Central Coast–CAMFT

Presents:

Responding to Clients in Crisis:
Best Practices for Therapists in Outpatient Settings

Presented By: Leah DeRose, LMFT #84704 

Friday,  December 5, 2025, 10am-12pm 

Location: In-Person

Unitarian Universalists Church

2201 Lawton Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Number of CEs: 2 

Presentation Overview:

Mental health crisis can arise in any clinical setting-even in the middle of a routine therapy session. This training is designed for therapists who work in outpatient/private/group practices, who want to feel more confident in responding when a client is in acute distress. Participants will learn how to recognize warning signs of crisis, respond with grounded and supportive interventions, and connect clients to appropriate resources while maintaining clear boundaries and ethical standards.

Educational Goals:

Through practical guidance and real-world examples, this training provides the tools to stay calm, compassionate and effective when the unexpected happens.  

Objectives:

• Identify 3 common signs and indicators of mental health crises that may emerge during outpatient or private practice sessions. 

• Describe appropriate, ethical, and trauma-informed responses that prioritize client safety and clinician boundaries. 

• Identify 3 practical tools and communication techniques to provide immediate support, de-escalate distress, and coordinate care or referrals with crisis and community resources. 

• Increase confidence in navigating high-stress or unexpected clinical moments while maintaining therapeutic rapport and professional composure. 

Presentation by:

Leah DeRose, LMFT #84704  

Leah DeRose is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Director of Program Operations for Sierra Mental Wellness Group, a nonprofit organization providing crisis services throughout California. She is also the founder and owner of DeRose Therapy Group, a thriving psychotherapy group practice based in San Luis Obispo.

With over 15 years of experience across crisis intervention, county behavioral health, and private practice settings, Leah is known for her leadership in developing responsive mental health programs and fostering collaborative, compassionate care. She is passionate about building systems that support both client well-being and clinician growth.

Outside of her professional roles, Leah enjoys connecting with the Central Coast community through wellness initiatives and local outreach efforts, spending time with her family, being outdoors and interior design. 

Grievances

While the Central Coast Chapter of CAMFT makes every effort to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there may be occasional issues with regard to presentations/workshops which will require intervention and/or action on the part of the board. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such grievances.

When a participant files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken:

1. The participant(s) will be asked to put concerns in writing (this can be in electronic form, such as an email).

1. If the grievance concerns a presenter, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the grievance will be asked to put their comments in written format. The Board will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the grieved individual.

1. If the grievance concerns a presentation/workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the Board will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the Board will:

• provide a credit for a subsequent presentation/workshop or

• provide a partial or full refund of the presentation/workshop fee

Refund policy:

registrants must cancel their registration within 10 days of the event to receive a refund minus a $5 administrative fee.  Exceptions can be made for 48-hour notices in case of an emergency.  If you need to cancel, please contact Event Chair, Kim Richards: richardskimlmft@gmail.com. 

Special Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any of our events, please contact Event Chair Kim Richards within 10 days of the upcoming event at 805.458.8063 or email Kim Richards at richardskimlmft@gmail.com.