Christina Castorena
President, LA-CAMFT

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

You want to know summertime means to me? Going to the LA County fair with my family, going to the beach with my wife, and attending the LA-CAMFT picnic with my friends and colleagues. Believe it or not, it was at the picnic three years ago (in 2016) that I first dipped my toes in the water, so to speak, and gave this organization a shot. The gentle rhythm of the drums could be heard in the distance as I walked towards the benches at Cheviot Hills park. That year, Ossie Mair hosted the drum circle, and his variety of instruments was quite impressive. There were tables filled with delicious potluck food, and a group of smiling faces greeted me at the registration table.

The image is still vivid in my mind, because it was that day that I realized that I had found my community. Having left the comfort and support of my peers in the community mental health agency that I worked at prior to going into private practice, that peer support is what I missed most. In addition to the drum circle, you can expect good music, delicious catered food, art projects, and complimentary massages in a casual and carefree environment. If you’d like to attend the picnic on August 11th, 2019 at Cheviot Hills Park, then please visit our website for more details and free registration. I hope to see you there!

Best Regards,
Christina Castorena, LMFT

Christina Castorena, MS, LMFT, worked in community mental health before starting her private practice, Castorena Therapeutic Services, in 2016. She passionately serves adults, couples, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who are dealing with life transitions, parenting, relational conflicts, and anxiety. She employs family systems and mindfulness-based CBT. As president of LA-CAMFT, Christina strongly advocates for her professional community and celebrates the hard-working clinicians that facilitate healing. Her website is castorenatherapeutic.com. Christina may be contacted at president@lacamft.org.