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CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF

MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPISTS 

Central Coast Chapter


Upcoming ccc-camft events

Upcoming events

  • Second Annual Mental Health & Wellness Retreat

    • Sat, September 13, 2025
    • Sun, September 14, 2025
    • Katy Canyon Way, Arroyo Grande, CA. address to be shared upon registration
    • 65
    • 35 registrants
    Register


    Accomodations: SeaCrest Hotel at 2241 Price St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 (805) 773-4608 established a room block in the system under “Central Coast CAMFT” for September 12th-14th obtaining (5) Oceanview King rooms and (5) Standard Non-View King rooms. If anyone would like to extend their reservation to stay through Monday, September 15th please let them know and they will open a room up in the system for that Sunday night.

    Saturday 11:30-8pm

    Lunch and Connection

    Keynote Presentation:  
    Understanding Your Parts: Leading a Self-Led Life as a Therapist *2 CEs*

    Presented by: Dr. Maddisen Espeseth, PsyD
    CA Licensed Psychologist (32949)
    Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist
    IFS Institute Approved Clinical Consultant (IFS-I ACC)
    Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor (RPT-S)
    Certified Sandplay Therapist (CST)

    Workshop Description:
    The intent of this workshop is to introduce participants to Internal Family Systems (IFS) with a heavy emphasis on self-application and self-exploration. The workshop will start with psychoeducation about basic IFS tenets underlying the model philosophy. Discussion of how to identify parts and the concept of Self will be explored. Application of some of the learned tenets will then proceed via experiential meditation and mapping, focusing on Self-to-part witnessing of therapist (and personal) parts. The concepts of legacy and cultural burdens will be introduced with the aim of exploring the systemic influences impacting therapist parts’ expectations, values, beliefs, etc. (as in, exploring the influence of varying external systems impacting how one expects a therapist should act). 

    This course is designed to help therapists acknowledge the parallel process unfolding in the therapy room, recognizing some of the nuances of one's own system on both clinical and personal levels. Such self-reflection is aimed at improving self-awareness and mindful treatment decision-making with the intent of providing higher quality support to clients while conscientiously tending to one's own system. The dual nurturance of both clinical and personal parts is intended to support a Self-led life and career longevity. 

    About our Presenter:
    Dr. Maddisen Espeseth is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Anaheim Hills, California. She is a Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist, IFS Institute Approved Clinical Consultant (IFS-I ACC), Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor (RPT-S), and Certified Sandplay Therapist (CST). Dr. Espeseth practices from an attachment-heavy, neurosequential lens, and specializes in trauma-related disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In addition to psychotherapy, Dr. Espeseth also provides neurodiversity affirming psychodiagnostic testing services with a speciality in autism. She loves consulting and supervising fellow clinicians, and is passionate about assisting providers with recognizing and supporting the parallel process inherent to clinical work. 

    Breakout Sessions

    Dinner and Connection


    Sunday 10:30 - 2pm

    Brunch and Connection

    Keynote Presentation:
    From Burnout to Balance: Mastering Your Emotional Intake (2 CEs) 
    Presenter: Gila Zak, C.Ht      
    Heal the Healer From Burnout to Balance: Mastering Your Emotional Intake is an experiential training designed to help therapists protect their energy, sharpen their presence, and sustain their careers. Participants will learn how everyday conversational trance and personal suggestibility patterns influence the way they absorb client emotions - often without realizing it.

    Through engaging demonstrations, self-hypnosis exercises, and practical reset rituals, attendees will discover state-shifting tools to reduce emotional overload, clear the day’s residue, and leave work feeling fresh.

    Drawing on both clinical hypnosis principles and insights into unconscious motivation, this training reframes dissociation as a skill when used strategically, introduces the power of the Observer Mind, and equips therapists with a personal toolkit to stay grounded, effective, and resilient - session after session, year after year.

    About our Presenter: 

    Considered a hypnotist’s hypnotist, Gila Zak, C.Ht. has over a decade of experience and has worked with well over a thousand clients. She maintains a full time practice in Los Osos, California and is a featured presenter at conferences and various professional and medical organizations and is the creatress of The Gallery © process and The Two Minds Technique ©.

    She is an honors graduate of HMI College of Hypnotherapy, a recipient of the prestigious Director’s Award and a Certified IEMT Practitioner, Sexual Freedom™ Practitioner, Bunny Talk™ Practitioner, Metaphors of Movement Facilitator and also holds a certificate in Advanced Handwriting Analysis.

    Her passion is espousing on all things hypnotic and helping people improve their relationship with themselves and life through greater understanding of the unconscious motivations that drive us.

    Whether working with clients or teaching fellow professionals, Gila brings warmth, wisdom, and a deep respect for the healing intelligence of the human psyche. Her workshops offer not just information, but transformation.

    You can find her on Youtube at @theGSpotHypnotherapy and @QuantumWavesHypnotherapy, Instagram at hypno_g and her website QuantumWavesHypnotherapy.com

    Closing Circle & Farewell Connections

    Grievance:

    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).
    2. 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.
    3. 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 $20 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.

    Show details

  • Coffee and Connection

    • Fri, September 19, 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
    • Greenhouse Coffee Company (1064 E. Grand Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420))
    • 4 registrants
    Register

    Central Coast–CAMFT

    When: Friday, September 19, 9 - 10:15 AM 

    Where: A social networking event at Greenhouse Coffee Company, 1064 E. Grand Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

    Details: We’re excited to invite you to a casual networking gathering at Greenhouse Coffee Company in Arroyo Grande on Friday, September 19th at 9:00 AM.

    This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow clinicians in our community, share ideas, and build professional relationships. The chapter will be covering the cost of your coffee, so just bring yourself and enjoy the time together.

    We’d love to see you there, whether you’re a longtime member or new to the chapter. These informal gatherings are a wonderful way to strengthen our professional network while enjoying a relaxed start to the day.

    Anyone can register and there is no cost but please register so we know how many people to expect.

    We hope you’ll join us.

    Warmly,

    CAMFT Central Coast Chapter

    Questions? Contact chapter volunteer, Alex Kneeland: <alexjkneeland@gmail.com>

    Show details

  • Saturday Workshop: Overview of Integrative Psychiatry for Therapists

    • Sat, September 20, 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Via Zoom
    • 1 registrant
    Register

    Marin & Central Coast–CAMFT

    presents:

    Saturday Workshop: Overview of Integrative Psychiatry for Therapists

    Expand your knowledge of holistic approaches to treatment

    Overview of Integrative Psychiatry for Therapists

    Presented by Dr. Juliet Morgan & Dr. Beatrice Rabkin

    3 CEs available

    Registration for this "live" training does not include access to a recording.
    Please read the full event description for all registration terms including refund policy.

    PLEASE NOTE: After you sign up here, you'll be sent instructions on how to complete a separate registration step with Zoom, which is how you will get your Zoom link. You can do that in advance,
    or right before the meeting begins.
    This lets us more accurately track attendance in the Zoom meeting for our compliance purposes as a CE provider.


    Central Coast CAMFT licensed members register using the green register button above and non-members and prelicensed members register on the Marin CAMFT website Here.

    Workshop Description


    We invite psychotherapists to join this dynamic and interactive continuing education session led by MD integrative psychiatrists, offering a practical introduction to integrative psychiatry. This presentation is designed to bridge disciplines and equip therapists with a deeper understanding of how integrative and holistic approaches are used in psychiatric care—and how these strategies can enhance collaborative treatment planning.

    Participants will gain:

    • An evidence-based framework for applying integrative medicine in mental health settings
    • Clinically oriented guidance on managing common psychiatric complaints with integrative modalities
    • Insights into the safe, judicious use of supplements and natural products
    • An overview of personalized psychotropic medication strategies, including customized dosing and navigating side effects
    • A review of expanded lab testing and what it may reveal about underlying contributors to mental health symptoms
    • Other non-pharmacologic resources that support mental health

    This session is highly clinically relevant and interactive, offering psychotherapists new tools and insights to better understand integrative psychiatric approaches and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.

    Educational Goals

    This workshop will cover a foundational understanding of integrative psychiatry, including how evidence-based integrative medicine principles can be applied to mental health care in collaboration with psychotherapy. Participants will learn how medical doctors safely and clinically appropriately incorporate supplements, natural products, and expanded laboratory testing in support of their treatment planning. The training is designed to enhance awareness for psychotherapists of physiological contributors to psychiatric symptoms. The workshop will enhance interdisciplinary collaboration by providing insight for participants into personalized psychotropic medication strategies and non-pharmacologic interventions that complement psychotherapy and promote whole-person care.

    Learning Objectives

    Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:

    1. Describe an evidence-based framework for integrative psychiatry and identify how integrative modalities such as supplements, natural products, and lifestyle interventions can be applied to support clients in psychotherapy.
    2. Recognize how to collaborate effectively with prescribing psychiatrists by understanding customized psychotropic medication strategies, the rationale behind expanded lab testing, and the integration of non-pharmacologic supports in mental health care.
    3. Examine how culture, identity, and experiences of marginalization shape clients' perspectives on both integrative and traditional psychiatric care, and explore how these factors may influence openness to or skepticism toward various treatment modalities.


    Presenters Dr. Juliet Morgan & Dr. Beatrice Rabkin

    Dr. Juliet MorganDr. Juliet Morgan (she/her) is an integrative neuropsychiatrist who practices in the Bay Area. Dr. Morgan completed both neurology and psychiatry residencies, and a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of California San Francisco. Her work in the field of Long Covid has been featured in several media outlets including KQED, Vox, and CBS. Dr. Morgan is the co-author of the book Long Illness: A Practical Guide to Surviving, Healing, and Thriving, published by Hachette Go. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco where she leads their neuropsychiatry curriculum. 

    Dr. Beatrice RabkinDr. Beatrice Rabkin (she/her) is an integrative psychiatrist and the founder of Verveine Psychiatry. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and cell biology from Rice University, and her MD at Baylor College of Medicine. She completed residency in general adult psychiatry at the University of Southern California, where she received specialized training in reproductive psychiatry and served as chief resident in consult-liaison psychiatry. She completed a fellowship in psychosomatic medicine at Stanford University. At Stanford, she also earned her 200hr yoga teacher certificate with YogaX.

    PLEASE NOTE:  By registering for this event you are consenting to a recording being made which may include your voice and/or image. By registering for this event, you are agreeing for your likeliness to possibly be used by Marin CAMFT.

    Also, while this event will be produced as an on-demand program, those programs are managed separately and sold through a different platform. Registering for this Zoom training does not include access to any recording or an on-demand version. If you cannot attend "live" on the training date listed here, please do not register for this Zoom training, and instead, check Marin CAMFT On-Demand for the recorded program at a later date. If you register for this "live" training and are unable to attend, please cancel your registration per the terms below which govern our refund policies for this event.

    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.

    Show details

  • The Somatics of Shame

    • Fri, September 26, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
    • Via Zoom
    • 25 registrants
    Register

    Central Coast–CAMFT

    presents:

    The Somatics of Shame

    Presented By:
    Craig Penner, LMFT

    Friday, September 26, 2025
    9:30 am - 11:30 am

    2 CE Credits
    Via Zoom

    * This event will be recorded and distributed to registrants so if you cannot make the event live, but want the recorded version, please register here*

    Overview of Presentation

    Shame is a complex “dilemma,” holding varied emotions, beliefs and somatic reactions behind dynamics of hiding and disconnecting. It all feels so awful that it makes it hard to self reflect, no less expose shame with others effectively. A compromised ability to self-reflect well is often a hallmark of dynamics that keep us from working through shame. Thus, shame is a developmental inhibitor. We try to live around it, and yet we live with its constrictions, sometimes for our entire lives. There is often a powerful dynamic that prevents certain beliefs and reactive patterns from ever truly being questioned. When this is exposed and addressed first, it can open the door to examining what has never been able to be seen. The physiology of shame can point us to moments of nervous system activation that require sustained awareness to effectively work through - on somatic, emotional and cognitive levels. We need to notice these pivotal points as they arise in order to pace the activation that drives such strong avoidance. 

    This presentation is designed to help therapists identify dynamics that make shame difficult to approach, including somatic and physiological aspects. A somatic approach facilitates our ability to observe shifts in activation that are not presented verbally. This allows us to pace the work and create collaborative agreements with our clients to address shame in the midst of powerful urges to hide and avoid.

    Objectives:

    • Participants are able to list 2 ways our nervous systems are engaged in shame dynamics
    • Participants are able to describe 3 challenges for clients in addressing shame
    • Participants are able to describe how disconnections are a factor in how shame persists
    • Participants are able to identify 2 advantages of holding a somatic focus when working with shame
    • Participants are able to explain 3 disconnecting dynamics that are helpful for therapists to pay attention to

    Speaker Bio:

    Craig Penner, LMFT, is a psychotherapist and trainer in private practice in California since 1982, currently in Cambria. He brings a process-oriented approach to therapy, with a strong somatic (body/nervous system) focus, and integrates the use of “bilateral stimulation” from EMDR. He has always believed that we have a natural drive to completion and resolution. This has inspired his commitment to develop “Natural Processing,” which is an integration of ways to utilize our own awareness to facilitate that drive. He has been training therapists in this approach across the US and Canada since 2014, and has led consultations and other trainings for over 25 years.

    CE Qualifications: 

    Unless otherwise specified, our courses meet the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credits for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Participants will receive an evaluation via email and upon completion of the eval, will get a downloadable CE certificate.

    The Central Coast Chapter of CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for MFTs, Associates and students, MSWs, LEPs and LPCCs. The Central Coast Chapter of CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

    Grievance:

    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).
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

    Show details

  • Beyond Couples Therapy: Polyamory and Systemic Practice

    • Fri, October 24, 2025
    • 9:30 AM
    • Via Zoom
    • 12 registrants
    Register

    Central Coast–CAMFT

    Presents:

    Beyond Couples Therapy: Polyamory and Systemic Practice

    Presenter: James Gavin Bridges PhD, LMFT, CFLE

    Fri., Oct. 24th 9:30-11:30am PST

    Zoom (2 CEs)

    * Training will be recorded and available after October 24th to registered participants who are unable to join live*

    Overview of Presentation:

    This presentation provides audience members with helpful concepts related to non-monogamy and systemic practice. It goes over relational terms used by the community, important distinction between commonly used language, and encourages therapists to remain curious about clients’ language even after doing their own homework. The presentation will introduce clinicians to key tasks in therapy when working with non-monogamous client systems.

    Clinicians will also learn which relational therapy approaches and interventions can be used with non-monogamous clients as they work on relationship structure formation, agreement making, and recovery from relational ruptures. Audience members can expect to learn skills and strategies for working with clients navigating non-monogamy or wanting to be non-monogamous (i.e., opening up). Throughout the presentation, audience members can also expect to work on self-reflection as they contemplate providing therapeutic help to clients in non-monogamous relationship structures.  

    Presentation Goals:

    - Understand concepts related to non-monogamy and systemic practice.
    - Understand key tasks in therapy when working with non-monogamous client systems.
    - Identify narratives and biases related to socialization in a mono-normative society
    - Describe relational therapy approaches/interventions that can be used with non-monogamous clients.
    - Apply skills and strategies for working with clients navigating non-monogamy or wanting to be non-monogamous. 

    Measurable objectives:

    a. Participants will be able to identify at least 6 key principles of what presenting problems brings non-monogamous clients into therapy.

    b. Participants will be able to name 3 communication interventions that can be used with agreement making for non-monogamous relationship systems.

    c. Participants will be able to identify 5 different theories of marriage and family therapy that can be used when working with non-monogamous systems.

    d. Participants will be able to state the 4 main principles of structuring agreement conversations effectively.

    Bio: Jimmy Bridges (he/they), PhD, LMFT, CFLE Jimmy is a licensed couple and family therapist in Massachusetts and Vermont, a certified family life educator through NCFR, an AAMFT approved supervisor and clinical fellow, and part-time faculty at National University in the MFT masters and doctoral programs. He received his doctoral and master’s degrees in Couple and Family Therapy from Kansas State University. He also received two graduate certificates in Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies and Social Justice Education from Kansas State University. His clinical specialization is working with queer and non-monogamous clients. He has presented in university settings, conferences, regional organizations, and online platforms on non-monogamy and couples therapy models. Jimmy has worked in community mental health, group practice, and currently works in private practice with their nesting partner, who is also a therapist.

    Grievance:

    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).
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

    Show details

OUR MISSION To strengthen the Marriage & Family therapy profession & better serve our Central Coast community.

© Central Coast CAMFT 2025

Central Coast Chapter of CAMFT is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 12723, San Luis Obispo, CA  93406
Website Design : Deb Maxwell

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