2025 IAMFT Conference Schedule

Room # 167

Kate Engler, LMFT

Jen Mitchell

Attendees will understand how shaming/stigmatizing beliefs about divorce are harmful to clients, and how the experience of divorce can be used as a catalyst for clients’ personal transformation and aligning their lives with their highest selves.

Attendees will learn strategies to help their clients transmute the destructive elements of divorce into a process that promotes healing, growth, and a sense of empowerment.

Attendees will gain tools and techniques to support clients navigate the journey of divorce with resilience and clarity, and to focus on paths to resolution that prioritize dignity, respect, and mutual understanding. (This includes but is not limited to, creating a positive co-parenting relationship that prioritizes the well-being of children and fosters mutual respect and support between former spouses.)

Room # 164

Dr. Karen Caffee

Joanne Flannery, LMFT, Clinical Sexologist

Attendee will be able to identify the three stages of menopause and key characteristics of each stage.

Attendee will be able to discuss the impacts of the stages of menopause on sexuality.

Attendee will be able to locate at least three resources to assist in working with clients going through menopause and struggling with sex.

Room # 162

Richard Doss, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Department of Veterans Affairs

Jesse P. Waltz, MAEd, LMFT

After participating in the session, attendees should be able to describe the origin of a significant factor that contributes to many military divorces.

After participating in the session, attendees should be able to discuss when the military removes a primary ingredient for marital success.

After participating in the session, attendees should be able to identify the primary stressor among Military Service Members who suicide or attempt suicide.

After participating in the session, attendees should be able to discuss whether Military Service Men and Women change before combat in war, during combat in war, or after combat in war.

Room # 166

Rachel Zar, PhD, LMFT, CST

Participants will be able to identify and differentiate between psychological, relational, and physiological factors contributing to low libido and desire discrepancy in individuals and couples.

Participants will be able to reframe low libido and desire discrepancy as a relational issue and aid clients in systemic thinking.

Participants will increase their repertoire of interventions to effectively address low libido and desire discrepancy in therapy, including cognitive-behavioral, psychoeducation, and mindfulness techniques.

Room # 162

Sara Shwarzbaum, EdD, LMFT

To learn about the benefits of discernment therapy.

To explore how discernment therapy differs from couples therapy.

To explore best practices in conducting discernment therapy.

Room # 167

Farrah Walker, MS, LMFT

Understanding ethical codes and guidelines surrounding communication, dating and social media in clinical practice.

Identifying ways to navigate interacting with clients using these platforms adhering to ethical guidelines and best practices.

Learn how to create boundaries with clients that ensure adherence to ethical codes and best practices.

Learn ways to avoid liability and harmful practices.

Room # 166

J. Cangialosi, LCPC

Gain understanding of what secondary trauma is and how to recognize it.

Explore the impact of secondary trauma on loved ones.

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the various displays of secondary trauma.

Support family units in implementing strategies to address and mitigate secondary trauma.

Room # 164

Dr. Heather Digby, PsyD

Dr. Maria Yakovleva, PsyD

Participants will be able to understand the diagnostic process.

Participants will be able to identify evidence based treatment modalities and supports for neurodiverse individuals.

Participants will explore the importance of a stable parental alliance and how consistency in communication affect the family system.

Room # 162

David Cook, LMFT

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to define key terms in genetic genealogy, including NPE (Not Parent Expected), MPE (Misattributed Parentage Event), and centimorgan (cM), and understand their significance in the context of DNA testing.

Participants will be able to identify and describe the common emotional reactions that NPE clients may experience, including grief, identity crisis, anger, and emotional dysregulation.

Participants will be able to discuss the ways that NPE revelations can disrupt family relationships, lead to trust violations, and affect attachment bonds within families.

Participants will learn strategies to help clients navigate the identity crisis that can follow an NPE discovery, including techniques for rebuilding a sense of self and exploring questions of personal and family identity.

Room # 167

Shemiah R. Derrick, LCPC, CADC - Approved AAMFT Supervisor Candidate & Level 3 Gottman Trained Therapist

Participants will learn to recognize what authenticity means in a therapeutic setting and how it contributes to building trust and rapport with clients.

Participants will gain ability to discern when sharing personal experiences enhances the therapeutic process and when it may blur boundaries or detract from client focus.

Participants will learn how to apply techniques for showing up authentically in the therapy room, while also incorporating their genuine identity into brand building and marketing, creating a cohesive and trustworthy professional presence.

Room # 166

Sara Bartus, MA, MSW, LCSW

Chris Sheard, MSW

Participants will be able to identify and address common social skills challenges in the individuals they work with.

Participants will engage in role-play exercises and structured theater and improv games aimed at addressing social skills challenges.

Participants will leave with strategies and activites that can be utilized in both individual and group therapy sessions to address social skills challenges.

Room # 164

Briana N. Roberts, PhD Candidate, LMFT

Understand the lived experiences of Black MFTs working towards their professional goals.

Be able to identify barriers to professional goals for Black MFTs.

Learn different ways to support Black MFTs while they are working towards their professional goals.

Room # 162

Jordan Dunmead, LMFT

To examine language and clinical application associated with working with relationally diverse populations.

To explore how our values and socialization impacts, and potentially gets in the way of, clinicians working with relationally diverse populations.

To explore and apply concepts and interventions useful to relationally diverse clients.

Room # 164

Dr. Yulinda Rahman

Explore the dynamics of kink within various types of relationships.

Address challenges such as misaligned interests and differing experience levels.

Guide clients through integrating kink into their relationships healthily and consensually.

Room # 166

Kayla Harris, MA, LMFT

Helen Wyatt, MA, LMFT

Participants will have reviewed the fundamentals of the intersection of play and sex therapy from presenters' 2024 presentation "Toys and Taboos".

Through engagement in a Play and Sexuality Belief Inventory (PSBI), participants will engage in an attitude and belief assessment that provides insight into their biases and values regarding sexuality, play, and the interplay between the two.

Participants will have learned different practical interventions and applications of play in sex and relationship therapy with various client systems and individuals.

By the end of this presentation, participants will have an opportunity to reconnect with their own sense of play and learn how they might bring play and creativity into their clinical and personal lives.

Room # 167

Mandy Jones-Fischer, LCSW, RPT, JD

Describe how the Theraplay dimensions of Structure, Engagement, Nurture, and Challenge are used to meet children's needs and address behavior problems in play therapy.

Demonstrate 2 activities from each of Theraplay's four dimensions.

Describe how parents participate in Theraplay play therapy sessions.

Room # 166

Aracely Hernandez

Jesse P. Waltz, MAEd, LMFT

Understanding the Role of Art in Grief Work: Attendees will gain insights into how visual art can serve as a powerful, non-threatening way to explore complex emotions such as guilt, anger, and resentment during bereavement.

Hands-On Experience with Creative Grief Activities: Participants will engage in a guided art activity to experience first-hand how art can offer relief, connection, and self-expression in processing grief.

Practical Tools for Integrating Art into Therapy for Bereaved Clients: Attendees will leave with practical strategies and examples of visual art modalities they can use to support clients in navigating their grief journey.

Room # 167

Irene Schreiner, LMFT

Understand the potential benefits of AI in enhancing therapy.

Saving yourself time and energy.

Explore various AI tools available for mental health professionals.

Learn how to integrate AI-driven solutions to improve client outcomes.

Identify ethical concerns and limitations associated with AI in therapy.

Room # 164

Mialauni T. Griggs, PhD, LMFT

Describe the function of play.

Identify and assess of developmental readiness factors and family dynamics.

Discuss appropriate engagement of play in session.

Implicate social justice elements in play therapy interventions.

Room # 162

Joshua Boe, PhD, LMFT

Jenna Gonzalez

Gina Marzilli

Participants will be able to understand and identify barriers to TGD affirmative therapy training.

Participants will be able to understand and identify supports to TGD affirmative therapy training.

Participants will identify strategies to increase education in TGD affirmative therapy.

Room # 167

Amy Jacobs, LMSW

Jennifer Schwartz, LMSW

Upon completion, participants will have a basic knowledge of BDSM/Kinky relationships and be able to define common terminology related to these practices.

Upon completion, participants will be able to identify ways to create inclusive assessments and sexual health history taking, in order to obtain relevant information on clients who are participating in BDSM/Kink.

Upon completion, participants will gain knowledge and understanding on how to incorporate BDSM/Kink considerations into mental health treatment plans.

Upon completion, participants will discuss and explore personal and societal beliefs around BDSM/Kink.

Room # 166

Sacha Olan, LMFT

Identifying Difference with Individuals and couples work.

Organization of Couple's Therapy Process.

Understanding of systemic application in couples work.

Room # 164

Rachael M. Jones, LMFT, PMH-C

Mollie Bass, LMFT, PMH-C

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to identify the components of mental load and the relationship between mental load and risk of PMADs.

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to employ strategies to support clients in identifying, categorizing, and assigning mental load tasks and tailor this support to individual client needs.

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to utilize strategies to address client resistance, facilitate open communication about mental load and division of labor, and create clear role definition.

Room # 162

Rose Lange, LCPC, PhD Candidate in Couple and Family Therapy

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to identify three interventions to use specifically with larger-bodied and size-diverse clients.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to describe their particular biases towards larger-bodied people and the impact of bias and weight stigma on couples and families.

At the end of this roundtable, participants will be able to identify practical and tangible next steps for themselves in addressing their biases and providing more equitable care for larger-bodied and size-diverse people.