larkin, LMFTEmily Larkin, LMFT, is RECAMFT's 2026 Past President. She has a private practice in Sebastopol, CA.   

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        Thank you for reading this month's newsletter! RECAMFT is great because of involved members like you!!

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        Please note: our new email address is info@recamft.org. 

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