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The Redwood Empire Therapist
RECAMFT's Online Newsletter
November 2026
Therapy in the Custody Storm: What Every Clinician Needs to Know
Presented by Dené Carroll, LCSW & Elizabeth Crenshaw, LMFT
Friday, Nov. 6th, 2026
9:00 am - 12:00 pm PT
Zoom, 3 CEs Custody cases bring some of the highest-stakes, most ethically complicated work a therapist will ever do. One misstep in role clarity, consent, or documentation can affect not just your client's healing, but the outcome of their case. Sooner or later, this case lands on your caseload, whether you sought it out or not. This training meets you wherever you are, from seasoned clinicians to those just beginning, and whether this is your first custody case or your fiftieth. This 3-hour orientation gives you the nuts and bolts to handle it with confidence: the difference between clinical and forensic roles, why dual parent consent matters so much in child therapy cases, how to collaborate across disciplines without crossing ethical lines, and why the old IPV vs. alienation debate is giving way to a more accurate, multifactorial understanding of parent-child contact problems. You'll walk away knowing exactly where your lane is, how to stay in it, and who to call when a case gets complicated — protecting your clients, your license, and your peace of mind. About our speakers 
Dené Carroll, LCSW brings sharp clinical skills, research-informed practice, and a deeply caring presence to her work with families navigating the mental health and legal systems. A former Sonoma County CPS social worker and court investigator, she specializes in co-parenting counseling, family systems therapy, and court-involved cases in her Santa Rosa private practice. Alongside colleague Elizabeth Crenshaw, she developed training and consultation for therapists working with complex court-involved families, grounding the work in current research while keeping ethics and the law at the forefront. As a parent of two neurodivergent children, she pairs expertise with lived understanding and heart. 
Elizabeth Crenshaw, MA, LMFT, has been a licensed clinician for over 30 years, specializing in court-involved therapy, co-parenting counseling, reunification therapy, and high-conflict divorce. Based in Santa Rosa, she brings a rare combination of clinical depth, intuition, and calm to some of family law's most complex cases. Elizabeth has held leadership roles across domestic violence, residential, and youth services programs and has provided yearly court-involved therapy training through the Sonoma County Bar Association and AFCC. She has served as Chair of the Mental Health Liaison Committee and is known among colleagues and clients alike as a steady, grounding presence in the storm. |
Supporting Clients Through Perimenopause: Approaches and Interventions for Psychotherapists
Research has found that between 20-40% of women may experience depression during menopause. While most are more familiar the physical symptoms, it is important to learn about the emotional and psychological impacts. This is important, as all biological women who live long enough will experience menopause. In this live, two hour, virtual, interactive training we cover Perimenopause/Menopause and how this phase of life impacts a woman's mental health and overall wellness. This training provides an overview of the psychological, emotional and physical impacts of perimenopause and menopause on women's mental health. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the life stage transitions across perimenopause, menopause and post menopause and how these changes intersect with mood, anxiety, sleep and overall functioning. Participants will have the opportunity to explore appropriate screening questions, interventions, referral strategies and resource connections for clients.
Kara specializes in working with individuals and facilitating groups for women who are impacted by trauma, mood and anxiety conditions, and hormonal mental health conditions. In addition to her clinical work, she provides continuing education and professional training on topics such as Women and ADHD, Perinatal Mental Health, Perimenopause, and (complex) Trauma-Informed Care. She is the founder of Kara Cruz Psychotherapy & Wellness, where she provides individual and group psychotherapy and supports therapists and helping professionals through consultation, training, courses, and speaking engagements. She created Group Creators Membership, a community guiding professionals through the steps of designing, planning and launching impactful signature therapy and wellness groups. She created and leads support and wellness groups for women, therapists and healing professionals. |
Coming in December!
Kara Cruz, LMFT is an Neurodivergent (ADHD) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C), EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Continuing Education (CE) trainer. She is a private practice owner, educator, and clinical supervisor with over a decade of experience serving women navigating complex trauma, ADHD, and reproductive mental health; including perinatal, postpartum, and perimenopause transitions.
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 Dr. Lisa Wenninger, PhD, LPCC, BC-TMH Catch it on video here, and get your mandated 3 Telehealth CEs. Return to top Are you creative? Please join us for our Makers Guild (formerly 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. Join us at our next meeting:
| Dear RECAMFT Community:
While we experience so much turmoil in our world and witness the struggles and pain of our clients, I seek to find the balance through gratitude. While media can make it seem like there is nothing but strife, discord and despair, there is also so much that is good and worthy of gratitude. Gratitude for the roses that are still blooming on a bush, the beauty of the sunrise, the laughter of children playing, hearing a favorite song, the lift of a smile, the volunteers at our local homeless shelter, the cozy softness of a thick sweater, the warmth and fragrance of a hot cup of herbal tea, the hug of a dear friend, and the connection of our friends, colleagues and community. I want to extend gratitude to my RECAMFT board who have supported me and all of you by giving of their time, energy and creativity to serve our therapist community this year. They have created new offerings with social gatherings, movie night, game night, walks, and delivered excellent educational programs, along with other opportunities for support and consultation, as well as supporting our local community. They do all of this work during their “spare” time, while also “keeping the lights on and the fire burning.” This is a group of people who are deeply caring about our profession, our community of therapists, and the community that we serve. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Jessica, Emily, Tara, Laura, Gwen, Brian, Angela, Jenny, Elle and Jean. In addition, I want to express my gratitude to you. I am so thankful to be part of this incredible community of caring, skilled professionals. The depth, breadth and richness of your knowledge and resources is phenomenal. I am most grateful for the gift of commitment and caring that you give to our clients in our community. The Gift By Mary Oliver Be still, my soul, and steadfast. Earth and heaven both are still watching though time is draining from the clock and your walk, that was confident and quick, has become slow. So, be slow if you must, but let the heart still play its true part. Love still as once you loved, deeply and without patience. Let God and the world know you are grateful. That the gift has been given. With gratitude, Pat Hromalik, LMFT 2026 RECAMFT President
Pat Hromalik, LMFT is the President of RECAMFT's Board of Directors. She has a private practice in Petaluma, CA. Please note: our new email address is info@recamft.org.
Nov. CARE Circle (Compassion, Acknowledgement, Recharge, Empower - formerly Compassion Fatigue) Support Group Meeting
RECAMFT's Mission Statement
We do this by providing opportunities for networking, education and community outreach for our members. (Note: "For our members" was added to the Mission Statement by the Bylaws Task Force on May 19, 2025). |
As November opens there is a crispness in the air and still some beautiful sunny afternoons as the light reflects the changing colors in the leaves. Our focus turns to the holidays ahead with planning, preparing and anticipation. Thanksgiving is one of my family’s favorite holidays. We gather at my sister’s ranch north of Cloverdale with lots of extended and adopted family. All are welcome at the tables that often grow to hold close to 30 - full of babies, children, teens, and all ages of adults. We join the whole group by holding hands (one hand palm up, one palm down) to pass the energy of love and gratitude for each other through the circle.
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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.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) - updates
RECAMFT is very excited to offer Special Interest Groups or SIGs starting in the fall 2026. What is a SIG? A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an ongoing community of RECAMFT members who share a common therapeutic interest and meet regularly to learn, collaborate, and support one another. It is open to RECAMFT members who have experience or a new interest in the topic. A SIG is started by two RECAMFT members, as co-chairs that will have an appeal to a larger group of RECAMFT members. either in-person, or on Zoom. What SIGs will RECAMFT be offering? RECAMFT has plans to offer the following SIGs run by these co-chairs starting later this fall. The SIGs will be listed on our Current Events page. Please register so we know how many to expect, and please show up if you register because some SIGs may be limited in the space for attendees.
Currently full.
Starts Nov. 16th on Zoom, 1-2 pm. Register here.
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We are hoping to see all sorts of SIGs get started! Members have expressed interest in all the following topics.
So, if something like this interests you, please find a friend to be your co-chair, and drop us an email to let us know at info@recamft.org. We will contact you to further explore your ideas. We can't wait to see how this grows!! Look for an eblast coming soon to announce the starting dates for our SIGs and explain how to register. | RECAMFT Membership Committee invites you to Game Night! Bring a friend!
Join us for a casual evening of games, laughs, and good company. We'll have a few games but PLEASE bring your own, whatever you want to play! Open to all RECAMFT members and their guests, must register. |
FREE to Members - Visit our On-Demand CE Video Library!
Multiple new ONLINE offerings! Find all the latest here (including 6 CEs Law & Ethics)
Check it out! RECAMFT's On-Demand CE Library link: https://recamft.thinkific.com/
Catch "Working with Dissociative Disorders & Plural Communities" (on-demand) with Dr. Serenity Serseción - FREE to members!
This workshop will review the basics of working with dissociative disorders and plural communities. This information presented will be from a plural positive perspective and multicultural background. Dissociative disorders and plural communities will be discussed, in addition to intersections of other marginalized identities and overlap. This workshop will also explain various skills such as how clinicians can use system maps to improve treatment outcomes for clients. Intersectional identities will be discussed in relation to culturally informed treatment modalities.
Dr. Serenity Serseción (They/Them/Ellos) is a plural, Puerto Rican, genderqueer, bilingual, licensed clinical psychologist. They have a private practice that focuses on the plural community, BIPOC communities, sexual and gender diverse individuals, and people in various subcultures. Clinical focuses are depression, anxiety, trauma, and dissociation. They have worked as a clinician in various sites such as universities, community mental health agencies, and hospitals for over 15 years. They have been an interim director at a local LGBTQ+ specialty clinic. In addition to supervising new doctoral student clinicians and teaching psychology and diversity courses at various universities for over 10 years. They currently work in private practice, as a presenter and at a local clinic inside a tech company.
To see a preview of this dynamic program... CLICK HERE.
Members - you can access recordings of our zoom events from 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021 in our new on-demand library which has been migrated over to Thinkific (https://recamft.thinkific.com/).
- 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)
Topic List
Addiction
- Attachment Infused Addiction Treatment Theory 2 CEs with Dr. Mary Crocker Cook, PhD, LMFT
Anxiety & Depression
- Identifying and Treating Imposter Syndrome 2 CEs with Stevon Lewis, LMFT
- Mental Wellness in the Digital Age 1.5 CEs with Julie Frumin, LMFT
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Evidence-Based Treatment Strategies That Work! 3 CEs with Dr. Robin Zasio, PsyD, LCSW
- Three Underlying Beliefs That Cause Anxiety and How to Change Them, A CBT Approach 2 CEs with Jennifer Shannon, LMFT
- Understanding Hoarding Disorder 1.5 CEs with Dr. Robin Zasio, PsyD, LCSW
Couples
- Part 1: Intro to PACT – Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy 2 CEs with Dr. Hans Stahlschmidt, PhD
Culture
- Support & Safety during Crisis: Treating Undocumented Families Facing ICE & Detention 2 CEs with Dr. Sandra Espinoza, PsyD, LMFT NEW!
Eating Disorders
- Treating Binge Eating Disorder with Self-Compassion: A Trauma-informed Approach 2 CEs with Erica Thomas, LMFT
- Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: Update on a Transformative Treatment Option 2 CEs with Evolve Mind Wellness Staff
- Telehealth: Law & Ethics, Technology, and Best Practices for Connecting with Your Clients 3 CEs, with Dr. Lisa Wenninger, PhD, LPCC
LGBTQ+
- Affirmative Family Therapy with Gender Diverse People and Their Loved Ones 2 CEs, with Dr. Shawn Giammattei, PhD
- Working with Dissociative Disorders & Plural Communities 4 CEs, with Serenity Serseción, PhD, LMFT
- How Sexuality Influences the Clinical Picture for Female Clients, 2 CEs with Dr. Jenn Kennedy, PhD, LMFT
Neuro-Biological
- The Neurodiversity Paradigm: Autistic & ADHDer Adults 3 CEs with Katy Higgins Lee, LMFT
- Transforming Trauma: The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) 3 CEs with Brad Kammer, LMFT
Sleep
- Sleep and Postpartum Mental Health 2 CEs with Kristina Anzell, LCSW
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. And our RECAMFT Thinkific platform keeps track of all your CEs and Certificates! Return to top
Our Private Practice Event was a hit! Video coming soon... Hello RECAMFT Pre Licensed members, It was great to see so many faces at our Oct. 24th event: “Where Do I Start?" Launching and Sustaining a Private Practice. Thank you so much to the board members who presented (Pat Hromalik, Angela Sanville, and Laura Strom) and our expert commentators, Lori Crowley, Tatra-Li de la Rosa, and Kira Kayler! I am also grateful to Dr. Lisa Wenninger for helping us coordinate and record the session which we hope to post on the Members Only page in the near future. Our next Prelicensed event will be in early spring. Stay tuned for more... If you have any questions or concerns about the road to licensure, and how RECAMFT can help, or want to connect with Brian, please email info@recamft.org.
Chair, Prelicensed Committee RECAMFT Director at Large Scholarships for Pre-Licensed andNewly Licensed Members | Hello RECAMFT community! We are so excited to share some of the upcoming monthly CE events. We are in need of an assistant volunteer to help with choosing next year's programs. Please drop a line to info@recamft.org if you can help. RECAMFT Zoom presentations
Are you interested in seeing what we have coming up? Consider microvolunteering with the Programs & Conferences Committee! Microvolunteering opportunities: providing support at in person CE events; driving outreach to potential speakers for CE events; writing up a short article about each presentation for the newsletter ("What You Missed"), and more! Reach out to info@recamft.org if you have ideas of how you'd like to help out. With gratitude,
Gwendolyn Watson, LMFT, she/her Programs Chair Programs CommitteeRECAMFT Director at Large RECAMFT's Racial and Social Justice Pledge
We strive to advocate, educate, collaborate, and strategize for positive racial and social justice change within our membership and our community. Check out RECAMFT's Library page for books authored by our members! Have you written a book? Be sure to let us know so we can include it on our Library page. Email info@recamft.org.
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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.
Please note: our new email address is info@recamft.org. How to edit your Short Description which appears in our Therapist Directory in 4 easy steps!
Questions? info@recamft.org
If you are not currently enrolled in the listserv, please email info@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 info@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 around 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
Contact info@recamft.org to advertise a job. Featured member |
Photo of the October 9th Board Meeting by Laura Strom..
Notice: The Board of Directors is seeking volunteers to join us for the 2027 year. Please consider attending the November 13th Board meeting (9-11 am on Zoom) to find out more, or drop us a line: info@recamft.org. |
Please note: our new email address is info@recamft.org. |
Find out more about advertising with RECAMFT here. |
| Featured member |
Featured member |
Can you help? Jobs for Awesome Volunteers PROGRAMS Committee needs
· Work with the Programs committee to promote events · One hour per month.
Programs Non CE event Coordinator · One hour per month plus time at the events one or two times per year.
Programs Committee Member · One hour per month plus – support the committee and its members
RACIAL and SOCIAL JUSTICE Committee needs
RSJC Members (Openings for 2+) · One hour per month and a little more when we are involved in community events or launching a project.
MEMBERSHIP Committee needs Social Media Volunteer · Post monthly events to LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. · One hour per month Membership Committee Members (Openings for 6+) · Participate in committee meetings · One hour per month Please send an email to info@recamft.org if you can help. This month we'd like to thank the following awesome volunteers who, in addition to our Board of Directors, are helping us plan future events! Members Meeting Committee - thank you to all these wonderful volunteers are planning our next networking event!
Prelicensed PREP Committee Thank you to our volunteers who help make RECAMFT great! |
Not consultation, just a great way to get some ideas about how to handle your sticky case. Friendly and open group. Learn more here.
Congratulations to our recently licensed members! |
Programs Advertising/ Social Media manager
RECAMFT Stands Out at the CAMFT Fall Symposium
By Laura Strom, LMFT, RECAMFT Secretary
I'm always so proud to see our members standing out at CAMFT events! Here is a selection of photos from the tabling event they did featuring our chapter to attendees from around the state at CAMFT Fall Symposium held in Sacramento. Big gratitude to Emily Larkin (our current Past President), Jessica Heaney (our current President Elect), Tara D'Orazio (our current CFO and a CAMFT Director at Large) and Angela Sanville (our Prelicensed Director at Large) for showing off our proud RECAMFT spirit!
L-R: Tara D'Orazio, Angela Sanville, Emily Larkin, Jessica Heaney
L-R: Angela Sanville, Emily Larkin, Jessica Heaney, Tara D'Orazio
A little silliness! |
Emily Larkin tabling for our chapter at CAMFT's Fall Symposium.
Thanks for all your hard work representing RECAMFT! |
Laura C. Strom, PsyD, LMFT, is RECAMFT's Secretary and has a private practice in Santa Rosa.
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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See all our Past Presidents here.
Here are Tara D'Orazio, RECAMFT's 2020 President, and Emily Larkin, RECAMFT's 2025 President at CAMFT's Fall Symposium, Oct. 2026.
Thank you for reading this month's newsletter! RECAMFT is great because of involved members like you!! Please note: our new email address is info@recamft.org. |
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 |
