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

Pre-Licensed 3000 Club “Dream Team”

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with LA-CAMFT Pre-Licensed 3000 Club Chair Tyana Tavakol, AMFT and Co-Chair, Carissa Lataillade, AMFT about their “dream team” and what makes it so successful. Both leaders initially got involved with LA-CAMFT through the Diversity Committee and then chose to spread their leadership skills through the Pre-Licensed 3000 Club. This is their second year working together and shared that “trust in each other” has been critical to what they have been able to accomplish. Last year, Carissa was Pre-Licensed 3000 Chair and Tyana was Co-Chair. From the start, the vision was to work as a team as a way for their positions to be “self-sufficient”. They met monthly, texted frequently, always had a plan for the next three months, utilized each other’s strengths and encouraged one another to step out of their comfort zone. 

Get to know Tyana and Carissa as they share their “why” they are leaders of the Pre-Licensed 3000 Club:

• “I really like finding the gaps in areas and finding ways to fill them and that is not possible unless you are at the table so I always try wherever I am to be at the table in some way” (Tyana).
• “Being surrounded by people who are so driven, accomplished and wise because I agree that who you surround yourself with really matters and when I’m surrounded by this on a constant basis it motivates me to be a better clinician and a better leader” (Tyana).
• “I like to give other people opportunities who could shine but just don’t know how to get in that space. I like to bring in people who I know will thrive into somewhere where they could get more spotlighted” (Tyana).
• “I wanted to develop my leadership skills, get more involved and network with more clinicians in the field” (Carissa)
•  “I wanted to practice the leadership style of “Leading From Behind” where you are confident of yourself and trust others to do their work. That is what I want career wise, to build a private practice and develop associates I can trust” (Carissa).
• “To work off each other’s strengths and encourage each other to practice their leadership. I always intended Tyana to be the 3000 Rep for 2023 in order to build upon the vision of the previous year” (Carissa). 

As you can see, Tyana and Carissa are amazing leaders of the LA-CAMFT Pre-Licensed 3000 Club and I encourage you to check out the updated webpage and learn more at https://lacamft.org/The-3000-Club. I would also like to highlight some of the upcoming events and new updates:

• DSM-5-TR Updates: Revisions that Impact the CA Licensure Exam with Keonna Robinson, LMFT https://lacamft.org/event-5098021
• Volunteer Application: https://lacamft.formstack.com/forms/3000_club_application
• Network Forum: https://lacamft.org/The-3000-Club#leadership
• Monthly Support Group: Next one is Monday, February 13th at 6:30pm
• Associate Presentation Series: Interested in gaining experience presenting a related topic of your choice, network with peers, market your brand, and share your knowledge as a new mental health professional entering the field — email prelicensed@lacamft.org 

Special thank you to Tyana and Carissa for allowing me to interview you and share your greatness with the broader LA-CAMFT Community! 

With So Much Gratitude, 

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.