GATHER AND LEARN OPPORTUNITIES
Networking Event (Hike)
September 12, 2025
Hidden Falls Regional Park
Join us for a moderate, 3–5 mile hike and the chance to network with peers in a relaxed, outdoor setting.
Who’s Invited: Mental health professionals and their families, as well as friendly, well-behaved dogs.
RSVP: Please RSVP to Terryn Middlebrook at (916) 276-1075.
When: September 12, 2025 at 7:30 am.
Event: Networking Hike
Location: Hidden Falls in Placer County - 7587 Mears Place in Auburn CA. Meet in asphalt parking lot close to restrooms and picnic table.
Please join us for easy to moderate level 3 to 5 mile hike. Network with peers.
Who's Invited: Mental health professionals and their families as well as friendly dogs.
RSVP: Please RSVP to Terryn at 916.276.1075.
Webinar Description:
Working with minors requires an understanding of the laws and ethical standards that pertain to minor consent and the authority that minors, and/or others, have over the minor’s clinical information. Additionally, working with minors may involve the need to interact and share information with third parties. During this three (3) hour presentation, CAMFT Staff Attorney Alain Montgomery will review California minor consent laws and common issues related to the confidentiality of the minor’s healthcare information.
Educational Goals:
Participants will gain a better understanding of the applicable laws and the CAMFT ethical standards that relate to minor consent, the release of a minor’s health care information, and conflict of interest issues related to the treatment of minors. As a result of the workshop, participants will be better equipped to make informed and legally and ethically sound decisions when working with minors.
Learning Objectives:
TO REGISTER: https://www.camft.org/le-webinars
The Somatics of Shame
When: Friday, September 26, 2025 9:30-11:30 AM
Where: 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*
Presented By: Craig Penner, LMFT / 2 CE Credits
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:
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.
Event: Networking Lunch
Location: Old Town Pizza (Upstairs Patio)
510 High Street, Auburn, CA 95603
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025 • 12:00 PM
Join us for a casual and enjoyable networking event over lunch at Old Town Pizza! Take the opportunity to mingle with peers, exchange ideas, and make new connections—all in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Details:
Who’s Invited: Professionals from all backgrounds who’d love to expand their network or catch up with colleagues.
We look forward to seeing you there—come for the food, stay for the connections!
Networking Event - Hike
October 10, 2025 at 7:30 am
Join us for a moderate, 3 - 5 mile hike and the chance to network with peers in a relaxed, beautiful outdoor setting.
Who's Invited: Mental health professionals and their families, as well as friendly, well-behaved dogs.
For more information: Contact Diane Kato at (916) 316.5532.
When: October 10, 2025 at 7:30 am (hikes are held every 2nd Friday of each month)
Cancelled if it rains.
Beyond Couples Therapy: Polyamory and Systemic Practice
Learning outcomes
1. Understand concepts related to non-monogamy and systemic practice.
2. Understand key tasks in therapy when working with non-monogamous client systems.
3. Learn relational therapy approaches/interventions that can be used with non-monogamous
4. Gain access to skills and strategies for working with clients navigating non-monogamy or wanting to be non-monogamous.
Outline
Gauging exposure to non-monogamy
- Clinical work or training
- People you know
- Books, blogs, research
- Media
Focus on polyamory (vs. swinging, kink/bdsm play partners)
- Where there si some form of emotional/romantic/life intertwining
Self-reflection
- Dominant narratives & socialization
- Helps us join our client
- Can reduce knee-jerk judgments
- Helps us step into the shoes of our clients, particularly those who may be unsure, scared, anxious about change
Determining what is wanted
- Highlighting why goals and clarity of what si wanted si so important
- Good relational work takes good leadership
- self-definition/self-awareness grows self-differentiation
Relationship structures
- V structures Triads and quads
- Open relationships (i.e., Monogamish, play partners, hall passes)
- Relationship anarchy
- Hierarchy, non-hierarchical, priorities, power Solo polyamory
Non-monogamous Relationship Agreements
- Experiments vs Rules
- Flexibility, consideration, patience
Instructor
JIMMY G. BRIDGES, PhD, LMFT, CFLE
Pronouns: he/his, they/them
Jimmybridgescoaching@gmail.com
Presenter: Sara Jasper, JD, CAMFT Staff Attorney
California’s Medi-Cal system is complex and ever-changing. During this three-hour presentation, CAMFT Staff Attorney, Sara Jasper, will provide an overview of the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health system, including information about CalAIM and BH-Connect. Ms. Jasper will review Medi-Cal’s requirements for telehealth services, provider addresses and how providers who offer “remote-only” services can apply for an exemption from Medi-Cal’s place of business requirements. Ms. Jasper will offer practice tips and resources Medi-Cal providers may use to strengthen their recordkeeping practices in anticipation of audits. Finally, Ms. Jasper will offer general resources to support providers as they navigate the Medi-Cal system, including resources for those providing care to dual eligible patients and caregivers.
Participants will review the pathways to behavioral health care services within the Medi-Cal system. Participants will learn about the laws and policies that pertain to their work within the Medi-Cal system. As a result of the workshop, participants will be able to identify the requirements for rendering telehealth services and recordkeeping. The tips and resources provided will prepare and assist Medi-Cal providers with responding to audit requests. Providers will also be empowered by receiving resources they can use when addressing more complex issues such as billing for services rendered to dual eligibles or caregivers.
"Sierra Foothills CAMFT" is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. PO Box 6891, Auburn CA 95604
Contact: admin@sierrafhcamft.org
Address: PO Box 6891, Auburn CA. 95604
