President's Message

Akiah Selwa, LMFT
LA-CAMFT President

We have reached my favorite time of the year, Spring and Summer. I was born in April on a Naval base on the island of Guam. I'm a spring baby who prefers warmer weather! LA-CAMFT will host several in-person social events. Given all that is happening outside our offices and homes, we need to gather as often as possible to connect human to human. If you attended the Spring Fling on May 17^th, you probably experienced the magic that happens when you gather a bunch of therapists at a park, serve a tasty lunch, play "get-to-know-ya”, and groove to Yacht Rock music. It was simple and simply delightful. We had a safe space to hang out, network, and be reminded that our presence makes a difference. I hope you will plan to join us for three upcoming events, which will provide more opportunities for joy, time with other mental health professionals, and outdoor fun in beautiful places!

There is still time for you to register for our first Summertime Beach Volleyball event on July 27th. If you prefer to watch volleyball rather than play it, there will be a comfortable seating area under shady canopies. Of course, we will facilitate fun activities under the canopies for all who wish to partake. I hope you are noticing that we want to offer a variety of activities that will interest more than just one kind of LA-CAMFT member. Thank you, Javan Taherkhani, AMFT (LA-CAMFT Board Member At Large), for spearheading the Summertime Beach Volleyball event! I can't wait to be by the ocean, work on my summer tan (Yes, Black people like a summer glow too), and cheer for our LA-CAMFT Volleyball players. Register at: https://www.lacamft.org/event-6188143.

We enjoyed the location of the Spring Fling so much that we are returning on August 10th for our Annual Summer Picnic. Yes! I double-dog dare you to add attending the Summer Picnic to the end-of-summer plans. I'm looking forward to meeting more LA-CAMFT members and spending time getting to know someone I haven't met before. And we are encouraged to wear boas! With all the art supplies in my craft room and art studio, I will make matching boas for my hubby and me. What I'm looking forward to the most is facilitating and participating in another opportunity to be playful and remind myself (and y'all) that playing is still necessary. Playing is not silly or childish; it's good healing medicine. Thank you, Sahaja Douglass, LMFT (Sponsorship Chair), for leading our Summer Picnic committee. Register at: https://www.lacamft.org/event-6219215.

And we are not done finding creative ways for us to be a community. If you are an introvert (with extraverted tendencies) like me, you may prefer smaller, intimate events. Well, we got something small and cozy for you this year! Please be on the lookout for our Dining Series! This event is for members only, and space is limited. For the Summer Dining Series, we will host three afternoon dining gatherings in three locations in LA County (Santa Monica, Downey, and LA). I love connecting over a meal; company usually makes the meal taste even better. Please register for one of the locations. If you can't attend our Summer Dining Series, join us at one of the Fall or Winter Dining Series locations. Thank you, Elizabeth G'Sell, LMFT (Board Member At Large), for dreaming up this event idea and making it a reality! Registration will open soon.

As I prepare to end this message, I feel like a travel agent or sales associate sharing all these wonderful ways to connect with other members and the LA-CAMFT board. I hope to see you at all of these events. Please note that we take every measure available to be equitable, inclusive, and allies to all who attend our online and in-person events. We are open to constructive feedback about our efforts to uphold our DEI values and guidelines.

For more information about the events listed above, please visit our Upcoming Events page at: https://www.lacamft.org/Upcoming-Events

Akiah T. R. Selwa, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a great sense of humor, a heart full of hope, and twenty-three years of experience as a psychotherapist. Akiah is the owner of Sunrise Therapy Center (STC) a private practice corporation that services all of California via a telehealth platform. Akiah approaches her work with cultural humility and humor that promotes acceptance, empowerment, spirituality, and creativity. Akiah will complete Somatic Experiencing training in 2025 with Somatic Experiencing International, is a certified SoulCollage® Facilitator (2024), and a currently in a two-year Spiritual Direction program with Stillpoint. When Akiah is not working as a therapist, she is a mixed media artist, having fun with my next crochet project, singing, or exploring nature.