President's Message

Akiah Selwa, LMFT
LA-CAMFT President

Harambee: Reconsidering Mentorship

My African ancestors’ words of wisdom are relevant when we consider the importance of mentorship. It does “take a village to raise a child.” It also takes a village of people to inspire and guide mental health practitioners on the journey from being a student to a seasoned professional all the way through to approaching retirement.

But I’ve noticed that something happens when a person crosses over from adolescence to adulthood; there seems to be less emphasis on the necessity and value of formal mentorship relationships. Apparently the thinking seems to be that as certified, licensed, or experienced mental health workers or professionals we have it together “enough” not to need mentors or mentees. There’s less urgency to develop impressionable minds.

I don’t think this is true; no one gets anywhere by themselves.

The last two years of my life in the United States have reminded me that I need my mental health community more than ever before. I challenge us to “Harambee”—Swahili for “push together”—to help each other continue to excel professionally.

While I am grateful for the things my mother and aunties taught me with their actions and inactions, the five mentors I had from age fifteen to middle adulthood built on what my family taught me and as a result they helped me become the mental health professional I am today. I know I am further down the road than I would be without my mentors’ love, wisdom, and feedback.

I am pleased to report that I have had the privilege of mentoring several associate therapists as well as paraprofessionals. I have found that if the mentors and mentees are teachable and intentional, the experience can be equally rewarding and educational for both parties.

Let’s reconsider the necessity for formal mentorship relationships and reserve the capacity to receive or give mentoring this year.

I invite you to start by exploring the LA-CAMFT Therapists of Color (TOC) Mentorship Program.

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.

Editor's Note

Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT
Voices Editor

Getting Paid: 4 Tips to Make Your Practice Even Better

Here are four tips for making your private practice better, easier, more enjoyable, and increasing your income. To make it interesting, these tips are selected from some of the articles I’ve been recommending to the therapists I’ve been doing practice coaching with this year.

Each of these articles is a short and easy read — and every single one of them is chock full of the best tips and information that therapists can quickly and easily use to make their practice better any time of the year. Reading any one of them will definitely give you more private practice success — and without stress!

So, if you have--or can make--a little time to reflect on your practice and how to make it better, stronger, and more successful, take a look at one of these and see what you think. I’ve included links to the articles they’re from.

As you read the following information, be sure to remember: 

●      Only do and say things that fit for you, your clients, and your practice—and always within legal and ethical guidelines

●      You can ignore everything written in this article and still be successful. Discover what works for you, your clients, your professional designation, and the practice setting you work in.

Tip 1: How To Identify Your Ideal Client

If you are ready to start targeting the clinical work that you find most meaningful and stop the shotgun approach by “specializing” in every mental health issue out there, here’s my advice to you.

Find some time in a peaceful place and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Which clients in my practice do I look forward to seeing? What do they

have in common?

1. What mental health issue gets me so fired up that I love to teach people

more about it?

1. If I could only treat one or two issues for the rest of my career, what

would I choose?

1. What clients make me my best therapist self?
2. What clients bring me energy and help me to feel passionate about my

work?

By answering these questions you will have a pretty good idea of your ideal client. Start noticing how you engage in your therapy sessions when you are working with your ideal client. Notice the energy you experience. Notice which clients make your sessions enjoyable. Your clients will thank you for it!

Michelle Lewis, LCSW

Article: How To Identify Your Ideal Client To Build Your Private Practice

Tip 2: What should your branding message be?

When I was first training as a therapist, I learned that everything you do conveys a message. How you dress says something. How active or passive you are, sends a message. And certainly, what questions we ask and what we are curious about, says something. One cannot “not communicate.” Everything communicates something. So what messages do you want to send?

Start by answering this question:

How do you want a potential client or referral person to feel as they interact with your marketing materials and, ultimately, your practice itself? 

Do they come away with a sense of professionalism, warmth, excellence, and confidence? That is my hope. Or do your viewers have an “eew” experience? The point is that creating a marketing message is a byproduct of much of what we do and we should be paying attention.

Here are some of my suggestions about what your branding message might be.

Professionalism

Professionalism is defined as “the competence or skill expected of a professional.” We want our potential clients to expect and receive evidence of our competence. We spend years in training. That training should show in the way we treat clients. We want our professionalism to show through everything we do. That includes the subtle messages that our website and marketing materials convey. Additionally, it incorporates how clients are treated both on the phone and in person.  

Warmth and empathy

Clients start thinking about psychotherapy because they are experiencing pain in their life. We want them to know that we care about them as people. They are more than the check they pay us. Our clients are hurting and it drives them to do this very awkward thing– psychotherapy. They are reaching out to a stranger with the hope we can help them in ways that work. We should be dripping with empathy at every step of the way through the process.

Excellence

People are attracted to excellence. They may not know what that term means, but they like the feeling. The dictionary defines excellence as “the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.” Does your website say that? All your marketing materials? How you handle the phone? Your first sessions? Additionally, even how you do your billing? We want everything to show your excellence, from top to bottom; beginning to end.

Confidence that we know what we are doing

When a client starts thinking about calling a therapist, one of their biggest concerns is whether the therapist will be able to help. Sometimes they even directly ask. For example, how many times have we had a client who described their situation only to close with, “Can you help me?” And they mean it. They are looking to borrow some of my confidence to help them with their despair. After all, they have felt defeated by their issues. Borrowing some of my hope is useful to all clients.

Dr. David Norton, LMFT, GrowingOurPractice.com

Article: How to use everything to reinforce your branding messages

Tip 3: Wait, but what exactly am I supposed to say when I network?

First off, so much of networking is just about making connections. Those connections might not even have to do with clinical work at first. Just think about making a human-to-human connection, listen well, ask questions and be curious about the other person (bonus, you’re already good at that because you’re a therapist).

Second thing, here’s where some of our therapist internal messaging about not self-promoting comes into play. “Isn’t self-promotion kind of gross?” Trust me: 99% of the time people are really happy to hear about your services because it gives them some relief to know they have somewhere to refer people!

Bottom line: Marketing is providing a service! They can’t send people to you if they don’t know you’re there, and you can’t help people, and alleviate suffering if you hide out in your office all day!

So here’s what you say:

“My name is _______ and I have a practice in _________ (location) and I love to work with clients who __________ (fill in the blank with a quick 10-word description of your ideal client)”

For that last bit, I recommend you do some work on narrowing that down and making it as specific as possible. Even if it doesn’t encompass every person you see, it should really be focused on who you want to see more of. Again, this is where the importance of knowing your ideal client comes in.

Melissa Kelly

Article: Networking Tips for Therapists Who Think They Don't Know How to Network

Tip 4: How to set private practice fees

Setting private practice fees as a social worker, therapist, psychologist, or other mental health professionals means looking at what the specific clinician needs to earn to thrive. I teach my clients to look at what is sustainable, aligned, and values-based for them. That means making sure a therapist's fee can cover the following things.

Here are questions I ask all of my private practice coaching clients as they get ready to set their fee.‍

Can my fee allow me to...

●      Take time off that refreshes and restores me?

●      Pay my business and personal bills in full and on-time?

●      Afford my quarterly taxes?

●      Get health insurance that covers my/my family's healthcare needs?

●      Work the schedule I desire?

●      Enjoy self-care activities and hobbies that are important?

If the answer is "no" to any of these questions, it's time to create a new fee. First, I encourage therapists to sit down and answer the above questions with numbers. How much does it cost to pay personal and business bills? To afford quarterly taxes? How much is a good healthcare plan? What money needs to be set aside to pay for self-care and professional development? I encourage adding up all of those expenses. 

From there, it becomes a simple math problem.

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW

Article: How to Set Your Fees in Private Practice (Plus 3 Mistakes to Avoid)

Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, is in private practice in Santa Monica where she works with Couples and Gifted, Talented, and Creative Adults across the lifespan. Lynne’s been doing business and clinical coaching with mental health professionals for more than 15 years, helping professionals develop even more successful careers and practices. To learn more about her in-person and online services, workshops or monthly no-cost Online Networking & Practice Development Lunch visit www.Gifted-Adults.com or www.LAPracticeDevelopment.com.

LA-CAMFT Diversity Committee
presents

Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Therapists Community Group

First Monday of Every Month

Next Meeting:
Monday, May 5, 2025
9:30am-10:30am

Online Via Zoom

Free Registration

The MENA Therapists Community Group is a safe place across the Middle Eastern and North African therapist diaspora to build community and a sense of belonging. We hold an inclusive space to process the impact of cultural biases experienced by people of MENA descent and the effect it may have on our work as mental health professionals. Within the process, we will strive to create healing, support, and empowerment. We will collaboratively exchange ideas, experiences and resources while acknowledging cultural differences and shared similarities. As the poet Khalil Gibran states — “The reality of the other person lies not in what he reveals to you, but what he cannot reveal to you.” — our community will create a place to be seen, heard, and understood.

Special Note: MENA Therapists Community Group meetings are intended as a place for MENA-identifying therapists to have a safe place amongst others in the same ethnic and cultural community to share and process their personal and professional experiences. Therapists from similar cultural backgrounds (e.g., South Asian, mixed identities that include MENA, etc.) are also welcome. If you are not MENA-identifying or from a similar cultural background and instead wish to join these meetings for the purpose of learning about the MENA population, we offer consultations separately. You are more than welcome to schedule a one-on-one consultation by emailing us.

Open to LA-CAMFT Members and Non-Members.

For more information, contact the facilitators at mena@lacamft.org.

Event Details:

For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, and Students

When: Monday, May 5, 2025 from 9:30am-10:30am

Where: Online Via Zoom (Upon registration for the presentation, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to our Zoom meeting.)

Cost: No charge

Facilitator(s): Perla and Susan

*Registration is open and available until the group begins.*

Guest Article

Navigating Caregiving: When Your Client is Caring for an Aging Loved One—Understanding the Crisis of Care

Kim Scott, LMFT

Caretaking is a reality that touches many of us—whether we’re supporting aging parents, grandparents, or looking after a spouse. In my work with clients over 65, I often see the complex emotions that arise around needing care. But it’s not just older adults grappling with these shifts—many younger clients find themselves stepping into caregiving roles for their parents or grandparents, often while raising children of their own.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 70% of Americans over 65 will require some form of long-term care, and Medicare covers only a limited portion of that need. As a result, family members are frequently called upon to fill in the gaps—emotionally, physically, and financially—while juggling their own responsibilities.

Elissa Strauss, in When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others, highlights a shifting perspective on caregiving. She acknowledges the undeniable challenges but also explores the unexpected emotional, relational, and even spiritual rewards that can come from both giving and receiving care.

Defining the Caregiver Role

Caregiving takes many forms. It can mean inviting an aging parent into your home and managing their daily needs, or it might involve driving them to doctor’s appointments, handling finances, or simply checking in a few times a week. Regardless of how much time it takes, caregiving is more than just a task—it’s an emotional and logistical commitment.

Yet, much of this work goes unrecognized. It is “invisible labor”—the behind-the-scenes coordination, emotional support, and constant mental load that can be just as demanding as the hands-on care. When family members can share the caregiving role—whether by dividing tasks, offering financial support, or simply providing emotional backup—it not only lightens the load but also allows for more meaningful moments with their loved one.

The Challenges of Caregiving

For those juggling caregiving alongside careers, parenting, and relationships, the emotional toll can be significant. Many clients express feeling pulled in multiple directions, struggling to balance responsibilities while finding little time for themselves.

Beyond the exhaustion, there’s also the deep emotional weight of watching a loved one decline. Caregivers often experience anticipatory grief, guilt, and even resentment—especially when the burden isn’t evenly shared among siblings or when parents were not there for them growing up. Conflict can arise when one person assumes control over decision-making.

The Joys and Meaning of Caregiving

So often, caregiving is framed as a burden—just another responsibility to shoulder. But Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play, reminds us that care isn’t just about chores; it’s about connection. She argues that when partners opt out of caregiving, they’re not just avoiding work—they’re missing out on one of the most meaningful aspects of life. The same is true when siblings or extended family distance themselves from caring for an aging loved one.

Providing care is, at its core, an act of love. It offers moments of deep connection, of being present in ways that might not have happened otherwise. A dear friend once shared that the time she spent caring for her father became some of the most cherished moments of her life. Many of my clients describe a similar sense of fulfillment and gratitude for the chance to give back.

And caregiving doesn’t just impact the present—it shapes the future. As we care for our aging parents and grandparents, we teach our children what it means to show up for family, to extend kindness and respect, and to hold space for the needs of others. In these moments, we model love—not just in words, but in action.

Assisting Our Clients in Navigating Mixed Emotions & Setting Healthy Boundaries

One of the most valuable things we can offer our caregiving clients is space—space to feel the full range of their emotions without judgment. Caregivers often express guilt for resenting their responsibilities or feeling exhausted. These emotions can be overwhelming, but they are entirely normal. By acknowledging and releasing difficult feelings, caregivers often find they can appreciate the moments of love and connection that caregiving brings.

Equally important is helping our clients understand that they cannot do everything—nor should they. Prioritizing their own well-being isn’t selfish; it’s essential. Encouraging our clients to seek support—whether from family, community resources, or professionals—can be life-changing. Sometimes, even small shifts can help, like hiring someone to clean their parent’s home or asking a neighbor to take out the trash. Other times, setting clear limits is necessary. A client once shared that she was utterly drained from caring for her aunt but struggled to delegate tasks to a professional because her aunt preferred her presence. In these moments, we can gently remind our clients that their well-being matters too.

For both caregivers and care receivers, open communication is key. When families can talk about what’s needed—who can step in, how responsibilities can be shared, and what emotions are coming up—caregiving becomes less isolating. These conversations don’t eliminate challenges, but they can ease tension and create space for more understanding.

Conclusion

Caregiving and receiving care are deeply personal experiences, made even more complex in a society that so highly values independence. There are moments of struggle—physically, mentally, and emotionally—but also opportunities for profound connection. As therapists, we can help our clients navigate these roles by offering reassurance that all their feelings are valid. We can encourage self-compassion, remind them they are not alone, and help them see that caregiving isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, doing the best we can, and finding moments of meaning along the way.

Kim Scott, LMFT is a licensed marriage, family and child therapist. She has a private practice in Granada Hills where she works with couples and individuals, in-person and via Telehealth. Kim has been licensed for 30 years and has expertise in working with older adults and women issues. To learn more about Kim's practice and to read more of her articles visit her website: www.kimscottmft.com

LA-CAMFT Diversity Committee

presents

White Therapists Fighting Racism (WTFR)

Third Sunday of Every Month

Next Meeting:
Sunday, May 18, 2025
3:00pm-5:00pm (PT)

Online Via Zoom

The goal of White Therapists Fighting Racism (WTFR) is for white-identified therapists to become effective allies in support of decolonization and racial justice in our clinical practice, therapy association, and community. Recognizing that racism is maintained when whiteness is invisible to white people, WTFR provides a forum for white-identified therapists to explore what it means to be white. While this process includes learning about structural racism and deconstructing the false narrative about race, a primary focus in the group is on doing inner work.

How Do I Join? To join this group, please click here to complete our online submission form. Once submitted, a group facilitator will reach out to you for next steps.

Open to LA-CAMFT Members and Non-Members.

For more information or if you have additional questions, please send all inquiries to the facilitators at WTFR@lacamft.org.

Event Details:

For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, and Students

When: Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 3:00pm-5:00pm (PT)

Where: Online Via Zoom (Once you complete the online submission process, you will be emailed a monthly Zoom link.)

Cost: No charge

Facilitator(s): Estelle, Randi, and Hazel

Member Article

How to Tell Your Spouse You Want a Divorce—Without Escalating Conflict

Steven Unruh, MDiv, LMFT

​You’ve been rehearsing the words in your head for days, maybe weeks.

You wait for the right moment—when the kids are in bed, when the mood is calm, when you feel brave. But every time you open your mouth, fear holds you back.

What if they explode in anger?
What if they break down in tears—or worse, beg you to stay?
What if this one conversation causes everything to spiral out of control?

If you’re feeling stuck between knowing the truth and fearing the fallout, you’re not alone. This moment is one of the hardest parts of the entire divorce process—but it doesn’t have to be a war.

Why This Moment Feels So Hard

Bringing up divorce is one of the most emotionally charged conversations you’ll ever have—and chances are, your spouse might not even see it coming. You worry that saying the wrong thing could trigger an argument, lead to blame, or be met with total silence. The potential for conflict feels overwhelming.

Inside, you’re battling more than just the fear of their reaction. You’re wrestling with guilt, sadness, and uncertainty. You don’t want to hurt them—but you also can’t keep living in a marriage that no longer works. Part of you wonders if you’re being selfish… or if you’ll regret saying anything at all.

It shouldn’t have to feel like this. You didn’t get married to become adversaries. And now that it’s ending, you shouldn’t have to walk away broken. There should be a way to speak the truth with compassion, preserve your dignity, protect your children, and move forward with peace.

And there is.

There’s a Better Way to Start the Conversation

I’ve been helping couples navigate divorce for over 30 years through divorce mediation. I’ve sat with hundreds of people at the exact moment you’re in right now—scared to start the conversation, unsure how to say the words, and worried about what happens next.

I want you to know something: this doesn’t have to turn into a disaster.

If you approach this conversation with intention and compassion, it can actually become the starting point for a peaceful process.

Here’s how to do it.

1. Choose the Right Moment

Timing matters. Don’t bring up divorce in the middle of an argument, during a family event, or when one of you is distracted or emotionally raw. Wait for a moment when things are calm and private. This conversation deserves full attention—and both of you deserve the space to process.

Tip: Schedule time. “Can we talk later tonight? There’s something important I need to share.”

2. Lead With Honesty, Not Blame

The goal here isn’t to win. It’s to be clear, kind, and direct. Start with “I” statements that reflect your experience and emotions, not accusations. This helps prevent defensiveness and lowers the emotional temperature right away.

Example:
Instead of: “You never listen to me and I’m done.”
Try: “I’ve been struggling for a long time, and I’ve come to the very difficult conclusion that I want to end the marriage.”

3. Prepare For Emotions—But Don’t Let Them Derail You

Your spouse might cry, shut down, get angry, or try to change your mind. That’s normal. You can’t control their reaction, but you can stay grounded. Breathe deeply. Speak slowly. And remember, this moment is about delivering the message—not solving everything at once.

You are allowed to be kind and firm at the same time.

4. Focus on the Future, Not the Past

It’s tempting to go into a long list of reasons or rehash every argument. But that rarely helps. Instead, focus on what comes next. You’re opening a door, not digging a grave.

Say things like:

• “I want us both to be okay through this.”
• “I want to make this as peaceful and respectful as possible.”
• “I think mediation could help us work through this in a way that’s better for both of us.”

5. Suggest Divorce Mediation as a Path Forward

Mediation isn’t about avoiding the hard stuff—it’s about doing the hard stuff in a better way. A neutral third party can help you both communicate clearly, make decisions calmly, and avoid the chaos of court.

Mediation creates a safe environment for both of you to be heard. It’s private, respectful, and often more affordable than traditional divorce. Most importantly, it protects your children, your finances, and your future.

What If They’re Not Ready to Hear It?

Here’s the truth: There’s no perfect way to say it.

But staying silent only builds resentment and delay. And dragging out the pain can be worse than facing it. Your courage to speak truthfully can be the first step toward healing—for both of you.

And if the conversation goes badly? That’s exactly when mediation can help.

You Can Do This—And You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Ending a marriage is never easy. But it can be peaceful. It can be respectful. And it canset the stage for a future where both of you move forward with dignity.

If you’re ready to start this conversation—but want help doing it well—I’m here for you.

Ready to Take the First Step—Without Starting a War?

You don’t have to carry this alone anymore. Mediation offers a clear, respectful path forward—one that protects your peace, your children, and your future.

Let’s talk about how we can make this easier, together.

The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can move forward—with clarity, confidence, and calm.

Steven Unruh, MA, MDiv, is a Divorce Mediator and LMFT. He and his team at Unruh Mediation complete the entire divorce process, including all assets, pensions, properties, alimony and child support—along with all required documentation. Unruh Mediation files in 13 different courthouses throughout Southern California. Website: stevenunruh.com.

LA-CAMFT Diversity Committee

presents

Therapists of Color Support Group

Meets Every Quarter

Next Meeting:
Sunday, July 13, 2025
11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT)

Online Via Zoom

A safe place to receive peer support and process experiences of racism (systemic, social, and internalized), discrimination, implicit bias, racist injury, aggression, and micro-aggressions, along with additional experiences that therapists of color encounter in the field of mental health.

Open to LA-CAMFT Members and Non-Members

For more information, contact the Diversity Committee.

Event Details:

For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, and Students

Event Details: Sunday, July 13, 2025 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT)
Time of Check-In: 10:50 am

Where:  Online Via Zoom (Upon registration for the presentation, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to our Zoom meeting.)

Cost: No charge

*Registration is open and available until the group begins.*

In diversity there is beauty
and there is strength.

Maya Angelou

Guest Article

Count Your Money

Chellie Campbell, Financial Stress Reduction Expert

"A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments." -Samuel Johnson

To achieve success, you must think positive and send out ships. But if you want to achieve financial success, you have to add the third step: Count your money. Keeping track of how much you’re making, how much you’re spending, and how much you’re saving will tell you how effectively you’re doing the first two steps. In other words, budget.

I suggest that everyone should have not just one, but three budgets, all with complicated names: Low, Medium, and High. You start with Medium Budget, which is the average income and expenses that you have right now. Then you create Low Budget—this is your bare- bones plan to reduce expenses if you have an unexpected financial problem such as a bill or a reduction in income. 

Then create a High Budget—this is your goal budget, how you’re going to spend the money you plan to make in the future. If you don’t have a plan for how you are going to spend it and save it, you won’t have a reason to make it, or if you do, you might fritter it away on low priority items. These flex-budgets will give you a written plan to follow, no matter what happens with your money. And each budget is only for one month.

People hate budgeting because they’re afraid of Low Budget. They think that’s the only budget there is and that they’ll be stuck with it forever. Who’d want that? No wonder people don’t do budgets. But Low Budget is never forever, it’s just for now. 

Anyone can go on Low Budget for a month! And when you’re on it, stay light-hearted about it and double up on your prosperity affirmations. Make it a game! See how much money you can avoid spending each day. Look for opportunities to trade or barter services. Clean out your home and have a garage sale. What work can you do part-time that would also bring in extra cash? What can you fix instead of buying new? Create new outfits to wear by mixing and matching separates in new ways. And each day you succeed in conserving your cash with creative ideas, congratulate yourself on your wisdom and money mastery.

The real fun is creating High Budget. This is your Prosperity Plan. Spend some time each day looking at it and feeling rich. What do you want to have and do when you’re on high budget? Go shopping and compare prices for the best values. (Just because you have a lot of money doesn’t mean you have to spend it foolishly.) 

Get pictures and brochures of the things you really want and put them on your wall. Start a special savings plan for major purchases. Be specific: if you want a new car, what make, model, and color is it? What features and options does it have? Smile and feel the pleasure now as if you already owned it. Affirm your ability to create this abundance in your life. It won’t be long before it shows up!

Today’s Affirmation: “I spend money wisely and happily, blessing myself and others.”

The first time I made a High Budget for myself, I was on it within four months. That’s the power that comes from giving yourself a goal and then motivating yourself to get it. High Budget is another positive affirmation of your success – it’s just one in numerical form.

You have to master the numbers. Not only to create the money you want, but to conserve and protect the money once you get it. 

Oprah once had a homeless man on her show along with two documentary film producers. The producers had placed a briefcase filled with $100,000 cash in a dumpster and waited for this homeless man to find it. They were doing a study to see how he would respond and if the money would change his life.

They offered him a financial advisor to help him set up a budget and teach him how to manage it, but he didn’t take them up on it. He got an apartment, furniture, television, car, and a girlfriend. He gave a lot of the money away to friends. He blew through all the money in about 6 months.

The money in the suitcase looked like untold riches when he had nothing. But when he upgraded his lifestyle, it ate up the money quickly. Before he knew it, the money was gone and he was back on the streets.

Make a budget! Write it down with as many specifics as you can. Then let your imagination soar to high budget!

Chellie Campbell, Financial Stress Reduction Expert, is the author of bestselling books The Wealthy Spirit, Zero to Zillionaire, and From Worry to Wealthy: A Woman’s Guide to Financial Success Without the Stress. She has been treating Money Disorders like Spending Bulimia and Income Anorexia in her Financial Stress Reduction® Workshops for over 25 years and is still speaking, writing, and teaching workshops—now as Zoom classes and The Wealthy Spirit Group on Facebook—with participants from all over the world. Website: www.chellie.com.

Therapists of Color (TOC) Grant Award Committee

LA-CAMFT's Therapists of Color Grant Awardees and Thoughts

Marvin Whistler, Mediator

On February 24, 2025, the most recent awardees of the LA-CAMFT TOC GRANT AWARD were randomly selected. They are Cassidy Fan and Praisye Yeo.  Each will receive a check for $530, and free admission to 3 LA-CAMFT workshops or networking events with the exception of the Law & Ethics Workshop. The next cycle for the grant will begin on May 1, 2025.  It is limited to members of LA-CAMFT, and the award is limited to once per calendar year. At the end of this article, there is an update on the impact that the award has had on awardees and their thoughts on its value.

Description of Grant Stipend

Every 4 months (3x per year), a grant award will be offered to two applicants who meet the following criteria: (1) must be a current LA-CAMFT member, (2) identify as a Therapist of Color, and (3) must be either an Associate, Trainee, or Student still in graduate school.

Grant winners will receive

• $530 to be spent at the winner’s discretion
• Free admission to 3 LA-CAMFT workshops or networking events of the winner’s choosing with the exception of the Law & Ethics Workshop.

The $530 award can be used at the recipient’s discretion based on their own individual needs (whether it be for BBS fees, testing materials, memberships, rent, groceries, etc.). Confirmation for the purpose that the money is used will not be required.

Application and Selection Process

Interested members can complete the application on the LA-CAMFT website. The selection process entails using a Randomized Generator of the applicants who met the full criteria and complete the application online to take out human bias and decrease activation of one's trauma history. The drawing will be recorded via Zoom and posted onto social media along with an announcement naming the grant winners, whom will also be contacted via email directly. Registration for the next award cycle will open on May 1, 2025 and will close on June 28, 2025. The drawing will take place on June 29, 2025.

Awardees' thoughts on the LA-CAMFT TOC Grant Award

IMPACT OF THE GRANT

"It was very helpful. I was poor when I was an AMFT."

"The grant was very impactful as it eased the burden of some of the costs associated with the MFT process (training and supplies, L&E study materials, etc.)! The grant provided relief and helped finances feel less constrained as a trainee and now Associate."

"I found the grant very helpful to me particularly during a time when I was in dire need of additional funding & support to help keep me on track for the future."

"The grant was very impactful for me, as it helped me to pay my final fees, associated with my graduate program, so that I could finish strong. Every little bit counts, so I am very grateful to have been able to use this money to help toward that end."

VALUE OF THE GRANT

"I just want to express my sincere gratitude to the TOC Grant committee for this program as it truly helps alleviate some of the systemic socioeconomic gaps in this field that passionate therapists of color such as myself have to navigate in our journeys to becoming competent licensed mental health clinicians."

"I appreciate that this grant exists and can be applied to very easily. The gesture is meaningful and I hope other TOC are taking advantage of it."

"It really touched me. SFV chapter started giving scholarships too. I think TOC Grant was a positive influence to the therapists community."

"One additional comment I’d like to make is that it is very helpful that we are able to use the grant money at our own discretion. Removing limitations is advantageous because life happens to us all, and in order for us to be able to do our work well, sometimes we need to be able to address other situations, financially, that may directly or indirectly impact our work." 

Best regards,

The LA-CAMFT TOC Grant Committee

Member Article

Strength in Economic Crisis: How Depth Psychotherapy Supports You

Joanna Poppink, LMFT

Strength in economic crisis requires groundedness.

How Depth Psychotherapy Supports Strength in Economic Crisis

Strength in economic crisis is vital. When the world is uncertain, real strength doesn’t come from pushing harder—it comes from staying grounded, thinking clearly, and acting with creativity and emotional wisdom. This article explores how depth psychotherapy helps individuals develop strength in economic crisis. They then can navigate financial stress, social instability, and personal anxiety by building inner resilience. Instead of collapsing inward or waiting for a return to “normal,” you can learn to recognize and transform outdated patterns, reclaim your imagination, and move forward with purpose and clarity. The new world begins within.

How Depth Psychotherapy Supports Creativity, Clarity, and Strength in Economic Crisis

Yes, strength in an economic crisis is vital. Yet during economic turbulence, our sense of personal security shakes. Stock market drops, layoffs, and rising prices often trigger more than anxiety about money—they stir a deeper instability that touches the emotional, relational, and even spiritual core.

But here’s something we rarely talk about:
In times of crisis, the real competition is not just economic—it’s psychological. Raw competition does not translate into strength in economic crisis

Yes, people are competing for jobs, clients, contracts, and resources.
But the real differentiator? Who stays grounded. Who keeps their imagination free. Who refuses to collapse inward under fear.

This is where psychotherapy becomes not only useful, but vital.

Stay Grounded—So Your Imagination Can Work

It’s easy to become paralyzed or reactive in a time of upheaval. But staying grounded doesn’t mean ignoring fear or pretending things are fine. It means tending to your inner state so that—even while feeling afraid—you can stay present, curious, and responsive.

A grounded person is not spinning out in worst-case scenarios or fantasizing about magical returns to “normal.” Strength in economic crisis requires that they be anchored in reality, able to imagine something better—something new.

Because here's the truth many miss in the panic:
In crisis, creativity is currency. Imagination is power. Inner stability is a competitive advantage.

Rest, Reflect, and Reset: Vital for Strength in Economic Crisis

It’s also a time to rest and take care of yourself:
To develop strength in economic crisis don’t get too hungry, too tired, or too thirsty.
Your body and mind need calm, not just strategy.

Reflect on what you think or believe contributed to this crisis—economically, politically, socially, and personally.

• How might you have participated in systems or beliefs that led to this?
• How were others involved?
• What patterns are you being asked to see more clearly now?

Allow yourself to feel what comes up:
Anger, fear, shock, dismay, perhaps even resentment. These are valid responses. But don’t linger there.

Acknowledge your experience. Assess your position as best you can.
Then move on—thoroughly—into the present as you now see it.
Get grounded. Get creative. Make your new moves.

The Winners Aren’t Waiting for Normal

If you're waiting for “things to go back to how they were,” you’re already behind.

Those who thrive in times of change understand that while we may mourn what’s lost, we are not going backward. We are moving forward into the unknown—which can be better than before, if we allow ourselves to meet it with open eyes and minds. This is key to strength in economic crisis

This moment is not the time to weep, wail, freeze or blame. It’s the time to:

• Rethink how you live, work, create, and relate
• Explore what really matters
• Strengthen old emotional weaknesses
• Break free of rigid thought loops and fear-based patterns
• Listen for new ideas, new directions, and new truths

Research and development—personally and professionally—is more crucial now, not less.

Inner Life Becomes the Arena of Advancement

In previous decades, we were told that success came from hustle, credentials, or being the most productive.

But in this moment of cultural and economic disruption, success will come from something deeper. For strength in economic crisis you need:

• Emotional intelligence
• Capacity to tolerate ambiguity
• Ability to reframe quickly and wisely
• A deep and trustworthy sense of inner direction

These aren’t surface-level skills you learn from a book. They require tending to the inner life—the exact terrain of psychotherapy.

Therapy Is Where You Build Your Strength in Economic Crisis

In depth-oriented psychotherapy, we do the work that allows you to:

• Stay grounded, even in times of chaos and disruption
• Recognize and break up unconscious patterns that limit your imagination and creative energy
• Access creative and spiritual reserves hidden beneath fear
• Think clearly, love wisely, act courageously
• Stop waiting for rescue and start becoming the grounded person others turn to

If you feel overwhelmed, frozen, reactive, or lost right now, that doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human.
But it also means you have an opportunity:
To do the inner work that lets you emerge not just intact, but transformed.

The Path Forward Begins Within

I offer virtual psychotherapy for adults across California, Oregon, Florida, and Arizona. My clients are thoughtful, intelligent people—often mature women who are CEOs and professionals—ready to go deep. Together, we work to uncover what’s wrong and what’s trying to emerge through the chaos.

If you’re ready to stop waiting and start becoming, this may be your time.

You don’t have to wait for the world to settle down.

The new world starts inside you.

FAQ: Therapy During Economic Crisis

1. Why would someone start therapy during a financial crisis?
A financial or social crisis often triggers deeper emotional patterns—fear, shame, helplessness, grief. Therapy offers a grounded, stable space to sort through those reactions, regain clarity, and build strength from within. Far from being a luxury, psychotherapy becomes a critical support system for long-term resilience.

2. What does “stay grounded” mean in uncertain times?
Staying grounded means remaining connected to your body, breath, values, and inner truth even when external circumstances are chaotic. It helps you stay calm, think clearly, and respond rather than react, essential to having strength in economic crisis. Psychotherapy teaches tools to anchor yourself emotionally and psychologically.

3. How does depth psychotherapy help with creativity and imagination?
Fear and rigidity block creative problem-solving. Depth psychotherapy helps uncover and release unconscious blocks, allowing imagination to return. When you’re grounded and supported, your mind can explore new ideas and solutions you couldn’t access in survival mode.

4. I feel too overwhelmed to start something new—what if therapy adds more stress?
Good therapy doesn't add pressure—it offers avenues to strength, new ideas, courage, and eventually, relief. Sessions are paced to support where you are right now. Rather than one more thing on your to-do list, therapy can become where your nervous system rests and reorganizes itself toward strength and clarity.

5. Is virtual therapy as effective as in-person?
Yes. Virtual therapy is effective, flexible, and often more comfortable for clients who need safety, privacy, and consistency—especially during disrupted times. Without leaving home, you can receive the same depth, insight, and connection.

Joanna Poppink, LMFT, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of Healing Your Hungry Heart: Recovering from Your Eating Disorder, is in private practice and specializes in Eating Disorder Recovery for adult women and with an emphasis on building a fulfilling life beyond recovery. She is licensed in California, Florida, Oregon, and Utah. All appointments are virtual. Website: EatingDisorderRecovery.net