Los Angeles Chapter — California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Voices — September 2025
The Power of Joy
Akiah Selwa, LMFT, President
There is a quiet magic in the word "joy." It is lighter than happiness, more fleeting than contentment, yet it holds the power to transform lives. In a world that can often feel hurried, anxious, or burdened, joy becomes an act of resistance—a deliberate choice to celebrate the small wonders and moments that uplift us. Recent research in psychology and neuroscience has illuminated how cultivating joy is a luxury and a necessity for maintaining and enhancing our mental health. I had the opportunity to conduct a short presentation on "Joyfulness: A Necessary Strategy" at SALT 3 (Service Area Leadership Team Three) a few weeks ago. I wanted to revisit this topic here to encourage you (and me) to remember also to choose to be joyful.
I hope you attended our June CE event, "Crisis and Disaster Response: Supporting Survivors" with Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW of the Trauma Resource Institute. The training was fantastic! The LA-CAMFT Board was excited to offer another opportunity to equip our members with a resource for helping us and clients address acute traumatic experiences. I am pleased that we were able to facilitate ongoing support to you and others who may be supporting your clients, community, and family after the LA fires (and amid other communal traumas and disasters). While attending the training, I reconnected with the fact that exercising joy is an effective resourcing tool.
Joy is like forgiveness as they are both choices that we consent to making. As a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (Adv II) in training, choosing joy feels great and can change our body chemistry and functioning. Joy is powerful and transformative! I know I am preaching to the choir, but it is worth noting that when we feel joy, our brains release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, often called the “feel-good” chemicals. These substances help regulate mood, promote calmness, and even reduce pain perception.
But joy's benefits can have a long-term impact. Studies show that people who frequently experience moments of joy and positive emotion are more resilient to stress. Their brains develop stronger connections in regions responsible for emotional regulation, such as the prefrontal cortex. This means that joy does not simply make us feel good in the moment—it builds the neural pathways that help us cope with life's challenges.
Moreover, research from positive psychology suggests that joy can help buffer the effects of anxiety and depression. When we allow ourselves to feel and express joy, we create a mental "safe space" that fosters hope, gratitude, and motivation. In this way, joy becomes a powerful antidote to the struggles that can threaten our mental health.
A remarkable feature of joy is its ability to shift our perspective. Even life's most mundane or difficult moments can feel lighter when joy is present. Joy helps us to notice cultivated in the present, and to cultivate optimism. This shift in perspective is more than attitude; it changes how we process and respond to life's events. For example, research shows that people who are available to recognize and appreciate joyful moments are less likely to ruminate on negative thoughts. Instead, they display greater flexibility in their thinking and are better equipped to find solutions to problems. Joy opens the mind. It encourages curiosity, creativity, and the willingness to try new things. This mindset supports mental health and helps us grow as individuals.
Wow! But the goodness of joy does not obey the borders of our internal experience; social connection is a cornerstone of good mental health, and joy strengthens these connections. When we share joyful experiences, we build trust and empathy. We tell our nervous systems, "Here, you are safe." In group settings, joy can be contagious, creating ripples of positive emotion that uplift entire communities. Whether through celebration, music, or shared acts of kindness, joy reminds us of our common humanity.
There is much more to say about joy, but I will stop here (and plan to cycle back in my doctoral studies). I want to close this article with a quote from my dear Uncle Alex: “Kiah, don't start none, there won't be none!." I hope I have started something in you. I hope you will consider the significant value of facilitating opportunities for your clients to choose joy or modeling how to choose joy (especially when it is challenging).
Peace, comfort, and joy to you and yours!
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.
Friday, September 19, 2025 9:00am-11:00am
Online Via Zoom
2 CE Credits
Sponsored by
How Can I Help? Answers for Therapists Without Much Training in Eating Disorders
with Alli Spotts-De Lazzer, LMFT, LPCC, CEDS-C
A note from our presenter, a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Consultant:
The inspiration for this presentation comes from years of feedback well-summarized by this note: “I think a lot of clinicians see a client with an eating disorder and think, ‘That’s above my pay grade. Automatic pass.’ I’d love to know how a non-specialist (like me) can help!” So, we’ll start there. It’s true that it takes thousands of hours to learn to treat people with eating disorders, but to be helpful? All clinicians can do that. Instead of an eating disorders 101-type workshop, this presentation will address the questions most frequently asked by therapists, such as “Why are these disorders so resistant to treatment?,” “What gets in the way of non-specialists giving effective care?,” and – the heart of this workshop – “How can I help?”
Educational Goals/Learning Objectives:
To increase practitioners’ knowledge of eating disorders.
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
Presenter:
Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is an LMFT, LPCC, and CEDS-C (Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Consultant.) Her public advocacy includes writing for Psychology Today, authoring MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, and Body Image Issues, designing social-media literacy content, and creating the nationally recognized #ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance! – a mental health initiative providing education through dance. Dedicated to professional advancement, she has published in academic journals, developed eating disorders training curricula, taught at major conferences, and held leadership roles with top professional associations. Her contributions have been honored by the City of Los Angeles, International Association for Eating Disorders Professionals, and American Psychiatric Association.
For more information, contact Course Organizer/CE Networking Chair Alexandra Levins-Trail.
Event Details:
For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, Students, & Related Professionals
When: Friday, September 19, 2025 from 9:00am-11:00am
8:30-9:00: Check-In 9:00: Meeting/Presentation Begins 11:00: Meeting/Presentation & Related Announcements End 11:00-11:30: Participant Announcements (optional)
If you are interested in expanding your professional networking, sign up for Participant Announcements when you register. This segment is from 11:00am-11:30am, and is an optional 1/2 hour after the presentation.
After the presentation we will provide you with a link to a simple online test and evaluation questionnaire. When the test questions and the evaluation are completed, you will be provided with an online CE Certificate that can be personalized with your name and license information and either printed or saved on your computer.
Where: Online Via Zoom (Your registration confirmation email will include the Zoom link and instructions for accessing the event. A reminder email will be sent prior to the event.)
Cost: $25 for LA-CAMFT MembersOther CAMFT Chapter Members CSCSW Members $15 for Prelicensed Members Other CAMFT Chapter Prelicensed Members $35 for Non-Members $20 for Prelicensed Non-Members
*Registration closes Thursday, September 18 at 10:00pm.*
(To be sure you receive any information we send prior to the event, please add networkingchair@lacamft.org to your known contacts or safe list and check your bulk, junk or promotions mailboxes for any emails from us about this event.)
Register online today! We look forward to seeing you on Zoom.
CAMFT Approved Continuing Education Provider 59450. LA-CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs. LA-CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
This course meets the qualifications for 2 continuing education credits for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
To receive CE certificate: Participants must sign in/sign out, and must complete an evaluation form upon course completion. For a Course Schedule, please contact Course Organizer at NetworkingChair@LACAMFT.org.
Refund policy: 48-hour notice required for refund of fee minus $5.00 administrative cost. Exceptions can be made for 48-hour notice in cases of emergency. Contact Course Organizer at NetworkingChair@LACAMFT.org.
Accommodations for Special Needs: Contact Course Organizer at NetworkingChair@LACAMFT.org.
Grievances: Program Administrator/CFO manages all grievances—and will acknowledge, investigate and remedy grievances. Response to grievances will be made in writing within 30 days. Contact them at cfo@lacamft.org.
Getting Paid: The Power of Specializing and Identifying Your Niche in Private Practice
Lynne Azpeitia, LMFT, Voices Editor
Standing Out in Today’s Market
In today's marketplace, having a niche, and knowing what it is, allows a therapist to carve out a distinct identity and differentiate their practice from others in their local area and in the profession.
By identifying and specializing in a particular area of expertise—whether it's trauma therapy, working with children or teens, couples counseling, or mindfulness-based interventions—a therapist positions themself as a go-to authority in their area of practice. Also, today, potential clients are more likely to seek out specialists for their unique psychotherapy needs, making it easier for people to find and choose you and the services you excel at and like to provide.
Establish Your Expertise and Credibility
Specializing in a niche solidifies a therapist’s reputation as an expert or professional with knowledge and experience in their chosen area. Clients are drawn to practitioners who demonstrate deep knowledge and experience in addressing their specific concerns—ADHD, LGBTQIA+, Multi-racial, Neurocomplex, Pre-natal, Chronic Illness, etc.
By honing your skills and staying abreast of the latest developments in your therapeutic niche, you build trust and credibility with both clients, colleagues, job recruiters, and referral sources. This expertise not only attracts more clients to your practice but also helps foster a sense of confidence and satisfaction in your work as a therapist.
Reduce the Likelihood of Burnout
One of the greatest challenges facing private practice owners is the risk of burnout. Working with a diverse range of clients with varying needs and issues can be emotionally draining and overwhelming. Having a niche allows therapists to focus their energy and resources on serving a specific population that aligns with their interests and strengths. By working primarily with clients who fit within a therapist’s niche, a therapist can reduce the likelihood of experiencing compassion fatigue and burnout.
Attract Your Ideal Clients
When a therapist specializes in a niche, the therapist attracts clients who are a better fit for their practice and therapeutic approach. These "ideal clients" are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and receptive to the therapist’s interventions. By working with clients who resonate with your niche as a therapist, you create a more fulfilling and effective therapeutic experience for you and your clients. This alignment leads to better outcomes, increased client satisfaction, and stronger therapeutic relationships.
Enhancing Referral Networks
Having a niche or specialty makes it easier to establish and maintain referral networks with other professionals in your field. When colleagues know exactly what type of clients you specialize in, they're more likely to refer suitable clients or job opportunities your way. This targeted approach to networking not only generates more referrals but also strengthens collaborative relationships with other practitioners and related professionals. As a result, the therapist becomes an integral part of a supportive network of professionals who are aware of and sensitive to your passion and vision.
Conclusion
In the realm of private practice, having a niche isn't just a luxury; it's a strategic advantage. Specializing in a specific area of expertise allows a therapist to stand out and be seen in the marketplace, establishes the therapist as an expert, as well as attracts their most ideal clients, and reduces their risk of burnout.
When therapists focus their efforts on a niche that aligns with their interests and strengths, they are more likely to create a thriving practice that not only meets the needs of their clients but also nourishes the therapist’s own well-being and professional fulfillment.
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.
Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Therapists Community Group
First Monday of Every Month
Next Meeting: Monday, September 8, 2025 9:30am-10:30am
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.
For: Licensed Therapists, Associates, and Students
When: Monday, September 8, 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
The Day I Hired A Maid
Chellie Campbell, Financial Stress Reduction Expert
"There are three ways to get something done: Do it yourself, employ someone, or forbid your children to do it." -Montana Crane
I was breathless on the treadmill. Not the one in the gym—the one in my head. It said I had to work smarter, harder, longer, faster. I was president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, on the board of the Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades, and running my business management company with thirty clients and four employees. Work consumed my life.
On this particular afternoon, I had to leave the office early. I was having friends over for dinner and my condominium was a mess. It needed a thorough cleaning before I could let anyone inside. I threw myself into the work—vacuuming the floors, doing the dishes, dusting everything, cleaning the furniture, washing the bathroom. It took me three hours, I didn’t do a great job and it wasn’t fun. Now I was tired and wanted to rest, but it was time to cook the dinner! By the time my friends arrived, all I wanted to do was sleep.
Something was wrong with this picture. As I cleaned up after the dinner was over, I analyzed the situation. I had made a decision to save money on cleaning services by doing my house cleaning myself. At first glance, this looks like a good, solid, money-saving idea. I was accustomed to being self-sufficient. But I soon saw the flaw in my reasoning. If I had stayed at work for those three hours instead of cleaning my house, I would have billed my time at $40 per hour and made $120. I could have paid a maid $40 to clean my house and I’d have been ahead $80. And the maid would have a new client and be more prosperous, too!
I hired a cleaning service the next day. A few years later, I graduated to caterers. Now, that was a truly heavenly day.
Make money doing what you love and you can pay other people to do the other stuff. What’s your least favorite task? Delegate it today!
Today’s Affirmation: “It is a pleasure to prosper myself and others!”
You are a Master Delegator.
Did you know that? Here’s how to prove it:
Did you make the clothes you’re wearing? Did you make the car you drive? Do you repair the car when it breaks down? Did you make the computer or smart phone where you’re reading this blog? Did you make the paper you write on, the chair you sit on, pipe in the water you drink, grow the food you eat, build the house you live in?
No?
Master Delegator You!
So what’s the problem hiring someone to do your accounting or shopping or cooking?
It’s all the same. You just think some of this stuff is “your job”. Get over it.
Make money doing what you love and you can pay other people to do the other stuff.
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.
Black Therapist Support Group
Second Monday of Every Month
Next Meeting: Monday, September 8, 2025 6:00 pm-7:30 pm (PT)
A safe place for healing, connection, support and building community. In this group, licensed clinicians, associates and students can come together and process experiences of racism (systemic, social, and internalized), discrimination, implicit bias, and micro-aggressions, along with additional experiences that therapists of African descent encounter in the field of mental health. As the late great Maya Angelou once said, “As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal someone else.” May this space, be the support needed to facilitate that journey.
Open to LA-CAMFT Members and Non-Members
For more information, contact the Diversity Committee.
When: Monday, September 8, 2025, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm (PT) Time of Check-In: 5:50 pm
Member Article
Claiming Your Unlived Life
Joanna Poppink, LMFT
What happens when a woman in midlife begins to explore the life she hasn’t lived?
Perhaps it starts with a strange dream, a sudden fatigue around roles once embraced, or a quiet ache that no longer responds to the usual comforts. Maybe she finds herself drawn to symbols she doesn’t yet understand, or her body begins speaking in new ways—through illness, insomnia, or a burst of creative longing.
It may start with the last straw. The woman cries alone in the bathroom yet again, her pain disregarded, demeaned, or ignored. She is shocked and is forced to silently stand by while her parent or employer makes a financial or social decision that she knows will cause pain, loss, or unnecessary hardship. She may suddenly notice a long, subtle pattern of her being undermined as she struggles to maintain her prescribed role while also reaching out to develop new skills, awareness, or talents.
This woman is not broken. She is rallying her energy to bring her vision to life. She is pioneering.
The Call of the Unlived Life
Many women arrive at midlife having followed scripts written by others—family, culture, religion, or survival. They may have succeeded by external standards while remaining disconnected from inner truth. The soul, however, is patient. In midlife, it often begins to speak louder.
This is the territory of the unlived life—the dreams deferred, the truths silenced, the gifts buried under duty and conformity.
To turn toward this life is an act of courage. It is the first step on the path of the consciousness pioneer.
Consciousness Pioneers: Women at the Edge of Becoming
Carl Jung described the pioneers of consciousness. He said pioneers of consciousness are people who step beyond cultural and collective norms. They move beyond artificial identities and do their individual and authentic deep inner work. For women, this often means challenging the patterns that have defined “a good woman” for generations: be pleasing, self-sacrificing, silent, small.
The consciousness pioneer within a midlife woman begins to ask different questions:
These questions are not casual curiosities. They are doorways.
Breaking Your Silence, Reclaiming Power
When a woman dares to voice the truth of her inner experience—especially in a world that rewards her for suppressing it—she breaks generational silence.
This is not rebellion for its own sake. It is self-restoration. And in doing so, she does not just transform herself. She quietly shifts the culture around her. She makes room for other women to do the same.
Body, Dream, and Symbol: Allies in the Journey to Claim Your Unlived Life
Depth psychotherapy invites women to slow down and listen—especially to the parts of themselves they’ve long ignored. Here, the body is not just a vessel but a wise communicator. Dreams are not nonsense but messages from the unconscious. Symbols are not distractions but keys.
Through this work, women discover that they don’t need to be rescued or perfected. They need to be heard, by themselves most of all.
The goal is not to become someone new, but to become who they have always been beneath the roles.
Living Your Unlived Life: A New Model of Strength and Maturity
The consciousness pioneer becomes a new model of feminine strength—not defined by control or compliance, but by awareness, presence, and inner authority.
She may still feel fear. She may grieve time lost. But she now moves with a deeperknowing.
This is the real work of midlife—not fighting age, but stepping into the power of meaning.
Depth Psychotherapy as Companion on the Path
This journey is not meant to be walked alone. In depth psychotherapy, we create a trustworthy space to explore the unlived life, interpret dreams, decode symptoms, and recover the wisdom buried in early wounds.
Together, we follow the symbols. We honor the losses. We open to the new.
It is not a linear path. But it is an honest one based on the truth of real emerging identity.
Reflection Questions on the Path to Your Unlived Life
If you are entering this territory, take your time. You might begin by asking:
You are not the only one waking up in this way. Women across the world, in private and quiet ways, are turning inward and discovering that midlife is not the end—it is the turning point.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out. I offer depth psychotherapy for women ready to step into this sacred and life-changing work.
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
Therapists of Color Support Group
Meets Every Quarter
Next Meeting: Sunday, October 12, 2025 11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT)
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.
Event Details: Sunday, October 12, 2025 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT) Time of Check-In: 10:50 am
In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.
Maya Angelou
Rediscover the Joy of Play in Your Relationship
Kim Scott, LMFT
It’s not uncommon for couples to come into therapy feeling disconnected, stuck in a routine, or like business partners managing the logistics of family life. Many describe evenings that follow a familiar script: make dinner, clean up, care for the kids and pets, maybe watch some television, then off to bed—only to do it all over again the next day.
The energy it takes to keep daily life running often leaves little left for fun, connection, or each other. Over time, conversations dwindle. Instead of sharing thoughts, dreams, or even stories from the day, couples fall into parallel lives. Weekends tend to bring more of the same, just with extra chores. Eventually, one or both partners ask: Is this all there is?
My answer? A wholehearted No! There’s more—but to find it, couples often need to rediscover the simple, powerful practice of play.
Why Play Matters
Play isn’t just for kids. It’s also one of the most effective ways for adults to connect. Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, reminds us that play can spark joy, deepen intimacy, and strengthen the emotional bonds that carry couples through life’s challenges.
In fact, play activates the brain’s pleasure centers, releasing endorphins—the same “feel-good” chemicals that boost mood and increase resilience. As the saying goes, “neurons that fire together, wire together.” When couples laugh, move, and explore together, they’re strengthening the neural pathways that associate each other with joy. Over time, that emotional wiring helps couples weather stress and feel closer in the process. Or as Dr. Brown says “people who play together, stay together.”
Play can also alleviate boredom, reduce symptoms of depression or anxiety, and improve your overall sense of well-being. And best of all, it’s fun.
“But We Don’t Have Time to Play…”
This is the most common concern I hear. Between work, parenting, and managing a household, carving out time for play can feel impossible. But here’s the truth: play isn’t a luxury—it’s a form of self-care and relationship maintenance.
Not only does play support mental health and creativity, but it also models balance and emotional connection for your children. When kids see their parents laughing, engaging, and having fun together, they’re witnessing a healthy, thriving relationship. That’s one of the greatest gifts we can give them.
What’s Your Relationship’s “Play Personality”?
When I talk about play, people often assume I mean sports, board games, or video games. While those count, play comes in many forms. In his book Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, Dr. Brown outlines eight “play personalities” that show how unique our preferences can be:
These categories offer a framework for discovering how you and your partner might enjoy playing together. For instance, being an Explorer doesn’t have to mean international travel—it might look like taking a cooking class or diving into a new book series.
Making Play Personal
In my own relationship, my husband and I share Kinesthetic and Storyteller play styles. We take daily walks, swim, and occasionally play tennis or dance. We’re also big fans of movie nights, live theater, and what we call our “nerd dates”—afternoons spent browsing bookstores and reading side by side. We also share the stories of our day with each other, which adds a layer of connection that often gets lost in busy routines.
You and your partner likely have your own blend of play personalities. Take some time to reflect: What did you used to do for fun when your relationship was new? What made you laugh or lose track of time together?
And remember, your shared play style may differ from your individual ones. My husband, for example, is more of a Creator than I am, and that's something he explores on his own.
Getting Started: Adding Play Back In
Play is meant to be spontaneous and enjoyable—not another item on your to-do list. Start by talking with your partner about the types of activities you used to enjoy together or new ones you’d like to try. Make a list of both small, everyday ways to connect and bigger, special experiences to plan for the future. Some ideas might include:
The goal is to have fun and reconnect, not to be perfect. If you can both feel “in flow”—that wonderful state where you’re engaged, present, and time seems to disappear—you’re on the right track.
So let go of the pressure, keep it light, and just start playing again. As the saying goes, laughter truly is the best medicine—and for relationships, it might just be the glue that holds everything together.
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's Therapists of Color Grant Award & Awardees
Marvin Whistler, Mediator, TOC Grant Award Committee Chair
On June 29, 2025, the most recent awardees of the LA-CAMFT TOC GRANT AWARD were randomly selected. They are Cassandra Butcher and Jacquelyn Perez. 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 September 8, 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
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 September 8, 2025 and will close on November 1, 2025. The drawing will take place on November 2, 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
Join Our Mailing List
For other 2025 issues, visit the "About" tab
Past Issues:
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019 2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
