Christina “Tina” Cacho Sakai, LMFT
President, LA-CAMFT

2023 Leadership Retreat

LA-CAMFT Board of Directors recently had their annual leadership retreat led by President-Elect Jennifer Stonefield, LMFT and the planning committee. It was so wonderful to mingle, eat together and brainstorm ideas in person with LA-CAMFT past, present and future leadership in the cozy home of one of our prominent leaders, Jenni June Villegas Wilson, LMFT. There were approximately 25 therapists in attendance and we had an opportunity to build community, have fun and learn more about one another. In addition to, strengthen and develop leadership teams, reflect on successes and challenges and set plans and strategies for the future of LA-CAMFT. 

The team building activities began with Human Bingo where participants received a Bingo Sheet of therapist identifiers and prizes were awarded to the first, second and third place winners who were able to identify somebody to match each square in the bingo sheet; such as, Is an LPCC, Is adjunct faculty, Is a clinical supervisor, EMDR certified, Went to Pepperdine University, Has more than two jobs, etc. The second team building activity was pairing up with another participant to find out more specific information about each other and later sharing it in the larger group; such as, name, licensure status, role in LA-CAMFT, What is your favorite smell? Why do you volunteer your time with LA-CAMFT? Why are you here today? What do you hope to get out of the retreat today? The third team building activity was “Step Into the Circle” where a circle was formed with the entire group and each person stepped inside the circle if they could relate to an experience asked; such as, Went to Public School, Oldest in their family, Only child, Bilingual, etc. Each activity was a way to get to know each other in different ways and have fun doing so in the process. 

Next we divided up into breakout groups to brainstorm ideas for the future of LA-CAMFT. Breakout groups were divided into 3000 Club & Membership/Outreach, Workshops/Trainings, Special Events & Sponsorship and Diversity, Intersectionality & Inclusion. We reconvened to the larger group and shared ideas; such as, on demand library to access pre-recorded presentations, general support group for licensed therapists in private practice, small networking in-person events, sustainability with affinity support groups, incorporating more intersectionality, increasing integration of DEI and much, much, more. LA-CAMFT Leadership Retreat Planning Committee is so grateful for those who participated and shared their ideas for the future of the organization. 

If you are interested in helping us implement new ideas, we currently have the following positions open for 2024 LA-CAMFT Board of Directors and are always looking for co-chairs for our ongoing committees and folx interested in micro-volunteer opportunities. 

Pre-Licensed Representative/3000 Club Chair
Special Events Chair
Secretary
Sponsorship Chair

If you would like to get in contact with any of the current board members, you could find them here: https://lacamft.org/Board-of-Directors-2023. For more information about the 2023 leadership retreat, board of director positions open, co-chairing and/or micro-volunteer opportunities, please email me directly at President@lacamft.org. 

Hope to connect soon!

Christina “Tina” Cacho Sakai, LMFT

Christina "Tina" Cacho Sakai, LMFT (she/her) is a Latinx (Mexican-American) psychotherapist in private practice and a former community based therapist, clinical supervisor, associate director, and adjunct faculty at CSULA. She provides psychotherapy in a culturally responsive, LGBTQIA+ affirming and social justice-oriented atmosphere. Treatment specializations include healing from trauma, processing grief and loss, exploring creativity, and honoring full intersectional identities. She is currently in the BIPOC Somatic Experiencing Training Certificate Program.