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

Dynamic Duo

Get to know LA-CAMFT Board of Director Leadership with the Dynamic Duo of Speaker Chair, Elizabeth Sterbenz, LMFT and Networking Chair, Di Wilson, LMFT who work collaboratively to produce the monthly Online CE Presentations formerly known as the Networking Events! Elizabeth and Di have been working together since 2020 putting on informative and engaging presentations for LA-CAMFT.

Elizabeth Sterbenz, LMFT joined LA-CAMFT in 2012 and volunteered at the Registration Table and then the Literature Table where she highly enjoyed meeting and greeting new attendees. In 2017, Elizabeth volunteered preparing the monthly event documents; such as the CE certificates, agenda and handouts. She attended meetings regularly and during the end of 2020 began her role as Speaker Chair. Elizabeth comes to LA-CAMFT Leadership having worked in television since 1991 where she interned at MTV in New York in the marketing dept and got employed as Head of Programming as an Assistant, moved into Production, worked in the Music & Special Events Dept and then freelance. In 2012, Elizabeth returned to school to pursue a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and got licensed in 2018.

Elizabeth’s “why” to being an LA-CAMFT Leader:

• Fellowship & Community.
• Being in full-time private practice remotely, it fills a community atmosphere and is my new office of people.
• Speaks to the Producer part of me that I don’t get to do anymore since transitioning over from working in television.
• Fun to produce something for my MFT colleagues, “It’s like booking a show.”
• Fun working with experienced and newer presenters.

Elizabeth’s “hopes and dreams” for LA-CAMFT:

• More interaction with other Chapters in the area.
• One spring, summer or winter collaborative event with San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley and Long Beach Chapters.
• Community continues to enjoy and appreciate the CE Presentations.

Di began volunteering with LA-CAMFT in 2018 at the Registration Table to the Networking Events and then did the background work for the Networking Chair in 2019 and became the Networking Chair in 2020. Due to Di’s technology background, working with HR systems and willingness to lead, she assisted LA-CAMFT with transitioning to online Networking Events and online CE Certificates during the start of the pandemic. Thanks to Di, LA-CAMFT didn’t miss a beat and continues to run the Networking events online. Di’s goals this year are to train the incoming Networking Chair and be trained for her incoming role as CFO.  

Di’s “why” to being an LA-CAMFT Leader:

• Networking
• Community & feeling like I have colleagues
• Enjoying the social events.
• All the learning through the CE Events.
• Contribution and benefits of being of service.

Di’s “hopes and dreams” for LA-CAMFT is to increase:

• Diversity on the leadership team.
• Younger people in leadership.
• Openness to thoughts, ideas, and people.
• Training/teaching of roles.
• Encouragement for people to get involved.

This year LA-CAMFT has produced the following CE Presentations:

1. Meaningful Collaboration Between Psychiatrists and Therapists with Brittany Booth, M.D. & Leigh Good (January 2023)
2. What Every Therapist needs to Know about Black Folks and other People of Color (BIPOC) with Shawn LaRe’ Brinkley, LMFT (February 2023)
3. A Day in the Life of an LA Therapist: Legal and Ethical Issues (Law & Ethics Workshop) with Curt Widhalm, LMFT (March 2023)
4. Identifying and Treating Imposter Syndrome with Stevon Lewis, LMFT (April 2023)

On Friday, June 23rd from 9 am - 12:15 pm, we are proud to present LA-CAMFT 2023 Teletherapy Workshop: Basic Competencies in Telehealth with Linda Hoffman, PsyD (3 CE Credits) which meets the new BBS requirement. To find out more information about the event and the new BBS requirement click on the link: https://lacamft.org/event-5132023

Special thank you to Elizabeth and Di for allowing me to interview you and share your greatness with the broader LA-CAMFT Community! If you would like to get in contact with either of them, you could find them here: https://lacamft.org/Board-of-Directors-2023. If you are interested in leadership 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.