Member Spotlight

Shontâ Price, LMFT

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a unique employment history.

Early on I dabbled in acting and was an extra on hit television shows such as Pacific Blue with Mario Lopez and Moesha with Brandy. I was in music videos (most notable: “Foolish” with Master P.) and was a seat filler for the Soul Train Awards, Lady of Soul Awards, The Grammys, and several daytime talk shows. I’ve also worked in banking and finance, and was a Workers Compensation Claims Professional, to name a few other areas of employment expertise. 

On a totally different career path, I was a Research Assistant under the direct supervision of Dr. Marquita Gammage, researching racial, historical, medical, educational, economic, and political ailments that psychologically and socially affect African American women.

What inspired me to become a therapist is that in every job setting that I have been in, I was in a helping role, psycho-educating people on how to unblock themselves. Many people would ask me questions like, “Are you a therapist?” or say to me, “You would be a good therapist!”. That feedback led me to pursue a career in mental health beginning as a Crisis Line Intake Evaluator, then a Patient Navigator, and then as a Peer Advisor and Mentor.  Currently, I provide mental health services in a community-based setting.

Areas of practice that I’m most passionate about are helping children, adolescents, families, couples, and individuals struggling with biracial and multi-ethnic barriers, trauma, and life-cycle problems. Using evidence-based interventions, I have helped diverse clients struggling with addiction, divorce, child custody battles, and involvement with child protective services.

I’ve found that life can bring both the expected and the unexpected, sometimes leaving us feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed. Therapy can be a powerful place to pause, reflect, and begin moving toward a more connected and meaningful life.

I learned about LA-CAMFT through the big CAMFT website and was motivated to join the Black Therapist Support Group (BTSG) meetings. Those groups aroused my curiosity to explore the organization as a whole and brought me into a community of like-minded welcoming people!

Since joining LA-CAMFT, the most valuable part for me has been the close-knit community.  I was pleasantly surprised by the dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm that each one of the members contribute to the organization.

We all know that therapy work can feel isolating at times, although that has decreased since I joined LA-CAMFT.  The leadership of this organization and the diversity of the members have become supportive peer relationships for me.

Because historically the mental health field tends to lack diversity, being part of the Black Therapist Support Group allows me to feel included, supported, acknowledged, and has helped with peer guidance. The meetups have allowed me to help my peers avoid the pitfalls that I endured with the licensing exam, accruing hours, networking, and developing meaningful connections outside of therapy.

Professional development supports that I learned about through LA-CAMFT that have really stood out to me are the Black Therapist, White Therapists Fighting Racism, and MENA therapist community support groups. The icing on the cake has been the in-person socializing at the Spring Fling and Annual Summer Picnic events!

Trainees and associates can benefit from joining LA-CAMFT as they are learning the differences between working in community-based settings verses private practice, and figuring out what directions they want to head.  It can be extremely helpful to find guidance by a community of professionals who are actively involved outside of higher education.

I’m most excited about the warm, friendly people as I continue my journey with LA-CAMFT.  Being part of this professional community has increased my confidence as a clinician by having a community that embraces, encourages, and empowers me, allowing me to pass it forward to others.

Want to experience it? Be in attendance and feel the warmth!

Shontá Price, LMFT is a California native who earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. With 20+ years of experience, Shontá offers a warm, nonjudgmental space grounded in a trauma-informed, holistic approach, honoring the whole person with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for their journey. She works with adults, teens, children, couples, and parents navigating challenges like depression, anxiety, bullying, low self-esteem, grief, and life transitions. She draws from psychodynamic, somatic, and attachment-based therapy, while also integrating evidence-based practices such as CBT and DBT.

LA-CAMFT invites two members each month to be featured in the Member Spotlight section of Voices - a new member (less than 5 years), alongside a long-time member (5+ years).  Candidates are chosen by current chapter leadership based on their regular participation in and contributions to LA-CAMFT. If you are an LA-CAMFT member and would like to be considered, please reach out to MembershipChair@LACAMFT.org and introduce yourself with the subject line “Member Spotlight Consideration” for more information.

Member Article

When Political Differences Hurt Relationships

Steven Unruh, MDiv, LMFT

Have you ever looked across the dinner table at your spouse and wondered, “When did we become opponents instead of partners?” Maybe a political discussion started as a simple disagreement but slowly grew into something much bigger. Conversations became arguments. Arguments became resentments. Before long, you find yourself avoiding certain topics altogether—or avoiding each other.

If you’re wondering whether political differences are damaging your marriage beyond repair, you’re not alone.

When Politics Starts Affecting Your Marriage

Political disagreements have always existed in relationships, but in recent years, many couples have found those differences becoming more intense and personal. What once felt like a difference of opinion can begin to feel like a difference in values, priorities, and even identity.

The challenges often show up in everyday life. Conversations become tense. Family gatherings become stressful. Decisions about children, finances, education, or social issues become battlegrounds.

~ What begins as political disagreement can spill over into every aspect of the relationship. For many people considering divorce, the deeper struggle isn’t just about politics. It’s the emotional exhaustion of feeling misunderstood by the person who is supposed to understand you best. It’s feeling dismissed, judged, or disconnected.

No one enters a marriage expecting political differences to drive them apart. It can feel unfair that something happening outside your home now has so much power inside it.

A Better Way Forward

Whether your goal is to strengthen your relationship or move through divorce with less conflict, there are steps you can take to create a healthier path forward.

1. Identify What the Argument Is Really About

Many political arguments aren’t always about politics. 

A disagreement about a public issue may reflect deeper concerns about safety, fairness, freedom, family values, or personal identity. When couples focus only on political topics, they often miss the underlying emotional needs driving the conflict.

~ Ask yourself:

• What am I really afraid of?
• What value am I trying to protect?
• What need am I hoping my spouse will understand?

It’s hard to be VULNERABLE when you are not getting along.  Try to explain to your partner that these political arguments cause you to feel disrespected and possibly patronized.  

When couples learn to discuss the deeper issues beneath the disagreement, meaningful conversations become possible again. 

2. Separate Opinions from Character

One of the most damaging patterns in relationships is assuming that a spouse’s political beliefs reveal everything about who they are as a person. It’s possible to disagree strongly without viewing each other as enemies.

~ Healthy relationships require recognizing that people are more than their opinions.  When disagreements become personal attacks, trust begins to erode. When respect remains intact, productive conversations become much easier.

3. Focus on What you do have in Common

Even couples with significant political differences often share important priorities.

They may both want:

• Financial stability
• Healthy children
• Strong family relationships
• Personal freedom
• A secure future

~ Finding common ground can bring deep satisfaction to a relationship.  It can REMIND you as to why you love this person.

Common ground doesn’t eliminate disagreement, but it reminds couples that they are working toward many of the same outcomes.

Returning to shared goals can help shift the focus from winning an argument to strengthening the relationship.

4. Decide Whether the Relationship Can Support the Difference

Not every disagreement is manageable.

~ In some cases, political differences reveal fundamentally different values that create ongoing conflict. When couples repeatedly find themselves unable to communicate respectfully or make important decisions together, they may need to evaluate whether the relationship remains healthy and sustainable.

This is not a decision to make impulsively.  Taking time to reflect, seek guidance, and have honest conversations can provide clarity before making major life decisions.

Ready to Find a Better Path Forward?

Political differences can place enormous strain on a marriage, but they don’t have to define your future.

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

General Mentorship Program

Attention: Looking for Interested Volunteers - LA-CAMFT General Mentorship Program (GMP) Committee

Jenni J.V. Wilson, LMFT, LA-CAMFT President 2021 & 2026

Under guidance from the respected leaders of the celebrated Therapists of Color Mentorship Program (TOCMP) and founding members of the White Therapists Fighting Racism (WTFR) group, LA-CAMFT is looking for interested and enthusiastic volunteers to help plan, build, manage, and champion a General Mentorship Program that would be open to all eligible LA-CAMFT members by the end of 2027. 

Like the TOCMP, the GMP would be… 

“…intended to help bridge the gap by identifying and creating opportunities for growth and advancement in the field, guide clinicians across various stages of professional development, increase accessibility and sustainability in the field, and assist therapists… to confidently provide services from their culturally authentic self.”

https://lacamft.org/Therapist-of-Color-Mentorship-Program

LA-CAMFT recognizes the need for professional mentorship that considers the unique needs of the individual, understanding and honoring the importance of LA-CAMFT’s commitment to Diversity, Community, and Inclusion.  The formation of a GMP Committee and creation of a larger mentorship program are not efforts intended to come at the expense of the TOCMP, but rather to fortify and expand opportunities within the chapter to more fully “address inequities experienced by professional mental health therapists of color and intersects with other historically marginalized groups.“

https://lacamft.org/TOC-Mentorship-Committee

The hope is for any larger program to uphold LA-CAMFT’s commitment “to ensuring quality mentorship for therapists of color by therapists of color”, while cultivating and connecting potential mentors and mentees from the broader LA-CAMFT membership, including those from non-TOC-identified marginalized groups.

Leadership always welcomes volunteer leadership inquiries from committed members who embrace and align with the purpose of LA-CAMFT’s Declaration of Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism:

“We in LA-CAMFT leadership hereby affirm our solidarity with those individuals and groups most at risk and further declare that embracing diversity and fostering inclusivity are central to the mission of our organization…

…We hope to inspire empathy, advocate for social and environmental justice, and provide an ethical framework for our clients, our community, and ourselves…

“…We are committed to doing our part to help remedy that which we have the position, privilege, and/or resources to do so.

“… all members are welcome regardless of race/ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, disabilities, religion, regional background, Veteran status, citizenship, status, nationality and other diverse identities that we each bring to our professions…

“…In a diverse community, the goal of inclusiveness encourages and appreciates expressions of different ideas, opinions, and beliefs, so that potentially divisive conversations and interactions become opportunities for intellectual and personal growth. LA-CAMFT leadership wants to embrace this opportunity to create and maintain inclusive and safe spaces for all of our members, free of bias, discrimination, and harassment, where people will be treated with respect and dignity and where all individuals are provided equitable opportunity to participate, contribute, and succeed.”

https://lacamft.org/LA-CAMFT-Declaration-of-Inclusion-Diversity-and-Anti-Racism/

In March’s President’s Message, I spoke of mentorship as an Act of Joyful Resistance, and I still believe that to be the case.  This is another opportunity for members to heed the call to action and stand up to any divisive forces by demonstrating how developing connections between us reduces the chances of destruction between us.  With that in mind, I encourage you to consider how your participation as a member of the GMP formation committee, or as a mentor next year, might strengthen the community and our profession for years to come.

If your interest is piqued you can reach out to Keonna Robinson at TOCmentorshipProgram@lacamft.org or Randi Gottlieb at rgottliebmft@gmail.com for more information.

Paz y Amor,

JJVW - Jenni June Villegas Wilson

Jenni J.V. Wilson, LMFT (she/her): As a collaborative conversationalist passionate about empowering and advocating for marginalized groups and underrepresented voices, Jenni uses an integrative approach based on post-modern principles to provide culturally-mindful and trauma-informed therapeutic services and clinical supervision. She works with creative, anxious, mixed race/culture, and co-dependent clients on improving and eliminating toxic relationships, while increasing authentic expression. She has a BA in theatre from Occidental College, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University LA, and is trained in EMDR, Brainspotting, and certified in Narrative Therapy. She is an accomplished writer, has produced/co-hosted multiple podcasts, worked in addiction treatment for nearly a decade, and sees the “worried well” in her private practice in Sherman Oaks. Website: www.JenniJVWilson.com

LA-CAMFT Diversity Committee

presents

Therapists of Color Support Group

Meets Every Quarter

Next Meeting:
Sunday, 2026
11:00 am-1:00 pm (PT)

Online Via Zoom

*A facilitator is being identified and the September meeting details will follow shortly.*

Contact diversitycommittee@lacamft.org if you have any questions.

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, January 2026 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

https://lacamft.org/Diversity-Committee

LA-CAMFT’s Declaration
of Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism

Psychotherapy can be transformative in a democratic society, and can open intellectual inquiry that, at its best, influences and results in lasting positive change. In recognition of our shared humanity and concern for our community and world, LA-CAMFT loudly and overtly disavows all racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, classism, ableism, ageism, and hate speech or actions that attempt to silence, threaten, and degrade others. We in LA-CAMFT leadership hereby affirm our solidarity with those individuals and groups most at risk and further declare that embracing diversity and fostering inclusivity are central to the mission of our organization.

As mental health professionals, we value critical reasoning, evidence-based arguments, self-reflection, and the imagination. We hope to inspire empathy, advocate for social and environmental justice, and provide an ethical framework for our clients, our community, and ourselves.

We in LA-CAMFT leadership are committed to:

(1) the recognition, respect, and affirmation of differences among peoples

(2) challenging oppression and structural and procedural inequities that exist in society, generally, and in local therapeutic, agency, and academic settings

(3) offering diverse programming content and presenters throughout our networking event calendar, as well as in our workshops, trainings, and special events

While we traverse the turbulent seas of the important and necessary changes taking place in our country, in order to form a “more perfect union.” we wish to convey our belief that within our community exists an immense capacity for hope. We believe in and have seen how psychotherapy, therapeutic relationships, and mental health professions can be agents of positive change, without ignoring or denying that the practice and business of psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy have historically been the cause of great harm, trauma, and emotional toll, particularly for people of color and other marginalized groups. We are committed to doing our part to help remedy that which we have the position, privilege, and/or resources to do so.

At LA-CAMFT events, all members are welcome regardless of race/ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, disabilities, religion, regional background, Veteran status, citizenship, status, nationality and other diverse identities that we each bring to our professions. We expect that leadership and members will promote an atmosphere of respect for all members of our community.

In a diverse community, the goal of inclusiveness encourages and appreciates expressions of different ideas, opinions, and beliefs, so that potentially divisive conversations and interactions become opportunities for intellectual and personal growth. LA-CAMFT leadership wants to embrace this opportunity to create and maintain inclusive and safe spaces for all of our members, free of bias, discrimination, and harassment, where people will be treated with respect and dignity and where all individuals are provided equitable opportunity to participate, contribute, and succeed.

We value your voice in this process. If you feel that our leadership or programming falls short of this commitment, we encourage you to get involved, and to begin a dialogue with those in leadership. It is undeniable that the success of LA-CAMFT relies on the participation, support, and understanding of all its members.

Wishing good health to you and yours, may you find yourself centered in feelings of abundance, safety, belonging, and peace.

Standing together,
The LA-CAMFT Board of Directors and Diversity Committee