Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy upcoming events

Family Therapy for Caregivers of Older Adults (May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs! - 1 Cultural Competency and 1 Ethics*

Liam O’Sullivan is a psychotherapy student at Saint Mary’s working towards LPCC pre-licensure, with a focus on existential-humanistic counseling for people experiencing loss. He recently emigrated from the UK, where he worked as a mental health and palliative care nurse in settings including community HIV services and hospice care, as well as co-authoring qualitative healthcare research. He has served diverse groups since 2006 including majority Bangladeshi and Black British inner-city hospital populations, immigrants to the Twin Cities, and the LGBT+ community. Outside of his studies, he enjoys the Minnesota Orchestra, national parks, and pulpy werewolf novels.

Tamara is a passionate advocate for older adults and their families. In her private practice she sees adult individuals, couples, families, and groups. Her work focuses on maintaining quality of life in the face of health challenges, wellbeing while caregiving, and support throughout grief and loss. Tamara is an adjunct professor at Saint Mary's, a board-approved clinical supervisor in MN and WI, and she engages in collaborative research on topics related to aging, grief, illness, caregiving, and dementia with researchers around the U.S. She enjoys working on her 100 year old house, snuggling her wienerdog, and camping in her teardrop camper.

Description

Chronic illness is almost universal in older adults, with over 80% of people over 65 in the US affected by one condition, and over 60% by multiple. In an aging worldwide population with increasing incidence of chronic difficulties, caregiving is becoming more complex, and increasingly an occupation of individuals and families. Chronic illness itself has both evident and unseen impacts on wellbeing: both for the person who experiences it, and their families, who in turn must decide how to respond to these life transitions, care burdens, and their own reactions. Family therapists are therefore well placed to support caregivers and help alleviate these broad impacts, using theoretical models that recognize the psychosocial dynamics of caregiving beyond the biomedical impact on the individual experiencing illness.

This webinar is led by a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in the care of older adults and their loved ones experiencing chronic and terminal illness, and a former mental health and palliative care nurse turned student psychotherapist, bringing decades of clinical experience across two continents to bear on this topic.

Attendees will be informed on the climate of chronic illness care, the nature of common and serious long-term conditions, and their various physical, social, psychological and spiritual impacts on the individual. Myths, preconceptions, and unseen difficulties of caregivers will be highlighted, delving into caregiver stressors and consequences.

The evidence base and literature regarding chronic illness caregiving in a multicultural context will be examined, to inform the use of therapeutic models of family and couples therapy with caregivers. The role of the family therapist will be addressed, including common therapeutic themes, scope of practice, and practical issues.

Complex ethical and therapeutic scenarios based on the trainers’ clinical experiences will be explored along with trainees, assisting in grounding effective pluralistic approaches and interventions. Finally, attendees will have the chance to ask their own burning questions and receive pointers for further learning.

Objectives:

1. Understand the implications of the increasing prevalence of chronic illness for therapists

2. Explore typical difficulties faced by people with chronic illness and its various impacts on families and caregivers

3. Become aware of the evidence base and models of family therapy related to chronic illness and caregiver stress

4. Describe practical applications of family therapy for clinical work with caregivers

5. Address ethical issues, multicultural needs, and interpersonal elements in working with clients impacted by chronic illness

* This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).

This CE activity is has CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Havening for LMFTs: A Somatic Tool for Trauma, Attachment, and Nervous System Regulation (May 22, 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Earn 1.5 CEUS!*

Nicole Carreon is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with specialized training in EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. A board-approved supervisor, she provides practicum and post-degree supervision for LMFTs and LPCCs. Nicole works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families, with expertise in trauma, addiction, anxiety, relationship concerns, and neurological conditions such as tinnitus, misophonia, and hyperacusis. Certified in Havening Techniques® since 2022, she integrates this neuroscience-based approach into her practice and education, helping clients regulate their nervous systems and heal from trauma through gentle, effective, and transformative psychosensory methods.

Holli Engelhart is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who earned her MSW from the University of St. Thomas–College of St. Catherine in 2009. Trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, and certified in Havening Techniques®, she also serves as a Minnesota Board of Social Work–approved supervisor. Discovering Havening was a turning point in her career, revealing its powerful potential to reduce distress and heal unresolved emotional experiences. Holli is dedicated to integrating this neuroscience-informed approach into her practice and is inspired by the profound, lasting change Havening can create for individuals seeking relief from trauma.

Description

Havening for LMFTs: A Somatic Tool for Trauma, Attachment, and Nervous System Regulation is a hands-on, approachable training created for marriage and family therapists who want to add a powerful, neuroscience-supported tool to their clinical work. Havening Techniques® use gentle touch, sensory input, and guided processing to help calm the nervous system, lower emotional distress, and create a greater sense of safety. In this seminar, LMFTs will learn how these techniques can easily fit into systemic work to support emotional regulation and healthier relationship patterns. Grounded in current research on trauma and neuroplasticity, Havening offers a simple yet meaningful way to help clients shift out of fight-or-flight states and into a place where connection and healing feel more possible. Because LMFTs often work with clients carrying attachment wounds, trauma histories, and chronic stress, Havening blends naturally with relational therapy by addressing not just thoughts and feelings, but also the nervous system responses that drive them. Throughout the training, participants will watch demonstrations, join in discussion, and learn how to use Self-Havening to regulate their own nervous system. We’ll explore how the techniques can be applied with individuals, couples, and families, and how they can increase emotional safety and support client regulation during challenging moments.

Objectives:

1. Understand the neurobiological foundations of Havening Techniques® and how psychosensory touch supports deactivation of the amygdala, reduces distress, and promotes nervous system regulation within individual, relational, and family therapy.

2. Identify ways to integrate Havening into systemic and relational treatment, including its application for attachment injuries, emotional regulation challenges, trauma symptoms, and relational conflict patterns.

3. Demonstrate beginner-level Havening interventions—such as Self-Havening exercises and apply them ethically and effectively within the LMFT scope of practice to enhance client safety, stabilization, and emotional processing.

* This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).

This CE activity is pending CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

MAMFT May Board Meeting (May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT Monthly Board Meetings are open to the public and MAMFT members are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the board's efforts and current projects

Friday May 29, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 12pm (Central Time - Chicago)

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/zyu-rhgy-eip?hs=224

Questions about attending a board meeting? Contact MAMFT's Secretary Jenn Geryol at Secretary@MAMFT.net

Compassion Fatigue & Vicarious Trauma (May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!*

Dr. Sunitha Chandy , Psy.D., a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Artesian Collaborative, has worked with diverse individuals and communities for over 20 years. She aims to equip people with skills to tap into their resources during painful and tense situations. Her commitment to community-based and systemic thinking has led her to bring skills beyond the therapy room into diverse environments, including Fortune 100 companies, Small Businesses, NGOs, Nonprofits, community organizations, hospital systems, and private practice. Her expertise in developmental psychology, trauma-informed care, cross-cultural engagement, and working with high-risk populations in her clinical work has equipped her to aid teams, even those with intense conflict, in reaching a place of shared understanding and engagement.

Sithara Vincent is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and licensed yoga and meditation instructor. They have experience in organizing and supporting restorative justice and social justice initiatives with a passion for bridging gaps in communication within communities in need of support. Throughout their career, they have had the opportunity to provide mental health services directly to a wide variety of communities. Their experiences have provided them with the needed facilitation skills to lead large group training events, small groups, and community-based interventions. Sithara utilizes a somatic-focused, strengths-based, and person-centered approach within all facets of their work. In a training or community setting, they excel at fostering safe spaces for teams to work through tension together. Their work focuses on creating connection and providing sustainable skills to maintain the work outside of sessions. They value community and believe that healing and growth often happen in these supported group spaces.

Mel Burbules, M.Ed, individual, couple and family therapist with Artesian Collaborative, believes in the power of authentic, collaborative relationships to foster personal growth. Drawing on her background as a professional opera singer, she helps clients connect with their true “voice.” Her work is grounded in Person-Centered Therapy, feminist theory, and advocacy, with a focus on anxiety, identity, trauma, and the impact of systemic injustice—especially for women of color and LGBTQIA+ clients. Melanie’s compassionate, curiosity-driven approach supports clients in aligning with their most authentic selves.

Description

Core Concepts

What is Compassion Fatigue

The concept of compassion fatigue and related terms such as chronic stress and vicarious trauma will be explored. Participants will complete a questionnaire to gauge their risk of compassion fatigue and burnout to help conceptualize the ways these issues arise for themselves and their teams.

The Impact of Trauma

Whether you experience trauma firsthand, witness it, or work with those affected, trauma disrupts lives and communities. We will explore how trauma disrupts people's lives from a physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, relational, and systems perspective to reduce judgment and stigma around the costs of caring. We’ll explore how working with those who have experienced trauma can lead to the vicarious experience of trauma.

Healing Power of Vulnerability

To heal our experiences, we need to allow ourselves to be vulnerable internally and with our communities. We will explore the forms of vulnerability that lead to burnout and the ways to build self and community care to utilize vulnerability as a strength to support individual and team health.

Skills to Engage

Mindful Stewardship

Sometimes we actively disengage from painful things as a form of self-protection. Building awareness of the impact of trauma is part of your stewardship as well as maintaining a connection to hope and joy. Finding the balance between responding to pain and seeking joy is a core component of trauma stewardship and a mandatory aspect of sustainable trauma care work.

Community Care Skills

Our session closes with continued discussion on skills that address keeping these topics in our awareness and building a regular system to address their impact. We will share skills to lower distress and manage burnout for ourselves as well as how to continue to support others.

Key Takeaways

This training will give you an overview of the concepts of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. The main takeaway will be how best to care for yourself while continuing to care for others.

Objectives:

1. Explore compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma, and how they manifest.

2. Recognize and assess the multidimensional impacts of trauma on individuals and those caring for them

3. Score your risk of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout.

4. Evaluate how the dimensions of your identity impact your experience of vicarious trauma

5. Articulate how varying identity factors shape how we navigate and cope with the impact of trauma.

* This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).

This CE activity is pending CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

How to Integrate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging into Our Work with Clients (June 03, 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!*

Dr. Kimmery Newsom, Ph.D., LMFT, CFLE, is a marriage and family therapist, educator, and author with nearly 20 years of experience in mental health and higher education. She is the founder and CEO of Kimmery Newsom, LLC, a therapist and education consulting business. Dr. Newsom directs the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Licensed in MN, WI, and KS, she specializes in trauma recovery, racial trauma, and cultural issues. A skilled clinician and researcher, she’s first author on Culture and Diversity in Family Life Education (2020, 2025). Newsom is also a sought-after speaker on diversity, equity, inclusion, and White racial identity development.

Description

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) are definitely topics that have a place in marriage and family therapy (MFT). It is important that we address them, as the majority of MFT providers are white and female. This presentation will be centered around our ethical responsibility for developing an ongoing cultural competence, understanding cultural humility, identifying microaggressions, and the psychological impact that they have on our clients.

During this presentation, we will examine the ways that we can educate ourselves on the different cultural aspects clients present with, and how we can be more aware of our own biases. We will talk about intent v impact and how they are necessary for awareness. We will have opportunities for questions and have case examples so it will be an interactive session as well. You will learn principles related to ways to converse with clients regarding your questions about their ethnic heritage, their mindset regarding different cultures between you, as their provider and their family. Additionally, we will address issues that arise for you with work that you do with clients who are of a different cultural background as you. Privilege, power and difference will also be discussed. It is imperative to examine how privilege can be used to create scenarios in sessions that change power dynamics related to difference.

Objectives:

1. Explore Cultural Education: Learn about different cultural aspects that clients may present and how to become more aware of your own biases.

2. Understand Intent vs. Impact: Discuss the importance of intent and impact in fostering awareness during interactions.

3. Engage Interactively: Participate in an interactive session with opportunities for questions and case examples to enhance understanding.

4. Address Privilege and Power Dynamics: Examine how privilege and power influence relationships and discuss ways to manage these dynamics effectively in professional settings.

* This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).

This CE activity is pending CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Feedbackology: Receiving Hard Feedback and Growing From It (June 11, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!*

Lonnie Weaver-Johnson is a dynamic and authentic public speaker known for her infectious energy, humor, and memorable storytelling. With more than 20 years of experience leading organizational change and developing people, she brings a passion for transformation to every event. Lonnie specializes in performance management, knowledge sharing, and conflict resolution, helping individuals and teams grow with confidence and clarity. A seasoned educator and mentor, she connects with audiences through practical tools, real-world stories, and a genuine commitment to creating positive, productive workplaces.

Description

Have you ever received critical feedback that felt like a gut punch and wished you responded differently? You're not alone. Receiving tough feedback is like being told your zipper is down. You can probably benefit from knowing, but it's still embarrassing. It stings because we're professionals who want to do our best, and someone just pointed out a growth area. This can happen in the office, with colleagues, or at home.

Learning you're not at the top of your game never feels good. This session teaches you how to receive tough feedback with grace, and what to do with it once you have.

Objectives:

1. Explain why receiving critical feedback is essential for personal and professional growth.

2. Identify the benefits of feedback and how it builds trust and performance.

3. Recognize their emotional responses and manage their mindset before, during, and after feedback.

4. Practice strategies for receiving and responding to feedback with curiosity and confidence.

5. Apply learnings to build feedback resilience.

* This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).

This CE activity has CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Book Club: Before Gender: Lost Stories from Trans History, 1850–1950 (June 11, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Join Emily Coler-Hanson in discussing "Before Gender: Lost Stories from Trans History, 1850–1950" by Eli Erlick.

In Before Gender, historian and activist Eli Erlick uncovers a rich and often overlooked history of gender diversity in the century before modern identity labels like “transgender” came into use. Spanning from 1850 to 1950, the book draws on personal narratives, medical case studies, and archival records to highlight individuals who lived outside conventional gender norms across different cultures and regions. This book invites readers to reflect on how language, culture, and power influence our understanding of gender, past and present, and offers a compelling foundation for thoughtful discussion.

Participants receive 5 CEUs* that meet criteria for cultural competency.

Date: Thursday, June 11th

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Hybrid, in-person and virtual

Maple Grove Library (8001 Main Street N, Maple Grove, MN 55369)

Virtual attendees will receive a Zoom link via email after registering.

*CEUs are approved by the MN BMFT- participants must read the book prior to the event to secure CEUs

Engaging Tension of Diversity (June 15, 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!*

Dr. Sunitha Chandy, Psy.D., a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Artesian Collaborative, has worked with diverse individuals and communities for over 20 years. She aims to equip people with skills to tap into their resources during painful and tense situations. Her commitment to community-based and systemic thinking has led her to bring skills beyond the therapy room into diverse environments, including Fortune 100 companies, Small Businesses, NGOs, Nonprofits, community organizations, hospital systems, and private practice. Her expertise in developmental psychology, trauma-informed care, cross-cultural engagement, and working with high-risk populations in her clinical work has equipped her to aid teams, even those with intense conflict, in reaching a place of shared understanding and engagement.

Sithara Stohr is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and licensed yoga and meditation instructor. They have experience in organizing and supporting restorative justice and social justice initiatives with a passion for bridging gaps in communication within communities in need of support. Throughout their career, they have had the opportunity to provide mental health services directly to a wide variety of communities. Their experiences have provided them with the needed facilitation skills to lead large group training events, small groups, and community-based interventions. Sithara utilizes a somatic-focused, strengths-based, and person-centered approach within all facets of their work. In a training or community setting, they excel at fostering safe spaces for teams to work through tension together. Their work focuses on creating connection and providing sustainable skills to maintain the work outside of sessions. They value community and believe that healing and growth often happen in these supported group spaces.

Description

Core Concepts

Understanding Yourself

Your perspective of the world is shaped by the identities you see and focus on. This section provides the foundation for how we see the world and how our experiences are shaped by identity factors we are and are not exposed to in development. This section creates the foundation for normalizing blindspots and ways we can increase awareness to address them.

Tension of Bias

This section explores the progression from blindspots to unconscious bias, to microaggression. The environmental and personal impact of unconscious bias and microaggressions on the person committing a microaggression, the person receiving it, and those observing it are discussed.

Tension of Privilege

Through activity and discussion, participants explore the concept of privilege and how it impacts social interactions. The tension around historic and situational aspects of privilege is discussed along with the different perspectives those with and without privilege may have.

Approaching Differences

There are many ways to approach uncomfortable and new experiences. This section provides a framework that focuses on normalizing the tension inherent in cross-cultural interactions and values and behaviors that enable people to stay open to diverse experiences.

Skills to Engage

Preparing for Tension

We will review skills focused on preparing yourself for situations that you expect may lead to tension. These skills will also assist you in reflecting on your own identity and experiences and understanding how this affects your interactions with others. The goal of these skills is to help you develop an internal awareness of how you respond in moments of tension in order to care for yourself and engage with others.

Approaching Differences

Our training will explore the approaching differences model. This skill allows you to reflect on what kind of internal space you are engaging from. We then process together how to shift toward interactions that follow a pathway of openness and empathy.

Key Takeaways

Engaging the tension of diversity provides foundational skills to interact in ways that align with a pathway of openness in moments of tension. We all have moments when we fall off this pathway, for many reasons. The key goal of this training is to help you recognize when this is happening so that you can reflect and intervene in order to work your way back to an open pathway to support the vital work you do as a mental health professional.

Objectives:

1. Examine tension's purpose and its positive impact on individual and team growth and engagement.

2. Analyze how individual identity influences perspectives and group interactions.

3. Define microaggressions and discuss their impact on the aggressor, victim, and observer.

4. Explore different experiences of privilege based on different aspects of identity.

5. Recognize the two responses to differences in conflict situations and evaluate actions to foster a culture of belonging.

* This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).

This CE activity is pending CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Conference Committee Meeting (June 19, 2026)

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT monthly Conference Committee Meetings are open to MAMFT members; they are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the committee's efforts and current projects.

Meetings are held at 9 AM on the third Friday of the month.

Conference Committee

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nvi-giyc-vxx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 224-650-8394‬ PIN: ‪458 599 924‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/nvi-giyc-vxx?pin=1187684657982

Questions about attending a meeting? Contact MAMFT's Training Director at devin@mamft.net

MAMFT June Board Meeting (June 26, 2026)

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT Monthly Board Meetings are open to the public and MAMFT members are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the board's efforts and current projects

Friday Jun 26, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 11am (Central Time - Chicago)

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/oxk-ycgi-uxa?hs=224

Questions about attending a board meeting? Contact MAMFT's Secretary Jenn Geryol at Secretary@MAMFT.net

Understanding Antisemitism: Impacts and Approaches for Mental Health Providers (June 27, 2026)

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!*

Loni Fagel, MA, MEd, LPCC, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, EMDR Certified Therapist (EMDRIA), EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and international speaker specializing in expressive arts therapy. Her work integrates neuroscience, creativity, and trauma-informed practice to support healing from grief, medical trauma, and intergenerational trauma, particularly within Jewish identity and experiences of antisemitism. A presenter and co-author of Friends of the Bush: A Journey of Safety and Connection, Loni provides EMDR consultation and trainings worldwide and is an active member of EMDRIA, ACA, IEATA, and AMHCA.

Description

This training explores the historical and contemporary impact of antisemitism on mental health, intergenerational trauma, and resilience. By examining the psychological effects of historical persecution—including the Holocaust—and ongoing antisemitism worldwide, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how these experiences shape identity, community, and well-being across generations.

A key focus of the training will be the role of epigenetics in trauma transmission, providing insight into how historical traumas can affect individuals and communities long after the events have occurred. Participants will explore how antisemitism manifests in today’s world, including the psychological and emotional toll of recent events such as the October 7th attacks in Israel. These discussions will provide context for understanding the reactivation of generational trauma and the unique challenges Jewish individuals and communities face in the present day.

Through discussions, case studies, and practical exercises, clinicians will examine the intersection of identity, trauma, and resilience. The training will equip mental health professionals with the tools to engage in informed and sensitive conversations about antisemitism and its psychological impact while fostering a therapeutic space that promotes healing and empowerment.

Additionally, this program will emphasize the importance of inclusivity and awareness in clinical practice. Participants will develop practical strategies to support clients who have been directly or indirectly affected by antisemitism, historical trauma, and recent global events. By fostering an understanding of the complexities surrounding these issues, mental health professionals can better support Jewish clients and contribute to a more culturally competent and trauma-informed practice.

This training is designed for therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals who seek to expand their knowledge of historical and intergenerational trauma, epigenetics, and the impact of antisemitism in today’s world. By the end of the session, participants will have gained valuable insights and actionable strategies to enhance their clinical work, advocate for inclusivity, and support healing in affected individuals and communities.

Objectives:

1. Understand the historical and contemporary impact of antisemitism on mental health.

2. Explore intergenerational trauma and epigenetics in family systems.

3. Examine the intersection of identity, community, and resilience in therapy.

4. Develop trauma-informed strategies to support Jewish clients.

5. Enhance cultural competency and inclusivity in clinical practice.

* This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).

This CE activity is pending CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Mindfulness Beyond Buzzwords: Theoretical and Philosophical Underpinnings and Clinical Implications of Mindfulness Practice (July 07, 2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!

Colette holds a BS in Public Health from the University of Southern California and an MA in Organizational Management from Concordia University in St. Paul, MN. She is qualified as a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Instructor through the UCSD Center for Mindfulness and is a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach specializing in Pain Recovery. She has trained in Trauma Aware, Resilience Oriented Practice as well as Mindfulness Interventions for Pain Management and adapting Mindfulness Practice for people who identify as Neurodiverse.

Description

In a landscape where “mindfulness” has been diluted by the marketing industry and self-proclaimed wellness gurus, this workshop returns to its theoretical roots and clinically relevant foundations. We explore mindfulness as a rigorously researched, skills-based training grounded in Buddhist psychology, phenomenology, and contemporary cognitive and affective science. Participants will learn how the structure and pedagogy of the 8-week MBSR program operationalize these philosophies into reproducible, evidence-based therapeutic mechanisms—attention regulation, embodied self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and non-reactivity. The session emphasizes how clinicians can skillfully integrate mindfulness processes (not pop-culture techniques) into assessment, treatment planning, and ongoing care while maintaining ethical clarity, cultural humility, and scope of practice.

Objectives:

1. Differentiate empirically supported mindfulness processes from commercialized misconceptions.

2. Describe philosophical and scientific foundations relevant to clinical practice.

3. Identify how MBSR’s structure operationalizes mechanisms of therapeutic change.

4. Apply mindfulness-informed interventions ethically and appropriately within scope.

Conference Committee Meeting (July 17, 2026)

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT monthly Conference Committee Meetings are open to MAMFT members; they are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the committee's efforts and current projects.

Meetings are held at 9 AM on the third Friday of the month.

Conference Committee

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nvi-giyc-vxx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 224-650-8394‬ PIN: ‪458 599 924‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/nvi-giyc-vxx?pin=1187684657982

Questions about attending a meeting? Contact MAMFT's Training Director at devin@mamft.net

Decreasing Reactivity & Increasing Differentiation: Utilizing Internal Family Systems with Couples (July 17, 2026)

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Earn 2 CEUs!

Margaret Light is an LMFT, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, & LMFT & LPC/LPCC Board-Approved Supervisor. She is Level 2 IFS trained & has completed training in Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO). Her previous experiences include spending several years completing crisis assessments in an Emergency Department, providing in-home therapy to families with CPS involvement, & providing outpatient therapy services. She now sees clients through her private practice, Equilibrium Therapy Services PLLC, where she specializes in trauma, couples, and sex therapy.

Description

This workshop will explore couples therapy from an Internal Family Systems (IFS) lens. This will include exploring how parts language can help couples gain insight into their patterns of interaction within their relationship, while simultaneously increasing their understanding of both themselves and their partners. Therapists will learn how to use parts language and IFS principles flexibly & how to help couples increase their ability to self-regulate & be accountable for their actions. The workshop will conclude with a discussion on how parts language can increase differentiation within couple relationships. Discussions on how to use IFS flexibly & how to integrate it with other therapeutic models are integrated into the course.

Objectives:

1. Therapists will learn how to effectively incorporate parts language and IFS principles into couples’ work, including flexible use of parts language to better fit their clients.

2. Therapists will learn how to track a couple’s pattern of interaction using parts language.

3. Therapists will learn how to utilize parts language to decrease reactivity & facilitate self-regulation within couples’ work.

4. Therapists will learn how to utilize parts language to increase accountability & differentiation within couples’ work.

Supporting BIPOC Queer and Gender Diverse Clients (July 20, 2026)

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Earn 1.5 CEUs!

Joyce Miles Jacquote, LMFT-S, LCDC, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, is the founder and clinical director of Overcoming Miles Counseling, PLLC, a group practice offering telehealth therapy across Colorado, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Her practice specializes in serving romantic partners, queerplatonic partners, and families—however they define themselves—with a focus on inclusive, identity-affirming care. Joyce is especially passionate about working with the Black and Brown communities and Queer communities, bringing both clinical expertise and lived experience to her work.

In addition to her therapy practice, Joyce provides clinical supervision to LMFT Associates and MFT graduate interns, and is a dedicated educator in the mental health field. She regularly gives presentations, appears on podcasts, and writes blogs to advance culturally responsive, accessible care and amplify marginalized voices in mental health spaces.

Description

Clients deserve mental health professionals who are not only skilled but also culturally competent in serving the communities to which they belong. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) clients, as well as Queer and Gender Diverse individuals, often face barriers to finding providers who understand and affirm the complexities of their intersecting identities—especially where race, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender overlap.

This presentation explores how these intersecting identities influence mental health experiences, access to care, and the therapeutic relationship. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the systemic and interpersonal factors that contribute to the challenges faced by BIPOC and Queer/Gender Diverse clients and how to address these factors with compassion, awareness, and skill.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be equipped with practical tools and culturally responsive strategies to support clients at these intersections. Focus areas will include the use of inclusive and identity-affirming language, integrating gender-affirming practices, and applying trauma-informed approaches that recognize the impact of marginalization and discrimination.

In addition, attendees will learn how to create safe, welcoming therapeutic spaces that foster trust and genuine connection. The session emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, cultural humility, and advocacy as ongoing components of ethical and effective practice.

Through a combination of education, discussion, and application, this presentation empowers mental health professionals to strengthen their capacity to serve clients with intersecting identities—helping them to feel seen, understood, and supported in their healing journeys.

Objectives:

1. Define and explain Intersectionality: By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to accurately define the concept of intersectionality and provide at least two examples of how intersecting identities (race, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender) influence mental health experiences.

2. Identify Challenges Faced by BIPOC and Queer/Gender Diverse Individuals: Participants will be able to list at least three unique mental health challenges faced by BIPOC and Queer/Gender Diverse individuals, particularly at the intersection of these identities.

3. Demonstrate Culturally Competent Practices: By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to describe and apply at least three best practices for providing culturally responsive and affirming care to clients with intersecting BIPOC and Queer/Gender Diverse identities, including using inclusive language and trauma-informed approaches.

4. Apply Inclusive Therapeutic Techniques: Participants will demonstrate the ability to integrate inclusive language, gender-affirming practices, and cultural humility into a role-play scenario, showcasing effective therapeutic techniques for clients with intersectional identities.

5. Create Safe and Welcoming Environments for Clients: Participants will be able to identify at least two strategies for creating a safe and inclusive therapeutic environment, ensuring trust and support for clients at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities.

MAMFT July Board Meeting (July 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT Monthly Board Meetings are open to the public and MAMFT members are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the board's efforts and current projects

Friday Jul 24, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 12pm (Central Time - Chicago)

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/osa-rbmw-brd?hs=224

Questions about attending a board meeting? Contact MAMFT's Secretary Jenn Geryol at Secretary@MAMFT.net

Touching Into the Body’s Innate Resiliency - Building Somatic Literacy for Health and Safety (August 03, 2026)

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!

Diane Long (they/them), MHS, SEP, BCTMB, has been practicing trauma-informed therapies for 30 years. An Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) instructor and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), Diane helps people heal from trauma and oppression and build resiliency through embodiment. Diane has built integrative health programs in various youth-serving agencies, most recently at SafeZone in Saint Paul, MN. In January 2024, Diane joined a research project at the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) to develop and implement trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive massage (TCI-Massage) for survivors of torture and war trauma. Diane currently serves as a clinical supervisor and adjunct faculty in massage therapy at Northwestern Health Sciences in Bloomington, MN.

Description

Somatic literacy, the capacity to sense and feel what is happening in our individual and collective bodies, is essential for self-care and safety. It allows us to recognize needs, to set limits, to better regulate internal states, and to make informed choices. This highly experiential workshop combines simple, effective tools from body-oriented therapies like Somatic Experiencing®, Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD), massage, energy work, and yoga. You’ll learn dynamic tools you can apply in your therapeutic practice right away, with individuals or groups. Easy to learn mindfulness skills such as breath, self-touch, movement, and sound help us to grow interoceptive awareness and reconnect to the body’s natural rhythms.

Objectives:

1. Define somatic literacy and its role in building self-efficacy and self-esteem

2. Explore personal boundaries and preferences as a way to increase a felt sense of agency and choice

3. Identify 5 body-centered practices to manage arousal states such as fear, anger, anxiety, or overwhelm

4. Learn to anchor resources in the body by orienting towards pleasure and connection

5. Build habits of self-care as a way to prevent burnout

6. Increase personal comfort using touch and movement in a therapeutic setting

Chronic Illness -Blindness -Mental Health (August 07, 2026)

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Earn 1 CEU!

Rachel Hoff is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She works for Mental Health Counseling Services in Minneapolis, providing telehealth services to individuals dealing with chronic illness, medical trauma, and prenatal and maternal health needs.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. I am trained in trauma-informed practices, early childhood mental health, perinatal mood disorders, first responders, and medical trauma.

I am certified in CBT, and I am almost certified in EMDR.

I use a wide variety of therapeutic modalities at work to help children, teens, adults, and families heal from their life’s challenges.

Along with my education and licensure, I relate to my clients through my own medical journey as I have a rare genetic autoimmune disorder called Senior Lokane Syndrome, and within that syndrome is the eye disease retina pigmentosa.

Description

Have you ever worked with an individual with chronic illness or a disability that conflicted with your knowledge of the health care system? Individuals who have a chronic illness are faced with challenges and daily adjustments that most people don’t have to think through or ever imagine conquering. What if you not only had a chronic illness, but it also leads to a disability that limits your ability to engage with your family, friends, and people, which leads to isolation and fear? Blindness is one of the many chronic illnesses that individuals with chronic illnesses deal with on a daily basis.

Join me in this training as I give you an insider's look at my life as an individual with both chronic illness and blindness. In this training, I will share the facts from leading health care organizations defining chronic illness and blindness that hinder the connection between patient and provider. I will also share resources with you to help you empower your clients to be able to live independently, but also fully equipped members of their community.

Objectives:

1. Identify chronic illnesses and how the definition by global agencies differs from patients' experience.

2. Observe the relationship and connections of chronic illness to blindness.

3. Understand how to engage blind individuals due to their unique needs and wants in the health care system.

4. Learn about community resources to help empower “blind” individuals in the community .

AI is Already Here - Are We Ready to Respond Ethically? (August 17, 2026)

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!

Heather Hessel, Ph.D., LMFT, is a faculty member in the Counseling, Rehabilitation, and Human Services department at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, teaching in the Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) and Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) programs. Her research interests include the young adult life stage, extended family relationships, and the role of technology in family relationships and in clinical practice. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor. Dr. Hessel's clinical interests include the use of technology in clinical practice, mindfulness, and Buddhist psychology.

Description

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly woven into the lives of our clients and, in the process of providing mental health care, whether therapists are in agreement with these trends or not. Clients are already using AI tools to understand diagnoses, prepare for sessions, draft communication, and explore self-help strategies. Agencies and EHR systems are implementing AI-driven documentation and scheduling systems, which will continue to evolve. And therapists themselves are increasingly using AI for note drafting, psychoeducation, research, and administrative support. While these tools offer tremendous potential for improving efficiency and accessibility, they also create new ethical challenges that MFTs must be prepared to navigate.

This workshop offers a grounded, systemic, and practice-oriented exploration of the ethical issues that arise from the use of AI in clinical practice. This workshop begins with a brief description of AI, sharing examples of AI tools that therapists and clients are likely to encounter. We will then shift to a framework for the integration of AI and mental health, connecting each layer of integration with the associated ethical principles. Participants will examine the ethical risks, including confidentiality breaches, inaccurate or biased outputs, boundary complications, documentation errors, environmental concerns, and the potential erosion of clinical judgment. We will connect these risks to the AAMFT Code of Ethics and emphasize areas where AI raises unique concerns not fully addressed by traditional guidelines.

The workshop then shifts toward responsible integration. Through case examples and group discussions, participants will grapple with real-world examples of AI showing up in the therapy room - whether the clients are individuals, couples, or families. We will examine and discuss when, how, under what conditions, and to what extent AI can be ethically used for documentation, assessment, client engagement, case conceptualization, etc.

By the end of the workshop, MFTs will recognize the ways AI is already influencing our clinical practice and understand how our ethical code can help provide guidelines for responsible use.

Objectives:

1. Identify at least three key ethical risks associated with using AI in clinical practice, including confidentiality, competence, and social justice concerns.

2. Evaluate how AI tools can be incorporated responsibly into both administrative and clinical work while maintaining professional ethical standards.

3. Use the principles of the AAMFT Code of Ethics to guide ethical decision-making when faced with real-world situations involving AI and clinical practice.

Conference Committee Meeting (August 21, 2026)

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT monthly Conference Committee Meetings are open to MAMFT members; they are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the committee's efforts and current projects.

Meetings are held at 9 AM on the third Friday of the month.

Conference Committee

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nvi-giyc-vxx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 224-650-8394‬ PIN: ‪458 599 924‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/nvi-giyc-vxx?pin=1187684657982

Questions about attending a meeting? Contact MAMFT's Training Director at devin@mamft.net

Tools for the Therapeutic Toolbox (August 26, 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Earn 3 CEUs!

Nancy Hertz is a retired therapist. She has worked in Forest Lake, MN for over 20 years. She owned Bridges and Pathways Counseling Services Inc. for many years. Nancy has done many Narrative therapy trainings and has found that Narrative therapy has been very effective in her work with clients.

Description

Participants will gain knowledge in using Narrative Therapy skills and tools. Participants will learn when to use each tool in therapy, and the goal of each tool. Topics that the tools cover are diagnosing the problem, coming up with a treatment goal and plan, promoting and helping maintain success in overcoming adversity, promoting better decisions in picking a partner, emotional regulation, work in developing sense of self and ways to highlight words of the client to promote change or reduce the power of internal negative thoughts.

This training will consist of each tool being introduced, demonstrated and then the participants will practice the tools with other participants.

Objectives:

1. Learn about externalizing the problem and how that can be used in therapy

2. Learn about Narrative techniques that promote conversations to encourage change

3. Learn about the power of storytelling in sessions

4. Participants will learn tools that they can use in their therapy sessions

MAMFT August Board Meeting (August 28, 2026)

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT Monthly Board Meetings are open to the public and MAMFT members are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the board's efforts and current projects

Friday Aug 28, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 12pm (Central Time - Chicago)

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jyc-qimd-hyb?hs=224

Questions about attending a board meeting? Contact MAMFT's Secretary Jenn Geryol at Secretary@MAMFT.net

Conference Committee Meeting (September 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT monthly Conference Committee Meetings are open to MAMFT members; they are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the committee's efforts and current projects.

Meetings are held at 9 AM on the third Friday of the month.

Conference Committee

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nvi-giyc-vxx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 224-650-8394‬ PIN: ‪458 599 924‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/nvi-giyc-vxx?pin=1187684657982

Questions about attending a meeting? Contact MAMFT's Training Director at devin@mamft.net

MAMFT September Board Meeting (September 25, 2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT Monthly Board Meetings are open to the public and MAMFT members are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the board's efforts and current projects

Friday Sep 25, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 12pm (Central Time - Chicago)

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yzw-nfpt-ybv?hs=224

Questions about attending a board meeting? Contact MAMFT's Secretary Jenn Geryol at Secretary@MAMFT.net

Conference Committee Meeting (October 16, 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT monthly Conference Committee Meetings are open to MAMFT members; they are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the committee's efforts and current projects.

Meetings are held at 9 AM on the third Friday of the month.

Conference Committee

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nvi-giyc-vxx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 224-650-8394‬ PIN: ‪458 599 924‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/nvi-giyc-vxx?pin=1187684657982

Questions about attending a meeting? Contact MAMFT's Training Director at devin@mamft.net

MAMFT October Board Meeting (October 23, 2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

MAMFT Monthly Board Meetings are open to the public and MAMFT members are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the board's efforts and current projects

Friday Oct 23, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 12pm (Central Time - Chicago)

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/oob-bbdd-gbq?hs=224

Questions about attending a board meeting? Contact MAMFT's Secretary Jenn Geryol at Secretary@MAMFT.net

MAMFT November Board Meeting (November 20, 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

MAMFT Monthly Board Meetings are open to the public and MAMFT members are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the board's efforts and current projects

Friday Nov 20, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 11am (Central Time - Chicago)

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cfo-qsai-ihs?hs=224

Questions about attending a board meeting? Contact MAMFT's Secretary Jenn Geryol at Secretary@MAMFT.net

Conference Committee Meeting (November 20, 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

MAMFT monthly Conference Committee Meetings are open to MAMFT members; they are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the committee's efforts and current projects.

Meetings are held at 9 AM on the third Friday of the month.

Conference Committee

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nvi-giyc-vxx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 224-650-8394‬ PIN: ‪458 599 924‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/nvi-giyc-vxx?pin=1187684657982

Questions about attending a meeting? Contact MAMFT's Training Director at devin@mamft.net

MAMFT December Board Meeting (December 11, 2026)

Fri, 11 Dec 2026 15:00:00 GMT

MAMFT Monthly Board Meetings are open to the public and MAMFT members are encouraged to attend. Join us to learn more about the board's efforts and current projects

Friday Dec 11, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 12pm (Central Time - Chicago)

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/mgm-azgy-gka?hs=224

Questions about attending a board meeting? Contact MAMFT's Secretary Jenn Geryol at Secretary@MAMFT.net