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The Redwood Empire Therapist
RECAMFT's Online Newsletter
June 2024
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Presented by Jennifer Shannon, LMFT Friday, June 7th, 2024 10:00 am - 12:15 pm Zoom, 2.0 CEs Register here.
| Please join us for Sonoma County Pride! 
RECAMFT plans to participate with Redwood Psychological Association in the Sonoma County Pride Parade Sat. June 1st. Save the Date! Fri., Sept. 6, 2024, 10 am to 12:15 pm "How Sexuality Influences The Clinical Picture For Female Clients" Dr. Jenn Kennedy, PhD, LMFT Board-certified Sex Therapist
Sexuality is layered and complex. It is also often all but ignored in the clinical sphere. In this highly interactive presentation, Jenn Kennedy, PhD, LMFT will discuss the most common issues that arise in the sexual realm and offer insight about how to discuss sex and intimacy with female clients. Using the Biopsychorelational model, Dr. Kennedy will describe how various factors influence client’s confidence, performance and interpersonal strategies to get their sexual needs met. She will also address unique diversity issues that arise for LGBT women around their sexuality. |
"Three Underlying Beliefs That Cause Anxiety and How to Change Them, a CBT Approach"
Jennifer Shannon is a licensed psychotherapist and a Certified Diplomat in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy specializing in anxiety. She co-founded the Santa Rosa Center For Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and has over forty years of experience treating children, teens, and adults. She is the author of numerous books, including Don’t Feed The Monkey Mind, The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens, The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens, and A Teen’s Guide To Getting Stuff Done, all published by New Harbinger Press. Her books have been selected for the Reading Well Books on Prescription in the UK. She speaks regularly at national conferences and has been featured on radio programs, and in magazines and newspapers.
Featured member
Did you miss the BBS-MANDATED 3 CE Telehealth course?
Telehealth: Law & Ethics, Technology, and Best Practices for Connecting with Your Clients with Lisa Wenninger, BC-TMH Catch it on video here, and get your mandated 3 Telehealth CEs. Return to top RECAMFT's Mission Statement 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.  Are you creative? Join us for our Crafting Group. Bring any craft you like, get on Zoom with us and visit with your colleagues while we knit, sew, paint, draw, cook, create, etc.
| Dear RECAMFT Colleagues: 2024 marks the first year, in my memory, that RECAMFT is marching as a group in the LGBTQ+ pride parade. This year the theme is Heroes, Sheroes and Queeroes.
Santa Rosa is a city that pulsates with a rich tapestry of cultures, identities, and beliefs. One of the most exuberant expressions of this diversity is the annual Santa Rosa Pride Parade, a jubilant celebration of LGBTQ+ rights, equality, and inclusion. The Redwood Empire Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (RECAMFT) plays a crucial role in advocating for mental health awareness and support within the community. RECAMFT emphasizes the importance of acceptance, understanding, and self-care in fostering a more compassionate society. The Santa Rosa Pride Parade is not merely a procession of colorful floats and vibrant costumes. The Pride Parade is a testament to the resilience and courage of the LGBTQ+ community. Each year, thousands of individuals gather to march proudly through the streets. We show our pride by waving rainbow flags and chanting slogans of love and acceptance. The Pride Parade serves as a platform for LGBTQ+ individuals to assert our identities and demand recognition, equality, and respect. The celebration also offers a space for allies to demonstrate solidarity and support, amplifying the message of inclusivity and diversity.
Amidst the festivities, RECAMFT stands as a steadfast ally. We have challenged ourselves to advocate for mental health awareness and support within the LGBTQ+ community. With a membership of about 30% who identify as LGBTQ+, we recognize the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, including discrimination, stigma, and rejection. RECAMFT offers a range of services aimed at promoting mental well-being and resilience. Through counseling, therapy sessions, support groups, and educational workshops, RECAMFT provides a safe and nurturing environment for LGBTQ+ individuals to explore their identities, navigate life transitions, and address mental health concerns. By fostering a culture of acceptance, understanding, and empathy, RECAMFT strives to create a community where individuals feel empowered to seek help and support without fear of judgment or discrimination. The intersection of Santa Rosa Pride Parade and RECAMFT underscores the importance of LGBTQ+ rights and mental health advocacy. Discrimination, prejudice, and societal and family rejection can have profound effects on an individual's mental well-being, leading to depression, anxiety, and other psychological distress. Conversely, fostering a culture of acceptance, love, and support can promote resilience, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. In conclusion, the Santa Rosa Pride Parade and RECAMFT embody the spirit of inclusivity, compassion, and resilience. They serve as powerful reminders of the importance of celebrating diversity, advocating for equality, and supporting mental health awareness within our communities. By coming together to affirm the rights and dignity of every individual, we can create a world where love triumphs over hate, and where everyone can live authentically and with pride. If you are a RECAMFT member, please join us as we march at Courthouse Square on Saturday, June 1, 2024. For more information go to our website at RECAMFT.org. We hope to see you on June 1st. Reyna Seminara, LMFT 2017 RECAMFT President 2023-2024 Director at Large Chair, Ethics Roundtable Charter Member of the Racial and Social Equity Committee
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. See more here. We especially welcome submissions where awareness themes intersect with mental health. Please send your submission (500 word max) to therapy@recamft.org by the 15th. Questions? therapy@recamft.org. Welcome back, RECAMFT community! We are so excited to share some of the upcoming monthly CE events coming this fall. RECAMFT Zoom presentations
Are you interested in seeing what we have coming up? Consider microvolunteering with the Programs & Conferences Committee! Microvolunteering opportunities: screening speaker applications; providing support at in person CE events; monitoring Q&A for speakers during monthly Zoom presentations. We are especially looking for a Programs Committee Chairperson.
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At the heart of the Pride Parade is the celebration of love in all its forms. It transcends boundaries of gender, sexual orientation, race, and religion. The Pride Parade reaffirms the fundamental right of every individual to love and be loved without fear or discrimination. In a world often plagued by prejudice and bigotry, the Pride Parade stands as a beacon of hope and defiance as we challenge societal norms and advocate for a more just and equitable future.
Reyna Seminara, LMFT is a Director at Large on RECAMFT's Board of Directors. She has a 
Call for Submissions for the Sept 2024 Issue of The RECAMFT Therapist! 
Members! Your SHORT DESCRIPTION is the most important thing on your profile. Why? Because that shows in our
Joe and Pamela Ward Memorial Scholarship Thank you to our donors and to those who have applied!
The funds that make these awards possible have been generously donated by members of our chapter and are doubled by matching funds authorized by our Board of Directors. Your donations will go twice as far! Please visit www.recamft.org/scholarship to apply or give a tax-free donation today! |
If you would like to help Nick get started, please drop a line to therapy@recamft.org and let us know.
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The Board invited a new RECAMFT student member, Nick Prosch, to consider assisting with our Prelicensed Committee. RECAMFT hopes to roll-out some great new programming for our 90 prelicensed members this fall. 
Please send an email to therapy@recamft.org if you can help. Return to top
If you are not currently enrolled in the listserv, please email therapy@recamft.org and ask to be added. You have the option of setting up your account to be
After you have been added to the listserv, you can change the way you receive the emails to any of the above choices. In Gmail the emails will appear under your Forums tab. To send an email to the listserv, simply address your email to recamft@groups.io If you do not want to be on our listserv, you can delete your account or write to therapy@recamft.org and ask to not be a part of the listserv. But we urge you to give it a try. You are missing out on a ton of meaningful collaboration with your colleagues. We hope you will enjoy being part of our online community! | Upcoming events
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Our listserv has over 400 members on it, and is active daily with great conversations, resources, offerings, in search of, books, movies, office rentals, jobs, internships, etc. You can view the home page of our listserv at
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. Contact therapy@recamft.org to advertise a job. Featured member
The Redwood Empire Therapist Newsletter will take a break during July and August. Content deadlines for our Sept. edition are 8/15/24. | News from the Racial & Social Justice Committee (RSJC) RSJC is excited about RECAMFT participating in the Sonoma County Pride Parade June 1st!
At our April RSJC meeting, it was decided to make this an event for which our members can register so we know approximately how many of us will be attending. Of course, members are welcome to come, spur of the moment, too. We plan to have special stickers to give our folks when we line up for the parade, identifying us as LGBTQ+ Affirming Care Therapists. If you register ahead of time, it will help us know how many stickers to pre-order. The Pride Parade event is available for registration at no charge. We have a donation button there to help cover the costs of stickers, giveaways, and other things needed for the booth. The parade registration fees and booth costs were covered by our President, Dr. Bob Casanova, PsyD, LMFT so participation would not need to come from the current budget. Unfortunately, we were turned down for a booth because they had so many applications. We encourage you to donate when you register, and appreciate whatever you are able to give. Celebrate Sonoma County 2024 Juneteenth!
"Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. Excerpt and artwork from SonomaCountyJuneteenth.com found here. 
News Flash! The Community Mental Health Hub at Hanna Center Is Expanding Mental Health Early Intervention Programs for Children, Youth, and Young Adults The Community Mental Health Hub at The Hanna Center is implementing an early intervention program that provides specialized services to children, youth, and young adults. This start-up Early Intervention Psychosis program allows the Hub to offer intervention services at the first onset of Clinical High Risk (CHR) symptoms that may lead to Psychosis Syndrome. The Hub’s early intervention program will have a team of specialized providers including a psychiatrist and/or psychiatric nurse practitioner, clinical supervisor, two clinicians certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTp), family support specialist, peer specialist, and employment and education specialist. Research shows that treatment at the earliest detection of these types of illnesses can lead to fewer and less severe recurrences. Early behavioral health intervention is essential to slow symptoms and the progression of mental illnesses that can lead to social isolation, poor functioning, and premature death. "Early identification of mental health conditions, followed by prompt intervention, plays a crucial role in saving lives and improving patient and family functioning,” says Noeli Zamora, Clinical Director of the Community Mental Health Hub. “Recognizing the signs early on and seeking immediate help can significantly alter the course of recovery, ensuring individuals receive the support and treatment they need as soon as possible." Hanna Center is committed to addressing traumas that impact our community. Our Community Mental Health Hub provides all individuals bilingual and culturally sensitive one-on-one clinical care. Our Residential Program provides safe and supportive housing and treatment for transitional-aged foster youth while the Hanna Institute develops innovative methodologies and trauma-informed practices to inform our own work on campus and across the country. Hanna Academy, our community partner, is a Non-public high school that educates, prepares and empowers students with learning and emotional challenges to succeed in school and life by developing their unique and individual talents and gifts. Connecting it all: a dedicated Hanna team comprised of counselors, educators, scholars, and leaders. For more information visit hannacenter.org |
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The 2015 RECAMFT President, Kris Spangler, LMFT, attended the April 12, 2024 Board meeting and submitted a proposal for RECAMFT to participate in Sonoma County's Pride Parade. Kris was working with Jennifer Silverman from Redwood Psychological Association (RPA).
Highlights from RECAMFT's Board of Directors The May Board meeting highlights... Some of the key issues addressed:
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NEW! RECAMFT On-Demand Programs: https://recamft.thinkific.com NEW! RECAMFT discount codes are posted for members only here: https://www.recamft.org/member-discount-codes (requires sign-in using your RECAMFT member email/password) NEW! Dissociative Identity Disorder training (DID). 4 CEs: https://recamft.thinkific.com/courses/2023-12-DID NEW! Ketamine training (May 2023), 2 CEs: https://recamft.thinkific.com/courses/2023-05-Ketamine Members can watch the video, pass the test, fill out the evaluation, and download your certificate. It's that easy! You can earn CEs for any recorded event if you didn't already earn CEs from the live event. Return to topPhoto from the August 2022 Day-long Board Retreat of Board members relaxing after lunch at Occidental Arts & Ecology Center. https://oaec.org/
L-R: Jessica Heaney, Gina Culver, Dr. Jean Hayes. |
Members - you can access recordings of our zoom events from 2023, 2022, and 2021 in our new on-demand library which has been migrated over to Thinkific (
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Find out more about advertising with RECAMFT here.
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A Therapists’ Documentary: Stutz (2022) By Cynthia Psaila, LMFT Have you noticed that most Hollywood depictions of the therapist-client relationship are unsettling renditions of reality? Specifically, the films, What About Bob? (1991) and Bad Therapy (2020) come to mind. However, recently I watched a documentary that more accurately depicts some of the complex work therapists and clients undergo in their endeavor to improve emotional health. I was moved after watching Stutz, the 2022 documentary directed by Jonah Hill portraying his own relationship with his psychiatrist, Dr. Phil Stutz, MD. This poignant and yet controversial documentary unmasks the true healing potential within the therapeutic relationship. As an LMFT, I notice the complexities of sharing my profession with social acquaintances. I find myself putting my ‘human’ foot forward when meeting people. If I lead with my profession some people become reserved. Others ask probing questions akin to which clients do I dislike the most? One can attribute some of this stigma to the Hollywood depiction of the traditionally private relationship between therapist and client. Stutz neither mocks nor mystifies this relationship. Jonah deeply unveils his vulnerability throughout this factual film—at one point turning the documentary upside down by revealing his fears had kept him from being honest. Dr. Stutz remains patient throughout, with unconditional positive regard. He is flexible and yet challenging. He displays confidence in the treatment plan, while never losing the rapport that is essential to growth and safety in relationships. Jonah, in turn, gains tools and relational depth within the therapeutic bond that help him to begin healing. The controversial component is the inherent dual relationship for Dr. Stutz and Jonah as they make a documentary together. Through this process, Dr. Stutz reveals personal information not typically shared with a client. The Psychiatrist has ‘the tables turned’ in his role with Jonah as the director. It is also clear that by revealing himself to Jonah, Dr. Stutz experiences personal growth (similar to what one might see in the therapeutic relationship). There was risk in making this documentary and I ask, would you do it? Professionally, my answer is probably not. However, I cannot help but wonder if the dual relationship was worth the therapeutic gain for Jonah who unmasked his fears and longing for approval through the process of filming. It was as if the production of this documentary was an experiential component to the therapeutic work, ultimately revealing deeper unconscious material—hooray Hollywood!! As I now review my conclusions, I have become aware of the accusations of emotional abuse and sexual assault by Jonah Hill. Should I have enjoyed this documentary as much as I did? I answer this question with mixed feelings. Truthfully, it is uncomfortable to highlight any film (fact or fiction) that is directed by an accused. However, this documentary felt worth discussing given the cultural implications it has in Hollywood and popular culture—this is what our clients, and the public, will watch and learn about our profession. This revealing documentary certainly illustrates the humanity—inherent imperfections—in us all. Yet, despite these imperfections, it documents and dignifies the potential to heal within the therapeutic relationship.
Cynthia Psaila, LMFT, is a Director at Large on RECAMFT's Board of Directors. She has a private practice in Petaluma, CA. Return to top | Got a sticky problem? Come discuss it confidentially with your colleagues at our next Ethics Roundtable
Not consultation, just a great way to get some ideas about how to handle your sticky case. Friendly and open group. Learn more here.
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Best Practices Review for Clinicians Doing Sex Therapy with Lesbians
By Dr. Jenn Kennedy, PhD, LMFT
Board-certified Sex Therapist
I came out as lesbian at age 19 and have navigated that process repeatedly for three decades. The queer community is consistently neglected in research, and therefore our clinical knowledge is hampered. Pairing my passions of sexuality and queerness, my PhD dissertation was a systematic review of the literature—with a focus on best practices for clinicians doing sex therapy with lesbians.
Here are the highlights:
Women’s sexuality is most affected by the following factors: body image; family of origin and culture; attachment history; trauma history; physical ability; age; relationship to self and to pleasure. These are familiar elements of any case conceptualization; however, they are particularly pointiest when talking about sexuality with a woman. Her sex life cannot be considered in a vacuum, but rather, her age, history, family dynamics, experiences and temperament must be factored in.
In addition to the issues that affect all women, lesbians, as a marginalized population, have additional stressors and considerations that impact their sexuality. These include the following:
Social Stigma: Lesbians face numerous unique societal and cultural challenges with the combination of both homophobia – fear, dislike and prejudice against lesbian identities – as well as heterosexism, where society sees heterosexuality as the default, preferred or “normal identity.” Lesbian sexuality is both fetishized and dismissed as “not real sex.”
Coming Out: Coming out is a unique developmental milestone for LGB individuals and far from being a singular event – more likely a long process. Vivienne Cass identifies six common stages of development in the homosexual identity formation: confusion; comparison; tolerance; acceptance; pride; synthesis. In therapy with queer clients, we meet them where they are in their coming out journey—which often is not a neat, linear path through these stages.
Power Dynamics: Role negotiation invariably arises with lesbian couples. When both partners are female, they must verbally or nonverbally assign roles and negotiate sexual initiation, relationship duties, and the power balance. Complementarity reflects how the couple’s characteristics are different, but interrelated. Each partner may be attracted to or aroused by different things, but it may be complementary to what their partner wants. Lesbian sex requires a greater degree of interaction, role differentiation, and coordination of behaviors and desire than most area of a couples’ life. Clinicians cannot assume the roles or responsibilities held by lesbian couple clients—in or out of the bedroom. Rather, they need to inquire and stay open to a fluid, intricate system co-created by the clients. While lesbians value fairness and equality, they may also be drawn to partnerships with power differentials. That does not mean that either partner holds all power in all areas, but rather, they likely share power in various contexts.
Sex versus Intimacy: Lesbians tend to prioritize intimacy over sexuality and same sex female couples took more time having sex and included whole body contact. Lesbians consistently reported higher levels of satisfaction with their sexual experiences. Lesbians also report longer lovemaking sessions compared to other couples, so the conversation starts to shift toward quality versus quantity. Researchers found lesbians (versus heterosexual women) rated giving versus receiving sexual activity was desirable and led to higher levels of satisfaction. Lesbian sexuality has greater fluidity than male same sex sexuality—meaning it’s particularly sensitive to situational, interpersonal, and contextual factors.
Clinicians working with queer women should also have awareness and understanding of the following: knowledge of queer history; knowledge of the social stigma attached to a queer identity; awareness of our own bias; awareness of clinician counter transference; awareness of privilege and oppression of minorities; understanding of the mechanics of sex between two women; signaling on the part of the clinician as to the comfort regarding the topic of sex in the clinical space.
Fortunately we are seeing more representation of queer women in research. In parallel to what we know from research, I’m continuing to form my own theories in the therapy realm with my clients. The field is ripe for contribution.
Dr. Jenn Kennedy, PhD, LMFT, Board-certified Sex Therapist has a private practice in Santa Barbara, CA. She will be speaking at RECAMFT on Fri., Sept. 6, 2024.
Link to our Therapy Groups page and a PDF of current offerings - RECAMFT.ORG/Therapy-Groups CLICK HERE to learn more about local group offerings, and payment to advertise your group.    |
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Here's a photo from the May 2, 2024 Zoom meeting with the folks working on RECAMFT taking part in the Pride Parade. Thank you to 2015 President Kris Spangler for this great proposal! Dr. Jennifer Lotz, we've loved working with you!!! L-R Top: Gina Culver, 2023 President Laura Strom, 2022 President Center: Emily Larkin, 2025 President Jennifer Lotz, PhD, Redwood Psychological Association Membership Chair and Liaison coordinating RPA's Pride walk with RECAMFT's Bottom: Kris Spangler, 2015 President, and the person who proposed RECAMFT participate in the Pride Parade Randy Cheek, 2022-23 Director at Large Thanks to all these folks for getting us involved in the 2024 Pride Parade! |
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Thank you for reading this month's newsletter! RECAMFT is great because of involved members like you!!
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Are you looking for help? Find therapists offering free natural disaster and crisis sessions here. Please check out MySonomaStrong.com. Visit the NAMI Warmline. Take a trauma-informed yoga class. We will recover together! ¿Buscas ayuda? Encuentre terapeutas que ofrezcan sesiones gratuitas de crisis y desastres naturales aquí. Visite MySonomaStrong.com. Visite la NAMI Warmline. Toma una clase de yoga informada sobre el trauma. ¡Nos recuperaremos juntos!
Redwood Empire Chapter of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists |
