The Racial and Social Justice Committee has offered the first year of The Justice Project: Anti-Racism. RECAMFT has always provided exceptional speakers and opportunities for therapist members to expand their knowledge to keep becoming the best therapists they can be. It is no surprise that therapists took on the The Justice Project: Anti-Racism challenge to do self-education, participate in workshops, and consolidate their learning in discussion groups with other therapists.

One of the many privileges of being a Marriage and Family Therapist is how many lives our work touches and impacts. Each and every therapist that participated in the first year of The Justice Project has learned about the effects of racism on clients’ lives and will have that inform their work. Congratulations to all the therapists who did the work to complete and attest to The Justice Project.

Here are some quotes from therapists about how participating in The Justice Project will impact their work:

“This was profoundly valuable as a professional and, more importantly, as a human. Thank you so much for the encouragement and the platform you've provided to do this vitally important work. It will continue... “

“Crash course in racism. I appreciate the support and encouragement from RECAMFT. I was motivated. “

“Poor people and people of color have been oppressed by white supremacy and institutionalized racism in every single aspect of their lives… In my practice, it is important to remember that clients don't just bring their person to the room, they also bring the system in which they live. “

“I acknowledge the weight of this, the fact that white society by and large is still looking the other way while people of color are brutalized, is part of the root cause of depression, anxiety and despair.”

“This project… in a more comprehensive way…inform[ed] me about the myriad ways black people have had to adjust to survive, and continue to do so. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this project, for the knowledge it gave me and for the language I've acquired to address it constructively. Thank you for putting together this comprehensive training. I look forward to continuing the conversation.”

“It has made me much more conscious of the impact of racial trauma and injustice on human developmental trajectory…”

“I appreciated RECAMFT for putting this package of suggestions together. This work will be ongoing and, though I started reading some of these books in 2020, I probably would not have made a point to continue reading and reflecting further in such an extensive way. I no longer choose to let white silence and fear of "doing the wrong thing" keep me from taking actions when I have the opportunity to express the beliefs I have in my heart. I feel better equipped to do that because of this project.”

“This work engaged me academically as though I was taking a graduate school course on Diversity and Racism. More profoundly I found myself spending time journaling and dialoguing as part of an exploration of self reflection.”

“I realize when I am with BIPOC clients I am now present in a more compassionate way.”

The purpose of RECAMFT is to promote and maintain professional competence and integrity with knowledge, innovation, compassion, humor and respect for human dignity and diversity.

We do this by providing opportunities for networking, education and community outreach.

RECAMFT's Racial and Social Justice Pledge

RECAMFT is committed to equity including addressing structural racism and systemic injustice. We endeavor to be inclusive and value individuals from all ethnicities, ages, races, sexual orientations, genders, languages, abilities, religions, citizenship statuses, and socioeconomic backgrounds into our chapter and into treatment.

We strive to advocate, educate, collaborate, and strategize for positive racial and social justice change within our membership and our community.

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Have you written a book? 

Be sure to let us know so we can include it on our Library page. Email therapy@recamft.org. 

On June 3rd, RECAMFT's Justice Project again hosted Dr. Shawan Worsley, PhD, LMFT of Culture Ally. She facilitated an anti-racism consultation group featuring two of our RECAMFT members presenting cases (thank you Jan Ögren and Emily Linders for participating!).

What I like about Shawan is how she draws one in, as if you’re two old friends catching up on life. Her energy is welcoming, authentic, and accepting. I felt it was easy to think of moments of racism and microaggressions in my life, both experienced and committed unintentionally, and felt comfortable to think about what I could have done differently and to share as needed. It feels important to not only be able to think about the contexts, but to also be able to talk about them. Shawan is very good at sending that message and creating a space for those discussions to happen.

Shawan started off with a meditation then eased into an explanation of and guidance on how to bring antiracism into the therapy room with clients, from the initial assessment forward and throughout treatment. She asked each therapist to share about their case and talked through the points. With each case and therapist, the flow was smooth, engaging, and brought everyone in while addressing the topic of microaggressions and how to be better at antiracism.

The June antiracism consultation group was a wonderfully held ending to the Justice Project’s first year series focusing on antiracism. Shawan was an invaluable guide with this year’s discussion groups (including April’s “13th” movie discussion and May’s “How to be an Anti-Racist” book discussion) and navigating improving ourselves as anti-racist therapists.

For more information or other case consultation opportunities with Dr Worsley or with Culture Ally, please visit their website at https://cultureally.org/ .

If you were unable to attend this or any other CE presentations, please watch the recordings located in the members only section found at recamft.org.

With gratitude from the Programs Committee...

Meet RECAMFT's Prelicensed Chair and Director at Large, Jessica Heaney, AMFT. She is a recent graduate of Touro University Worldwide, and is now working for Seneca's Wraparound Program. Jessica is hosting "Walk and Talk" events on the third Saturday monthly. Learn more here. Contact Jessica at therapy@recamft.org.    Return to top

It's not too late to catch "Navigating the Road to Licensure"!

Starring Luke Matthew Martin, JD, CAMFT Staff attorney. 

Find the recording here, and watch at your leisure.  

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Get the latest Therapy Groups Listings here!

Thank you to M.E.N. for your support! 

Members! Your SHORT DESCRIPTION is the most important thing on your profile. Why? Because that shows in our online directory. It matters! Please log in and complete yours today! 

The RECAMFT Board of Directors (BOD) held our Annual Summer Day-long Retreat on August 10th at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center. The Board hopes lots of our members willl attend CAMFT's  Fall Symposium on Sept. 9th in Rohnert Park at the DoubleTree Hotel! CAMFT invited our Board to hold our monthly meeting at the hotel (time slightly later than usual will be 9 am to 12 pm). CAMFT will offer some continuing education courses in the afternoon, and a reception for attendees, our Board and the CAMFT Board around 5 pm. You can find the BOD meeting agendas and minutes in the Members Only section of our website. 

Denise Safont has retired from her Board Director at Large seat and Programs Chair, and we wish her well. If you are interested in a possible appointment to the Board, please email therapy@recamft.org and let us know. 

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Past President Honor Roll - Meet RECAMFT's 2017 President - Reyna Seminara, LMFT

As RECAMFT's President, Reyna saw RECAMFT through one of its most horrific events ever: the 2017 NorCal wildfires which devastated our area, and left 8 members without homes. When her term as Past President was over, she decided to continue her service as a Director at Large (which she also did before becoming President Elect). She has served on numerous committees and events over the years, and RECAMFT is very lucky to have had Reyna helping to steer our ship.  

Thanks, Reyna, for all the love you've given RECAMFT over the years. You have helped mold us into what we are today. 

Want to see all our Past Presidents? Click here.