The 2024 Conference Workshops were selected by the TAMFT Conference Committee and volunteer TAMFT member reviewers. Descriptions of each workshop are listed below, including times and CEUs. Please note that the schedule is subject to change.
Once registered for the annual conference, you will receive an email from our online scheduling platform to reserve your spot in the workshops below. If you are registered but have not received this email, please contact [email protected].
Not sure how to use Sched, our online scheduling platform? Watch this quick tutorial to learn your way around:
Thursday, April 11, 2024, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (1.0 CEU)
What MFTs Need to Know about Collaborative Divorce (1 CEU)
MFTs working with couples contemplating divorce are uniquely positioned to empower divorcing couples to utilize non-adversarial divorce options that can improve post-divorce outcomes for families. Collaborative Divorce is a private legal process in which a professional team guides the family through the process with a focus on dignity and cost-efficiency.
Becky Davenport, Ph.D., LMFT-S
Equipping Religious Parents of LGBTQ+ with SFNT (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Therapeutic techniques for Christian and religious parents of LGBTQ+ youth and young adults have been under-represented in clinical literature. Solution Focused Narrative Therapy (SFNT) provides family therapists with a therapeutic framework that can empower these families to recognize their capabilities to become an accepting, affirming family system.
JoAngeli Kasper, MS, LPC, Ph.D. student in Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas Wesleyan University
Men & Therapy (1 CEU)
Our society de-emphasizes men asking for help. Men are to be independent, strong, and self-reliant. This presentation reveals the current literature on mental health resistance by the male population and gender role conflict and creates dialog to generate ideas that might be helpful in encouraging men to seek mental health assistance.
Felix Vara, LMFT-Associate, MSCJ, MS, MS Psychology; Steven Loredo, LMFT-Associate, BS, MS Psychology
Treating Infidelity in the Digital Age (1 CEU)
This presentation endeavors to contemporize infidelity treatment modalities, addressing the complexities arising from infidelity and perceived breaches of trust in today's technological era. By exploring innovative approaches, we aim to equip professionals with updated strategies to navigate and resolve issues stemming from modern interpersonal dynamics and digital interactions.
Trevor White, MS, LMFT
Guiding Communication in Couples Post-Infidelity (1 CEU)
This session will cover how therapists can navigate betrayal trauma, changes in communication, and therapeutic approaches to assist clients, with attention to culture and attachment styles. Participants will also learn how to apply elements of emotionally focused therapy and solution-focused brief therapy to infidelity treatment.
Elizabeth Love, BS, MFT Intern; Chase O'Neal, BA, MFT Intern; Rebecca Lucero Jones, Assistant Professor, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Thursday, April 11, 2024, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (1.0 CEU)
Growth-focused Curriculum and Supervision for MFT (1 Supervisory CEU)
The presenters will provide a clinical curriculum layout and supervision process that optimizes MFT trainees' learning and growth in a CACREP-accredited program. Fostering an environment where students and faculty with different professional identities collaborate closely is essential for nurturing a dynamic educational community. Participants will learn a purposeful curriculum based on student developmental needs and program culture. Participants will also gain insights on distinct learning and supervision tasks in each semester throughout a training program.
Wen-Mei Chou, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S; Jason Martin, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S
TSBEMFT Update (1 Ethics CEU)
Protect your license by learning about recent and upcoming rule changes and common violations from Board Members. Board Members will also answer questions, hear your ideas on improving licensure in Texas, explain the many challenges facing licensure, and explore your role in change.
Lisa Merchant, Ph.D., LMFT; Russ Bartee, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S
The Power of an Amicable Divorce (1 CEU)
Couples often come to therapy to heal their marriage. But what if there is nothing to heal and the marriage itself is over? Is there a reason to pursue therapy? There is, and that reason is to work towards having an amicable divorce.
Joyce Miles-Jacquote, LMFT-S, LCDC
MFTs Working with Incarcerated Youth (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Existing literature shows the efficacy of family therapy for incarcerated youth, but there is limited literature regarding the experiences of MFTs who provide care in this setting. In this workshop, we will discuss the history and present concerns of MFT providers in juvenile justice settings.
Jaida Pryor, MS; Rebecca Lucero Jones, Assistant Professor, LMFT-S, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Creating Financial Intimacy with Attachment Theory (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Money is one of the top causes of stress in relationships. Our beliefs about money (our money scripts) are often developed at an early age. Using Attachment Theory, participants will learn how to address these early scripts and create Financial Intimacy for couples.
Sean Stokes, Ph.D., LPC-S, LMFT-S
Thursday, April 11, 2024, 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. (1.0 CEU)
Community Empowerment Through Creativity (1 CEU)
The session will look to introduce ideas of using creativity in a community context to engage individuals, families, and community members in order to develop resiliency and connectivity while utilizing education and prevention information to aid in reducing risk factors and increasing empowerment.
Susana Lewandowski, LMFT
Family-Centered Care for Non-English Speakers (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
In our attempt to highlight a family-centered approach to address successful patient outcomes, we incorporate the perspectives of Pediatric Development Specialists and their experience of working on an interdisciplinary care team to serve non-English speaking patients and their families.
Federico Mendez, LMFT; Misty Schmidt, LMFT Associate; Elizabeth Love, BS, MFT Intern
Virtual Therapy in Times of Change and Challenge (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
We will discuss multiple virtual therapy experiences at our university-sponsored clinic at Our Lady of the Lake University. We will reflect on our strengths-based, narrative, and collaborative practices with English and Spanish-speaking clients residing throughout Texas. Our cases will include experiences with suicide, agoraphobia, and acculturation.
Carlos Ramos, Ph.D., LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Program Director, Assistant Professor; Julian Crespo, Ph.D., LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Assistant Professor, RGV Clinic Director; Deborah Healy, Psychologist, LPC, Professor, Department Chair of Psychology Department
Ethical Considerations for Clients in Wheelchairs (1 Ethics CEU)
Despite the prevalence of wheelchair use, minimal guidance is available for marriage and family therapists about how to best ethically support this community in the therapeutic space. This workshop highlights ethical dimensions, barriers, and the necessity for enhanced training to ensure MFTs maintain high standards of care and inclusivity.
Julie Smith, BS; Cameron Brown, Ph.D., LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Understanding the LGBTQIA+ Community (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
This session addresses basic knowledge for providing therapeutic services to clients, including terms, pronouns, and aspects of identity to maintain competence and compliance with ethical standards.
Kaity Swecker, MS
Friday, April 12, 2024, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (1.0 CEU)
Neosystemic Theory: A response to complexity (1 Ethics CEU)
Join us to co-create a response to the complexity and multidimensional influence that exists in the 21st century, embracing the foundation of systemic theory. We will discuss how this complexity impacts therapy, supervision, ethics, and cultural responsiveness, and extends beyond the field of marriage and family therapy.
Nelliana Acuna, LMFT-S; Candance Runaas, LMFT-S, LPC
Trauma in Healthcare: A Brief, Intensive Workshop (1 CEU)
Patients in primary healthcare settings are more likely to present with comorbid symptoms of PTSD (Schleyer et al., 2022). Brief, intensive group treatment for healthcare settings can capture this group. Through experiential activities and didactic instruction, participants will practice provider consultation and conduct pre-screening assessments for a group trauma clinic.
Annalise Bernardino, MS, PLMFT; Michelle Dalton, Ph.D., LPC, AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate
Develop MFT Expertise: Learning Essential Skills (1 Supervisory CEU)
Rather than focusing on getting more training in a therapeutic approach, research shows that you’ll get better therapy outcomes focusing on improving specific therapy skills! This presentation presents a new tool for improving the facilitative systemic intervention skills (FSIS) of systemic therapists. This measure has implications for clinical work, research, and training/supervision.
Adam Jones, Ph.D., LMFT Associate, AAMFT Approved-Supervisor; Holly Eddy, Ph.D., Kate Hilton, BS
Deconstructing Toxic Masculinity in Therapy (1 CEU)
The audience will be guided in thinking critically and philosophically about a phenomenon known as "toxic masculinity." This session will also present research findings from men and their views towards masculinity. The session will offer implications for working with men in therapy for the next generation of therapists.
Carlos Perez, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC
Incorporating Hope to Facilitate Change (1 CEU)
We will explore working with couples and families using strengths-based approaches to enhance hope. We will explain the common factors for change and the role that clients’ hope and expectancy play in helping clients reach their goals. We will illustrate how using strengths-based approaches facilitates hope and expectancy and leads to change.
Bernadette Solorzano, Psy.D., LPC-S; Deborah Hendren, Psy.D.; Debbie Healy, Psy.D.
Friday, April 12, 2024, 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. (1.0 CEU)
The Interpersonal Self (1 CEU)
DBT is known for outstanding outcomes for those who struggle with impulsive, harmful behaviors. IFS is an innovative relational therapy model that quickly creates transformational change. In this presentation, we explore an approach to treatment that combines them where they converge – in the mindful and the interpersonal.
Leila Anderson, MMFT, LMFT-S, LCDC; Chava Raymes, LMFT Associate
Self of Therapist Using a Chicana Feminist Lens (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Hispanic women reflect on their journey of internship through a Chicana Feminist lens, more specifically, Anzaldua's theories of nepantla, conocimiento, and choque. Panelists will discuss struggles with identity, sense of belonging, and MFT competency within a White-dominated profession. Implications for future supervision and training are discussed.
Priscilla Dominguez; Rebecca Lucero Jones, Assistant Professor, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Black Women Associates & Imposter Phenomenon (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Imposter phenomenon is an experience in which high-achieving individuals feel like they are frauds in their earned status. In this workshop, participants will explore the research on the imposter phenomenon, discuss how it may impact Black women associates, and discover strategies to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon.
Felicia Holloway, Ph.D., LPC-S, LMFT-S, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
So you want to start a private practice (1 CEU)
This workshop will take you through the ins and outs of starting your private practice. Topics include practice management software, whether or not to take insurance, and how to protect yourself.
Timothy Parker, Ph.D., LMFT-S (TX), LMFT (CO)
Friday, April 12, 2024, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (1.0 CEU)
DSM and Systemic Therapy: Ethical Considerations (1 Ethics CEU)
Despite the common use of diagnosing using the DSM, many marriage and family therapists lack ethical guidance in their practice. This workshop will examine ethical and practical considerations of using DSM diagnoses, their utility, and pitfalls within systemic frameworks, including over-diagnosing, insurance, and self-diagnosing.
Kai-Tang Chang, M.D.; Nathan Smith, BS; Cameron Brown, Ph.D., LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
PMADs: Identification, Intervention & Treatment (1 CEU)
In this session, explore the role therapists play in promoting the emotional well-being of expecting and postpartum clients. Attendees will gain diagnostic clarity around presentations of PMADs, evidence-based identification practices, prevention and support strategies, and resources for continuity of care for clients experiencing perinatal mood or anxiety disorders.
Hailey Frazier, Licensed Psychological Associate
The Optimal Sexual Connection: The Role of Flow (1 CEU)
This workshop explores the relationship between flow and sexual satisfaction. My first-of-its-kind research examined whether couples can experience a state of flow during sex. My study found that not only did couples experience flow, but that doing so predicts sexual satisfaction. Flow training could thus aid in treating low desire.
Emily Jamea, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist
Identifying Your Personal Self-Care Paradigm (1 CEU)
This workshop will help you reconsider the goals of self-care in response to shifting personal paradigms. This reconsideration contrasts with traditional views of self-care that seek to maintain equilibrium between personal and professional realms. It aims to emphasize the nurturing of the self while discovering one’s personal paradigm.
Violeta Kadieva, Ph. D., LMFT-S, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Systemic Therapy with Transgender Clients/Families (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Family support can strongly influence the mental health of transgender individuals. This session will provide information on current social and political issues that are impacting transgender clients and their families, as well as practical recommendations/interventions for strengthening family relationships and increasing support for your transgender clients.
Mary Keyhan, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT; Samantha Vokey
Friday, April 12, 2024, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (1.0 CEU)
MFTs & Medicine: A Primary Care Primer (1 CEU)
The current session will discuss an overview of the state of U.S. healthcare delivery, especially in the primary care system and what MFTs need to know to effectively partner with medical colleagues and appropriately care for patients with medical conditions.
Katherine Bergs, Ph.D., LMFT; Jesse Kao, MD
Reducing Relationship Conflict Using the NDIC (1 CEU)
Participants will be introduced to a framework that aids in identifying the Negative Dyadic Interactive Cycle between two people. The purpose is to educate clinicians on how to create a map of their clients' common, cyclical arguments in order to reduce conflict and bring about healing and healthier communication.
Michelle Browning, MA, LMFT-S
Realities: Supporting Male Survivors of CSA (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) affects children of all genders with a stronger detrimental impact than other traumatic childhood experiences. Despite a growing awareness of male survivors of CSA, males tend to be marginalized as most CSA research focuses on females. In addition, masculine norms can keep male adults from disclosing.
Liz Burch, MFT Student, MS Psychology; Adriana Gil-Wilkerson, Ph.D., LMFT-Supervisor, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Navigating Cultural Sensitives with Muslim Clients (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
This presentation engages clinicians who wish to be more culturally competent and to better serve clients who identify as Muslim. This presentation provides both a research-based presentation of the Muslim population and an understanding of how history, values, and a few key ideas and a healthy bit of nuance can better prepare clinicians for more meaningful engagement with their clients.
Zahra Somani, LMFT
Updates on Recent MFT Advancements (1 CEU)
This year, many new areas of advancement for MFTs have already been realized, including enrollment and roll-out as Medicare-eligible providers and the easing of licensure portability barriers in many states via Access MFTs. Join AAMFT staff as they discuss these and other key efforts and answer questions you may have about how this can impact your work.
Roger Smith, Chief Advocacy Officer/General Counsel, AAMFT & Amanda Darnley, Chief Strategy Officer, AAMFT
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (3 Supervision CEUs)
Educator's Summit:
Rehearsal Space: Providing Safe, Effective Environments that Encourage Therapist Growth in the Age of AI
In the process of therapy education, there is arguably no more essential task than providing a safe, effective method for students to “rehearse” their therapy skills before engaging with actual clients. While there are a number of different methods for doing so, the rapidly growing world of generative AI provides a radical new paradigm for student preparation. This session for the Educator’s Summit will feature a summary of some of the traditional, tried-and-true methods of therapy “rehearsal,” how generative AI may change therapy education for better or worse, the role that internship sites and program gatekeeping play, and an open discussion among educators about the challenges and opportunities for initiating students into the process of therapy.
Jason Martin, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S; Timothy Parker, Ph.D., LMFT-S (TX), LMFT (CO); Wen-Mei Chou, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (1 CEU)
Integrating Reunification Therapy and EMDR (1 CEU)
Reunification Therapy or family therapy with resist/refuse dynamics can be a daunting process, even for the most skilled family therapist. Distress on the part of the children and each of the parents can block the goals of treatment. Learning to integrate EMDR treatment can assist in handling the distress of each of the family members.
Susan Fletcher, Ph.D.; Christy Graham, LPCS RPTS certified EMDR, Advanced Consultant
Treating Clients Who Have Transcending Experiences (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Some individuals have unexplained experiences and resist coming to treatment because they feel that they will be perceived as psychotic. Transpersonal events transcend the personal to a higher form of consciousness. These events may be extraordinary peak happenings that occur during spiritual, religious, or paranormal experiences.
Paul Jurek, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S; Traci Baskin, MS, LMFT
Inviting Your Multicultural Self to Supervision (1 Supervisory CEU)
In this workshop, we will work on exploring all of the identities of oppression and power of a clinician's multicultural self and discuss how to incorporate these in the supervision process. We will dive into the paradox of privilege and explain how Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) guides safe conversations about differences. We will utilize two activities, "the flower of oppression and power" and the "multicultural self," in order to demonstrate this.
Violeta Kadieva, Ph.D., LMFT-S, AAMFT Approved Supervisor; Artaya Brown, Ph.D., LMFT
To Tell or Not To Tell: Disclosing Infidelity (1 CEU)
This presentation will walk clinicians through the topic of potential disclosure of infidelity, exploring relational power dynamics and outcomes, along with boundaries needed in the process. It will help clinicians understand the disclosure process can be used for shame reduction and to build connection, rather than as punishment.
Laney Knowlton, LMFT-S, CSAT, CPTT, CCPS, CMAT, IAT, CST, ACCRS-S
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. (1.0 CEU)
Sexual Wisdom and the Female Brain (1 CEU)
I am not looking for RIGHT or WRONG, I am just looking for ME! Everyone should understand their sexual brain science. The Neurological sexual self is not to be feared, but to be embraced. It is okay to be your sexual self. First, you must know who you are, the secret part of yourself that only one finds after a deep dive into the subconscious Limbic Systems (Alpha, Theta, Delta). NRT is a new way to view the sex brain and how it plays out biologically, socially, psychologically, and spiritually. Therapists will be able to walk away with new techniques and knowledge of how to better serve their clients with sexual issues and or trauma.
Traci M. Baskin, LMFT, RTT, Doctoral Elect PhD Clinical Sexologist, Author
Unlocking the Power of Attachment-Informed Sex Therapy (1 CEU)
Embark on a transformative journey into the intersection of attachment theory and sex therapy with clients, Designed for therapists seeking to expand their expertise, this program explores the profound impact of attachment dynamics on sexual well-being and relationships.
NaTasha Jones, Ph.D., LPC, MSMFT, PMH-C
TCK's: How to help those from different countries (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
Third Culture Kids are people who have been raised in countries outside of their parent's passport countries. Third Culture Kids have unique experiences that give them unique struggles. We will learn what Third Culture Kids are, some common struggles, and some solutions for them.
Jeffrey Proctor, LPC; Rebekah Proctor, Certified Life coach, Third Culture Kid Debriefer, and Third Culture Kid Caregiver
Mind-Body Medicine: Trauma-Work Beyond Therapy (1 CEU)
Tools for healing trauma have been used for decades by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine. They are provided in group settings and are led by trained para-professionals and professionals alike. Clergy, teachers, health-care workers, pre-licensed clinicians, and other helpers have successfully run these groups. Join this workshop for an introduction.
Susan Levin, Ph.D., LMFT- Supervisor, LPC- Supervisor, Faculty, Center for Mind-Body Medicine
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (1.0 CEU)
Dar a Luz: Bringing Perinatal Loss to Light (1 CEU)
The presentation "Dar A Luz: Bringing Perinatal Loss to Light " covers various essential perinatal loss and grief support topics. The introduction provides a brief overview of perinatal loss, emphasizing its definition, scope, and the significance of addressing perinatal grief in mental health practice. The presentation delves into understanding the emotional dimensions of perinatal loss, including grief responses and unique challenges in this context. It also explores cultural and societal factors, such as stigma and cultural variations in grieving processes. The presenters offer treatment options and encourage mental health professionals to gain or expand competency through ongoing professional development in perinatal grief support.
Candace Runaas, LMFT-S, LPC
Gender Role Expectations & South Asian Women (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
This session explores recent research on South Asian American women and the impact of gender role expectations on their well-being, sexuality, and relationships. In this interactive and experiential session, we will delve into the findings, discuss how this applies to your own experience, and how to take the learnings from this in therapeutic conversations in order to better serve this population.
Zahra Somani, LMFT
Activities to Help Teens Create Success Storylines (1 CEU)
The session will focus on creative group activities to help teens create success storylines. Activities will help teens deconstruct old, negative scripts to create a wide range of possibilities for future outcomes. The emphasis is to tap into the client’s creative power to co-author and co-construct their realities. This interactive training will provide participants with the opportunity to implement group skills to restore patterns of hope for teens.
Mee-Gaik Lim; Ph.D., AAMFT Approved Supervisor, LPC-S, LMFT-S; Melissa Cromartie, LPC
Narrative Therapy & EMDR: Trauma, Addiction & Teens (1 CEU)
Many adolescents in addiction treatment have experienced complex trauma from extensive physical and sexual abuse. In our experience, EMDR alone often results in a re-experiencing of trauma. Combining EMDR with narrative therapy facilitates a firmer grounding process, fewer abreactions, and a sense of hope for clients who are easily overstimulated.
George Pate, Ph.D., AAMFT Approved Supervisor, LMFT-S, LPC-S, ADC III (Texas Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Diplomate), ICADC (International Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor); Autumn Collings, MS, AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate, LMFT-S (Texas), LPC (Texas and Alaska), LCDC; Kristi Zimmerman, MS, LMFT, LPC, LCDC, EMDR certification
When State Laws Conflict with Ethical Guidelines (1 Ethics CEU)
In our session, we will discuss recent legislation that prohibits marriage and family therapists from providing affirmative care to LGBTQIA+ clients. We provide guidelines for creating an ethical decision-making process in navigating laws that interfere with standards of MFT practice as outlined by AAMFT.
Savannah Honarbakht, MS, LMFT Associate; Rebecca Lucero Jones, Assistant Professor, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. (1.0 CEU)
Ethical, POMO* Practices with LGBTQIA Adolescents (1 Ethics CEU)
As educational settings change, practitioners need current ethical frameworks that resonate with today's youth. Postmodern perspectives emphasizing fluidity, multiple truths, and social constructions of reality may help LGBTQIA adolescents navigate school and identity. Presenters will examine how postmodernism can be smoothly integrated into LGBTQIA-friendly school therapies and pedagogies.
Baldemar Menchaca, BA; Adriana Gil-Wilkerson, Ph.D., LMFT-Supervisor, AAMFT Approved Supervisor; Ezequiel Peña, Ph.D.
How To Have More Sex - Easing Couple Distress (1 CEU)
By drawing upon the concept of Emotional Intimacy, this session will assist clinicians in working more effectively and productively with couples in distress to assist them in achieving a higher level of overall relational success - especially sexual satisfaction.
Susan Tschudi, LMFT
Reimagining Working with Marginalized Communities (1 Cultural Diversity or Competency CEU)
There is no doubt that rates of mental illness have skyrocketed in recent years. Individuals are dealing with more fear, anxiety, anger, and uncertainty differently than in the past. Furthermore, societal issues like racial disparities, financial instability, health concerns, governmental issues, etc., further exacerbate mental illness. The implications of mental illness are often nuanced in marginalized communities because of the systemic factors associated with it. There is a growing awareness of mental illness and even the need to seek therapeutic services, but often, individuals do not receive adequate care because of barriers in place. These barriers can be internal or external, thus, the solution may require us to take a systemic lens. This means considering historical and contextual factors that impact mental illness, challenging norms that mental illness may look different for marginalized groups, and balancing resilience despite adversities. The solution requires reimagining how we view mental illness both as individuals, clinicians, and as a society.
Denise Williams, Ph.D., LMFT