la therapist update

LOS ANGELES CHAPTER
OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF
MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPISTS
September/October
2
0
1
1
L.A. THERAPIST UPDATE
www.lacamft.org
The LOS ANGELES CHAPTER of CAMFT
September 24 General Meeting 1
In collaboration with...
SANTA MONICA-WEST LA
NETWORKING DISTRICT
P. O. B ox 4 8 0 1 1 9 L o s A n g e l e s C A 9 0 0 4 8 3 2 3 . 9 6 4 . 3 2 0 0
IN THIS
ISSUE
Brunch, Networking, MFT Update, 30 Minute Featured Presentation,
Participant Announcements, Business Card Drawing
2 CEUs
Depression to Expression
1
President’s Message
2
PTSD
3
Lessons of MFT Exams
3
Pop Culture: Lollapalooza
4
New Directions in Child and Adolescent Treatment:
A Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Approach with Younger Clients
When I’m Not a Therapist, I’m... 5
Bonnie Goldstein, Ph.D.
Expressive Arts Therapy SIG 6
For:
When:
Time:
Where:
Parking:
Cost:
Bring:
Licensed Therapists, Interns, Students & Members of the Community
Saturday, September 24, 2011
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Registration Check In & Informal Networking 8:30-9:30 am
Beverly Hills Country Club
3084 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90064 310.836.4400
Complimentary Valet Parking
$25.00 AAMFT, LA-CAMFT & Other CAMFT Chapter Members
$35.00 Non Members
At least 30 business cards for networking
Nov. 5 Super Shrinks Conf.
5
Supervisors SIG
6
3000 Club SIG
7
Trauma Response Committee 7
Newsletter Guidelines
14
MORE INFORMATION ON PAGE 2
From Depression to Expression:
from Woe to W o w !
By Greta Hassel, MFT
Each year approximately 15 million adult Americans suffer
from clinical depression. In the last decade prescription
medication for treatment has doubled and specialists predict
that by 2020, depression will become the second most
common health problem in the world. The value of the
therapeutic relationship is well recognized in shifting the
inner organization of the wounded ego self burdened by
hopelessness and buried fears. Interventions for depression
have targeted cognitive, interpersonal and neurobiological
processes. Empirical studies demonstrate that deeper
emotional processing predicts good outcome and the
avoidance of relapse. Many struggle to find solutions that
don’t involve medication. Fortunately innovative approaches
that can be done naturally, without drug intervention are at
hand. One successful approach has
appeared from an unlikely, uniquely
creative source.
Elisa Lodge, or Wowza, as she is known, is
a dynamic and visionary woman who has
been teaching at Esalen over the last four
decades. A forerunning leader in the
human potential movement, expressive arts therapist,
professional actress, artist and author, Wowza has
developed a non-conventional breakthrough methodology
for releasing the build up of repressed emotions in
healthy, creative ways. It is a playful, powerful, Gestalt
oriented intervention, called “Processing in Motion”
which stimulates endorphins and generates a feeling of
natural aliveness in the depressed state of mind. Wowza
is joined by Greta Hassel, a seasoned Marriage and Family
Therapist who has been practicing for over 20 years, and
has trained in physical, spiritual and emotional clearing
through Aharaj, the ancient yoga of empowerment, and
with Greg Ehmka. Together Wowza and Greta have joined
forces to provide this unique, turbo charged transformation.
“Processing in Motion” utilizes an exercise ball (or desk
chair) to help loosen the grip of depression through the
release of repressed emotions. In the process, even the
most intense emotions can be expressed in creative, lifeaffirming ways. For instance, explosively bouncing up and
down while expressing anger as thunder and lightening,
supports the client to dare to expose intense or blocked
emotions with greater safety and ease. The processes
work to ultimately shift core patterns of stuck energy
from anger to power, fear to excitement, and stress to
wellbeing. By allowing our clients (and ourselves) to play,
Continued on page 10
PAGE 2
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
President’s Message
D
by J O N A T H A N F L I E R , P R E S I D E N T
ear Members, Colleagues and Friends of LA-CAMFT
Shawn Talbot, CAMFT Director of Chapter Relations &
Certification, Certification, sent a question through the Chapter
Leadership listserv, asking about the effectiveness of a voucher
program that gives a certificate to new CAMFT members for a
$25 rebate on local chapter membership if signed by the chapter
and mailed back to CAMFT within 30 days. While responding to the email, I decided to
comment on the past and current relationship between CAMFT and its local chapters
and proffered an idea that I think would be of great benefit to the chapters and to
CAMFT. Here is an expanded version of what I wrote.
Dear Shawn and community leaders,
In my opinion, there is a strong need for improvement in how CAMFT helps build
membership in the local Chapters. This improvement could expand or altogether
replace the current voucher program.
Regarding the voucher itself, why have a time limit on when a new CAMFT member
can join a chapter? I can't think of any reason to have a time limit other than to create
some kind of angst in the consumer to hurry and not to miss the "opportunity." What
I would like to see is an expansion to at least 6 months. During that time, CAMFT and
the local chapters could "remind" new members of the opportunities and benefits
that await them by joining their local organizations, etc. I would also have the voucher
available to them via email so they could download it thereby eliminating the
possibility of the new members losing “hard copy” vouchers.
The most important change I envision is a policy whereby all CAMFT members
automatically become members of their local chapters by virtue of enrolling as
members of CAMFT. Membership in their local chapter then becomes a benefit of
being a CAMFT member. When new members "officially" sign up and register their
membership with their local chapter, the chapter would notify CAMFT and CAMFT
could then provide the much-needed comprehensive financial support of the chapters
by assuming part or all of the membership fee, and rebating that to the chapter.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
LA-CAMFT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
& COMMITTEE CHAIRS
President
Jonathan Flier, MA, LMFT ... [email protected]
Vice President
Karen Wulfson , MA, LMFT....... [email protected]
Programs Chair
Lynne Azpeitia MA, LMFT.... [email protected]
Treasurer
Maria Dylan, MA, LMFT... [email protected]
Board Secretary
Peggy Brown....................... [email protected]
Administrator
Christina Bielfelt [email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Victoria Van Zandt, MA, MFTI.......... [email protected]
Membership Chair
Ana Adal, MA, LMFT.................... [email protected]
Divorce - Child Custody Mediation Chair
Kathy Memel, Ph.D., LMFT .............. [email protected]
Emergency Response Chair
Shannon Byrnes, MA, LMFT... [email protected]
Events Coordination Chair
Katie Corrigan ................................. [email protected]
Expressive Arts Chair
Leslie Tuchman, MA, LMFT..... [email protected]
Involvement, Advocacy & Elections Chair
Open
Ways and Means Chair
Maria Dylan, MA, LMFT... [email protected]
Supervisors’ Special Interest Group
Catherine Auman, MFT ............. [email protected]
3000 Club Chair
Stacy Price, MA ............................ [email protected]
Trauma Response Chair
Shannon Byrnes, MA, LMFT... [email protected]
At Large
Shannon Byrnes, MA, LMFT... [email protected]
Duane Dillman, PhD, LMFT ................ [email protected]
Victoria Van Zandt, MA, MFTI.......... [email protected]
If you are interested in any of the
committees or special interest groups,
please contact any Board member
I recognize that this would involve a change in how CAMFT views its chapters as an
organizational resource and would require a change in some aspects of how CAMFT
views its mission.
Continued on page 10
September 24 Meeting Information
continued from Page 1
Childhood trauma and disrupted attachment can severely
impact a child’s developing brain and body and have effects
lasting thorough adulthood. Whether you work with children,
adolescents or adults,it is essential for the therapist to understand
how the early development of affect regulation, identity and
sense of self, impact a person’s ability to form and sustain
relationships throughout the life cycle. Learn how you can
use Sensorimotor Psychotherapy techniques to help you help
your younger clients improve their ability to self-regulate,
develop relationship skills, and create new competencies.
For further information:
Lynne Azpeitia at [email protected] or 310.828.7121
Karen Wulfson at [email protected] or 310.475.1759
Jonathan Flier at [email protected] or 310.552.5338
Bonnie Goldstein, Ph.D., a practicing
psychotherapist, specializes in child,
adolescent, family & group treatment.
A Child & Adolescent Consultant for the
Lifespan Learning Institute, & author of
The Handbook of Infant, Child &
Adolescent Psychotherapy; A Guide to
Diagnosis and Treatment, Volumes I & II,
& several other books, she is certified in Sensorimotor
Psychotherapy. Her website is www.drbonniegoldstein.com.
Register by SATURDAY, September 17, 2011
Seating is limited. Register online at http://www.lacamft.org
AAMFTCA PCE 91. Course meets qualifications for 2 hours of continuing
education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board
of Behavioral Sciences. Refund Policy: Registrants who do not attend or fail
to request a refund one week prior to scheduled event will be charged full fee.
A $20 charge will be applied to denied credit cards charges
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
PTSD
By Eugenia Brusilovsky
T
his article is dedicated to my parents and grandparents
and all who were and still are touched by the
experiences of war and social/political oppression.
In February, 2007, I attended the 5th Annual African American
Mental Health Conference. One of the guest speakers was Dr.
Joy DeGruy Leary, Assistant Professor of Social Work at
Portland State University. She was presenting her book, “Post
Traumatic Slave Syndrome”. This book examines the history
and life of African-Americans since 1619 and how these
experiences reflected on their physical, emotional, psychological
and spiritual health. Her presentation sounded too “close to
home” and prompted me to study the subject of PTSD further.
When we hear about PTSD, usually we think about children
or adults who have been exposed to combat, catastrophes,
natural disasters or acts of violence. It is less common to
associate experiences of social/political oppression, captivity
and holocaust with PTSD. But in fact, by definition, complex or
chronic PTSD is related to all of the above traumatic situations
that have a prolonged exposure.
With the help of my former professor from CGI, Dr. Jack
Mayhall, I learned about concept of alexithymia which is
closely associated with complex (chronic) PTSD.
Alexithymia is a clinically derived concept that refers to a
cognitive-affective disturbance characterized by an individual’s
impaired ability to experience, label, and express emotions.
As I am reflecting on my upbringing in Soviet Ukraine during
the Communist era (1965-1991), I understand much more
about the difficulties I experienced as a child being raised by
a loving but very busy and non-communicative family of
physicians. My home life was a mini-version of the “ER” TV
series with a Soviet twist: 24/7 conversations about patients,
diseases, surgeries, admissions, discharges, deaths and successful
outcomes. The outcome for me was an arrested development
and extreme case of emotional stupidity.
There I was: a 26 year old Pollyanna with an M.D. degree
(surprise!) who landed in LAX in 1991 to conquer America.
Soon enough, I started to learn the hard way what life is really
about. My son George was my most influential teacher during
this uneasy journey. But as they say, “there is no way to
happiness, happiness is the way”. Luckily, I was born an
optimist and blessed with many talents.
Today, twenty years later, I am witty and wise with splash
of my old Pollyanna mentality. I think that is exactly why
designing and implementing a “Creative and Curious”
curriculum became my professional focus and passion.
(www.creativeandcurious.com)
In the past three years I have been caring for my parents, Ark
and Lola. They both volunteered to be my research subjects
in treating their prominent alexithymia. Today I am truly
amazed at their progress that had a positive outcome for the
family dynamics.
Continued on page 8
PAGE 3
Lessons Learned from Preparing and
Passing the MFT Exams
A
By Victoria Van Zandt, MA
ugust, 22, 2011, with 23 minutes to
spare, and no bathroom break, I passed the
clinical vignette exam! I don't mention this to
brag, but to let you know, that during this
process, I never thought I'd see the light at the
end of the tunnel, but I'm here to say, I am alive and well. In all, it
has been seven years since I entered graduate school and set out
on this journey to become a licensed MFT. And, I have to say, that
along the way, I have learned a thing or two about this relentless
and empowering process that I would like to share with you.
One, the monster is not as huge as some may have you believe.
In other words, how you choose to perceive this so called monster
is your choice. Yes, test-taking can be a nerve-racking process
especially in this case, because if you don't pass, you have to
wait six months to retake the exam. This is usually what has
most interns fearful and pressured to pass. Second, there is the
decision of how to prepare: what exam preparation should I
follow? Do I take a prep course or do I study on my own? How
long should I study
for? When will I
know I'm ready to
take the exam? Etc.,
etc., etc. For me, I
needed structure
for both the written
and the vignette
exams. It was also
helpful to take the
mock exams, which
most prep courses
offer and which
gave me a better
indication of how I
was doing and where I needed to focus my studying. Find a
study partner. Learn to pace yourself while you study. You don't
have to be studying every second of every day. Spread out your
studying. Don't sit for hours on end staring into your computer
screen, or with your head in a book. Go to a movie or out to eat
with friends. This process does not have to be the dark and lonely
days of your life!
Don't sit for hours on
end staring into your
computer screen, or
with your head in a
book. Go to a movie or
out to eat with friends.
This process does not
have to be the dark and
lonely days of your life!
Once you figure out your study plan, get your anxiety in check.
This is a biggy! Most interns have difficulty with the exam
because their anxiety is running the show. I was sitting in an
exam prep orientation when the woman next to me said, “I'm not
afraid, I just don't know when I'm going to study.” At that moment,
it hit me that I had a choice to not be fearful and suddenly, I
noticed the tension inside of me shift. This shift has a lot to do
with me also learning to trust myself. If you trust yourself to sit
in a room and do therapy with people, you must have some
level of trust in yourself especially when you've completed
graduate school. SO, TRUST YOURSELF! Trust that you have the
knowledge and the resources to call on. Watch
Continued on page 4
PAGE 4
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
...W i t h a T h e r a p i s t ' s S l
an
by Shana Brandes
t
MFT Trainee
REVIEW
Recently, I was in Chicago for
Lollapalooza, a 3-day, eclectic
music festival. It was hot, loud, muddy, and uncomfortable; yet,
above all, it was incredibly fun. A briefing of one's experience
at Lollapalooza might not be traditional fodder for the L.A.
Therapist Update, but I found that there are little lessons
everywhere, even from wandering amongst the musicians and
music-worshipers in Grant Park.
the midst of it he realized that it gave him more motivation
to put on the best show he could knowing he owed it to his
fans. Through Grohl’s perseverance I remembered that there
would be clients that I might dread seeing, thinking that their
circumstances are so extreme how could I possible help? I
need to remain motivated to be the best that I can be and
use that as a gage to control the “environment” in the office.
My favorite lesson was from the band
A briefing of one's
Mayer Hawthorne & The Country. If you
Cee Lo Green’s performance reminded me that
experience at
have been to a live show in the last 5 years
your clients might throw you a curve ball and
you are aware of the abundance of phones
it’s important to retain your composure.
Lollapalooza might
and digital cameras that light up the
Otherwise you may lose them. Profoundly
not be traditional
audience during the performance. Well
unhappy with the sound, Cee Lo delivered a
Mayer Hawthorne finds it as annoying as I
less than desirable set. At times, he even
fodder for the
do. He told the audience that the band was
retreated backstage in what we thought was
L.A. Therapist Update, going to pose for the most fantastic picture
an elaborate costume change, but instead was
but I found that there you could imagine, and after that everyone
more likely to complain about the acoustics.
was to put their cameras and phones away
Instead of working with what he had, which
are little lessons
for the rest of the show. He pleaded with
was obviously what all the other artists did
everywhere, even
the crowd to “enjoy the moment” and not
since no one else seemed to have a problem,
experience it by viewing it thought a false
Cee Lo pushed blame for his lousy perforfrom wandering
reality. It’s important to leave our phones
mance on others. Thousands streaming from
amongst the
off in the office, both literally and nonhis stage to catch a better act were most likely
literally. Don’t let your personal life take
mumbling “Forget You.” I learned that you
musicians and
over, be present as to best serve your
have to take the punches and remember what
music-worshipers
clients. And try to remind your clients to do
your job is. In Cee-Lo’s instance it was to
the same!
entertain regardless of the conditions. As a
therapist, I need to remember that I am there to help the client
Overall, against the beautiful Chicago city skyline, the festival
and leave my own personal discomforts at the door.
was filled with both joy and some slight annoyances. I
braved the rain, sweated my butt off, and became closer to
The opposite of Cee Lo would be the Foo Fighters. During their
set a serious rain cloud parked itself over the crowd and dumped my friends. But most of all, I enjoyed how music not only
gives me a soundtrack to my life, but helps me remember
about 2 inches of rain in around 7 minutes. Dave Grohl could
have retreated backstage like Cee Lo did; instead, he rocked out my priorities in my career. harder than ever. After the rain stopped, Grohl said he had
been worried about the rain ruining his set all day but then in
Preparing and Passing the MFT Exams
Continued from page 3
the internal dialogue you are feeding yourself. Remember...CBT?
Practice it. Place one foot in front of the other and keep moving
forward. Set your test date as you begin to feel confident; you
can always change the date.
A few days before the exam, I met with Amanda Rowan, LCSW,
who offers MFT and LCSW exam coaching and srategy building
classes. It was very helpful to meet with her and clear away any
of the residue that had me confused or doubting my ability. She
offers a much lower fee than many of the traditional prep courses
and is located on the westside of town. Amanda's info can be
found at http://www.amandarowanlcsw.com/exam-coaching.
Within the month, I will receive my MFT license in the mail
and can finally hang the sign on my door that reads,
Victoria Van Zandt, LMFT!
I am available to support and guide you through the emotional
turmoil of the test-taking process and offer a sliding scale fee to
any LA-CAMFT intern.
Victoria Van Zandt, MA
[email protected]
310.922.3957. LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
PAGE 5
WHEN I'M NOT SITTING IN THE THERAPIST'S CHAIR, I'M...
A Photographer
Little Girl in Garment District
LA—2004
Roses Reach for the Sky
Irvine—2010
Walk to Charles River
MA—2006
Shot through a glass display case. She
was adorable, eyeing a pair of shoes. For
a moment I thought she was making a
wish. No time to set up the shot. I just
did a quick point-and-shoot hoping the
camera would see what I saw. I think the
camera saw better!
There’s something about roses reaching
into the sky that has always gotten
my attention. This day the late afternoon sun was casting shadows at an
entrancing angle while visiting friends.
While visiting my daughter at her college,
I went for a walk about the town of
Cam-bridge and came to this lovely
pathway of green trees providing
a canopy from the hot day. Afterward,
I obscured the detail on purpose for a
brush-like impression.
I’ve been an amateur photographer and artist most of my life. It’s been a hobby that helps me stop and renew myself. As a child I
started drawing as soon as I could hold a crayon. As a young person of 15 I started with an old Ricoh 35mm, gradually adding all the
components and lenses until the poor thing fell apart from use 30 years later! Now I use a Fuji Finepix Digital SLR and “tweak” my
pictures, or wholly change them into artworks, through Photoshop and PaintShopPro. In the old days we “tweaked” before we took
the picture by setting the conditions and using tricks to the lense, etc. Now I do it all with my camera and computer. Somehow,
though, it’s still taking just as long to get the result I want!!! And, if you’re wondering, yes I do carry a camera with me almost all the
time. Never know when I’ll see something that catches my attention!
Helen Hill is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in “coming out” issues for LGBT youth, adolescents and adults. In her spare
time she pursues her love of creating art, imagery, and photography.
Therapy: http://www.helen-hill.com
Art: http://www.new-gallery-of-art.com SUPER SHRINKS CONFERENCE IS COMING SOON
Saturday, November 5, 2011
California State University Long Beach
8 CEUs
D
on't miss this Super Conference. For the first time,
multiple local Chapters of CAMFT and Networking
Districts of AAMFT have pooled their resources and
joined together to bring you one of the brightest
minds and humorous presenters in the world of clinical
psychotherapy, Scott Miller, Ph.D.
Scott Miller is the founder of the International Center for
Clinical Excellence that promotes methodology and research
in helping clinicians provide measurable pathways to excellence
in behavioral health services. He has been the featured
speaker at the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference, and
around the world, inspiring practitioners, administrators and
policy makers to promote "excellence" in improving
effectiveness through client-directed, outcome-informed therapy, as
outlined in his book, The Heroic Client, Jossey-Bass, 2000.
By Jonathan Flier, MFT
LA-CAMFT has put her own personal
touch and brand to this conference by featuring, along with the amazing
presentation, a free Continental Breakfast and Lunch, Participant Literature
Display, Structured and Informal Table Networking, Member's Art Show,
Sponsors and Exhibits and 8 entertaining and informative CEUs.
So join over 300 of your colleagues and friends from throughout
Los Angeles, South Bay, Long Beach and Orange County, for this
informative, exciting and fun community gathering.
And that's right, we only have room for 300 participants and tickets
are already going fast. There are nearly 5000 MFTs in Los Angeles
alone so this conference will sell out.
Preregistration is required
Save your seat and sign up now by clicking
HERE PAGE 6
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
C OMMITTEE
I
UPDATE CORNER
Expressive Arts Therapies
Special Interest Group
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
LA-CAMFT
SUPERVISORS’ SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG)
Leslie Tuchman, MFT, Committee Chair
n reflecting back over our past 2 years of the Expressive
Arts Therapies Special Interest Group of LA-CAMFT we
want to thank Clearview Treatment Center for generously
allowing us to use of their exquisite space for our meetings. We
have been able to accommodate over 50 participants in their
venue!! GOOD NEWS… we are growing!! At the time of this
writing, it looks as if we have found a larger space in Westwood
for our events in 2012! Look for more details about this in the
Nov/Dec LA/CAMFT newsletter!! The Expressive Arts Therapies
are an exciting adjunct modality for therapists who are interested
in using art, drama, music, performance and writing to enhance
personal growth in the treatment of their clients/patients. The
work is powerful and our LA-CAMFT Chapter is passionate
about sharing what our local MFTs are doing as well as providing
research about the impact of the the Expressive Arts Therapies
for psychological healing and integration!!
FREE FUTURE EVENTS IN 2011/2012.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW. SPACE IS LIMITED!!
RSVP necessary to [email protected] for all events!
September 18th, 2011, 3 to 5pm,
Identity as an Act of Courage: A
Writing/ Storytelling Workshop.
Presenter Terrie Silverman, MFA,
Artist In Residence at Beyond
Baroque. Clearview Treatment Center, Venice, CA
Sunday, January 28th, 2012, 1 to 3 pm,
Location TBA. Voice Dialogue, Experience
Your Different Inner Selves Using Voice
Dialogue. Presenter Elaine Rosenson, is
currently the president of the SFV-CAMFT
chapter. (See Nov/Dec 2011 Newsletter.)
Sunday, March 17th, 2012, 1 to 3 pm,
Writers in Treatment, founder, Leonard
Bushel, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization
grounded in the arts and recovery fields.
October 14, 15 and 16, 2011, Reel
Recovery Film Festival. See Jan/Feb 2012
Newsletter. www.writersintreatment.org. A bi-monthly lunch discussion group for CAMFT Certified
Supervisors and anyone who is interested in supervision. Receive
your required Supervision CEUs in the relaxing company of your
peers.
The Supervisors’ SIG meets monthly at the Louise’s Trattoria, the
popular Westside restaurant. Each meeting we will read and
discuss a journal article from EBSCO. It’s easy! Supervision CEUs for
the price of (tax-deductible) lunch.
Our next meeting is Friday, October 21st from noon to 1:15 pm.
We will be discussing:
“FAMILY OF ORIGIN SUPERVISION IN THE WORKPLACE:
IMPACTS ON THERAPIST AND TEAM FUNCTIONING”
Come join us! To reserve a space and get the reading
material link: RSVP to Catherine Auman at 310.460.9399 or
[email protected]
Catherine Auman, MFT is a CAMFT Certified
Supervisor who has been teaching and
mentoring mental health clinicians (MFTs,
PhDs, LCSWs,RNs, psychiatrists, interns, and
students) for over twenty years. She is in
private practice in West L.A. 2011 MEETING DATES
DATE
DAY
HOST
Sept. 24
Oct. 28
Sat.
Fri.
LA-CAMFT
SM-WLA
INFORMAL NETWORKING & REGISTRATION:
8:530-9:30 AM
BRUNCH & MEETING:
9:30-11:30 AM
SUNDAY PROGRAMS
1:00-4 PM
FOR INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER:
CONTACT THE HOSTING ORGANIZATION
www.lacamft.org OR
www.sm-wla.org
See lacamft.org
for 2012 meeting dates
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
C OMMITTEE UPDATE CORNER continued
The 3 0 0 0 C L U B
LA-CAMFT's Special Interest Group
For Trainees and Interns
PRESENTS
Self-Care for the Therapist: Techniques to Buffer the
Challenges of Clinical Work
W
e will be discussing the various challenges of being a
therapist, and explore different ways to practice and
engage in self-care techniques. We will practice
stress-reduction techniques and ways to connect
even more deeply within ourselves in the midst of a career that is so
externally focused. These techniques include meditation and yoga.
Date: September 18, 2011
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: Free
Location: Cheviot Hills Park
Exact location will be confirmed closer to event date
We have limited space and entrance is by email reservation only
Register by Wednesday, September 14, 2011, by clicking here
Q & A and group activity following presentation.
Various experiential techniques will be used,
so please wear loose fitting clothes
Bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on
and business cards to exchange
presented by
Sara Lederer, Psy.D.
Dr. Sara Lederer is a licensed psychologist,
working with clients in a private practice
setting. She also teaches, inspires and trains
future therapists who are getting their masters
and doctorates in psychology. She believes
in walking through this world from a heartcentered, embodied place.
Education:
M.A., Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, concentration in Spiritual
Studies, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco
Training:
Cedars Sinai Thalians, Los Angeles (Fellowship)
David Plotkin, Ph.D. & Associates, Los Angeles (Postdoctoral training)
Westcoast Children’s Clinic, Oakland, APA accredited
(Predoctoral internship)
Jewish Family and Children's Services, Berkeley (Practicum)
The Wellness Community, Walnut Creek (Practicum)
Certifications:
Hospice Volunteer, Heartland Hospice
Yoga Teacher Training, Bhakti Yoga Shala
[email protected] PAGE 7
Trauma Response Committee
Shannon Byrnes, Trauma Response Chair
"While there is no way to compensate for an atrocity, there is a
way to transcend it, by making it a gift to others"
Trauma and Recovery, Judith Herman M.D.
A
lthough most survivors of trauma seek to resolve their
traumatic experience within the confines of their personal
lives, a significant minority feel called upon to engage in
a wider world as a result of the trauma. We can refer to
this as a mission statement for the survivor.
The Los Angeles CAMFT Trauma Response Committee met Friday,
July 22 to discuss the creation of its mission statement. In
attendance were Chair Shannon Byrnes, Co-Chair Duane Dillman,
and Committee Members Grant La Vigna and Tiffany Dawson. The
Committee is passionate about fostering relationships within the
community and with other organizations as well as provide
trainings in trauma response for mental health professionals.
If you are passionate or curious about disaster mental health
please join us as we continue to shape our role in our community in
times of crisis. The meeting will be held at the office of Shannon
Byrnes, LMFT, Trauma Response Committee Chair, 12304 Santa
Monica Blvd., Suite 219, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Please RSVP to
[email protected] or call 310.207.0123. PAGE 8
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
PTSD
Further reading and references:
Continued from page 3
“Beyond Invisible Walls” by Jacob D. Lindy and Robert Jay Lifton.
It is my professional opinion that everyone who was born
and raised in Eastern Europe, especially Jews (and especially,
Soviet Jews) during Communism, suffers from various
degrees of complex chronic PTSD. To obtain more detailed
information on the historical and cultural aspects of
the Communist era, please refer to one of my favorite
professional resources, “Ethnicity and Family Therapy”,
3rd edition by Monica McGoldrick (chapters 51 and 52).
The following is the summary of my suggestions if you treat
eastern European clients with chronic complex PTSD:
1. Due to numerous losses and traumas, clients are used
to keeping emotional pain to themselves and present a
stoic front.
2. It is considered dangerous, unseemly, and almost a
betrayal to disclose personal pain to a strangers, including
mental health professional.
3. Keep in mind that the word “therapist” (terapevt) in
Russian means “physician”, so your client may expect
you to provide a “prescription” in the form of advice or a
directive to make suffering go away.
4. It will help to market your practice to this clientele as
“education on emotional and social skills that will assist in
the assimilation and acculturation process” or “education
to facilitate intergenerational communication”.
5. The challenge for the therapist is to keep a balance
between projecting personal warmth and being proactive,
without falling into the trap of becoming a “family friend”.
6. The issues related to sexuality and alcohol usage are
highly delicate. They both will be kept as a family
secret and if the secret is out it’s very
embarrassing.
7. It will be wise to assume the use of
alcohol as self-medication to cope with
anxiety and depression until proven
otherwise.
8. Soviet Jews are very resilient, they are
driven to succeed and they appreciate
the value of education.
9. Family and close friends are a primary
support system and network for survival.
10. I recommend referring your clients to
the physician who practices Integrative
Medicine in order to rule out somatic
concerns.
11. D o n o t h es i tate to s u g g est
complementary treatment modalities
such as Movement, Expressive Arts and
Music therapy (these are familiar and
culturally-appropriate interventions).
“Chronic PTSD due to social/political repression” by Judith
Herman, M.D.
“Children of the Holocaust Survivors” by Alan Haas, Ph.D.
Eugenia Brusilovsky brings a unique combination of interdisciplinary background and professional experiences in Medicine,
Education, Psychology and Social Services. Eugenia works with
children, seniors and their families. She is a proud mother of
Lance Corporal U.S. Marine George Bukhin. To learn more about
Eugenia's work, go to www.creativeandcurious.com. My home life was a mini-version
of the “ER” TV series
with a Soviet twist:
24/7 conversations about patients,
diseases, surgeries, admissions,
discharges, deaths and
successful outcomes.
The outcome for me was
an arrested development
and extreme case of
emotional stupidity.
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
PAGE 9
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BERMAN SEMINARS
PRESENTS
CLINICAL ISSUES IN CO-PARENTING
4 CE UNITS FOR MFTs & LCSWs (PCE #4809)
(Interactive Seminar, Limited Space)
DATES:
Friday, 09/16/2011, 1:00pm – 5:30pm
Friday, 10/28/2011, 1:00pm – 5:30pm
LOCATION:
12304 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 215A, Los Angeles, CA 90025
FEE:
$65
PRESENTERS
ISAAC BERMAN, PH.D.
drisaacberman.com
TARA FASS, MA, MFT
tarafass.com
This 4-hour interactive lecture services to provide: a brief history of the evolution of joint custody; a review of guidelines for effective
parenting and of different parenting plans; conceptual models of divorce and remarriage; a review of major issues, pressures and
indicated interventions at altered families’ different life cycle phases; and an examination of major current developments in the practice
of psychotherapy.
To register for this program, please email [email protected] or call 310.826.0330.
PAGE 10
From Woe to W o w !
continued from page 1
we create a greater flow of information
and energy in our system. Our physical
movement creates emotional movement
and flexibility and furthers the process
of healing.
Therapeutic use of exercise ball begins
with emotive breathing while lightly
bouncing followed by rest thereby
balancing the distribution of vital
energy into all the different systems of
your body. On the upward thrust,
being in the 'free flight' of the bounce,
the body becomes weightless for a
fraction of a second. As the trillions of
cells in the body are pitted against the
earth’s gravitational pull, the entire
cellular network loosens up and is
aerated with heightened full-spectrum
oxygenated energy. This means that all
structural, emotional stresses and mental
pressure are eliminated in that instant.
In the downward pressure of the
bounce, massive toxic waste is being
flushed out of the cells and circulation
flows with increased vigor. Natural
opiates are also produced that supercharges vitality. This simple bobbling
activity on the ball helps to release and
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
balance a synergistic flow of emotive
chemistry – the vast storehouse of
vital energy and the creative power of
the body's wisdom that knows how to
transform the contraction of depression
into health, vitality and personal power.
In treating mood disorders, as in any
treatment, it is important to reach each
quadrant of being human – mental,
emotional, spiritual and physical. Within
Many struggle to find
solutions that don’t
involve medication.
Fortunately innovative
approaches that can be
done naturally, without
drug intervention are at
hand...from an unlikely,
uniquely creative source.
the professional boundaries of our
profession, that is, a “no touch” policy, it
is challenging to address the needs of
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
the body, other than referring the client
out for exercise, dance or a massage. In
“Processing in Motion” the therapist is
able to work profoundly and actively
with the physical body, while remaining
within professional guidelines. In
my practice, clients have learned a
technology to shift emotional states
with greater ease, tears and laughter,
resulting in the reawakening of shining
eyes. The unexpected bonus for the
therapist is completing sessions feeling
energized, and enlivened, a welcome
alternative to the heaviness of the
depressed state. In sum, this trail blazing
process focuses on integrating body,
voice and deep emotive expression for
the purpose of experiencing new levels
of vital energy, personal power and
intuitive resources in working with even
the most challenging clients.
Visit www.Wowzacise.com and
www.gretahassel.com
for more information.
Our next class, “Move
Your Body, Move Your
Practice”, promises to
provide powerful tools
for yourself and your
clients and is scheduled
for October 29, 2011 in West Los Angeles. President’s Message
continued from page 2
This adjustment would involve CAMFT
expanding its mission beyond representing
MFTs to our state and federal regulators
and legislators, providing legal information
services to members, and organizing and
hosting statewide conferences.
and enable the chapters to improve their
educational programming and stimulate
other kinds of innovative activities that
would provide on-going, immediate and
tangible benefits to all CAMFT members.
These activities would be locally designed
and implemented and would speak to and
address the diverse unique interests and
needs within our local professional
communities as well
Continued on page 14
Local statewide chapters are a wonderful
EARNING CE UNITS HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS MUCH FUN!
organizing force for providing education,
networking and peer intellectual and
“From Depression to Expression:
emotional support to MFTs and are the
Move Your Body, Move Your Practice”
best choice for that kind of service
within the MFTs local communities.
October 29th, 2011 from 10:00 – 5:00 pm West Los Angeles
The experiential benefit of active
membership and participation in a Gain powerful tools to clear clients’ self-defeating patterns through “Processing In Motion”.
local chapter is a very enriching, stress Experience new levels of energy, empowerment & intuitive resources – for your clients and Yourself!
reducing, invigorating and revitalizing
Leave work more energized than before you started!
force within our professional community.
Join Greta Hassel, MFT and Elisa Lodge, Expressive Arts Therapist
In a sense, "all politics are local".
The financial and organizational
support to the local chapters provided
by CAMFT through this extended
membership plan would strengthen
for a day of outrageous fun, while earning 6 CEU’s!
www.wowzacise.com & www.gretahassel.com
This course is approved for 6 CEU credits by BBS Lic, 4973. For more info: 310-818-1473.
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
PAGE 13
PAGE 14
LA THERAPIST UPDATE
1. Newsletter will be published SIX times a year.
as the shared common interests of our
communities throughout the state of
California.
That positive experience on a local level
would translate into an expanded
awareness of the value and benefits of
belonging to CAMFT and that would, in
turn, bring growth by increasing
renewals of current members and
providing further enticements to new
members. With that in mind, I strongly
urge CAMFT to become more active in
supporting local chapters by providing
financial assistance through membership
rebates, sharing technical information
and software, and offering personal
face-to-face consultations with experts
in community organizing. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
NEWSLETTER GUIDELINES
President’s Message
continued from page 10
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