Winter 2026, vol. 45, no. 1

President's Message: 

by Amanda Cortez, LMFT

Welcome to the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists! It is my honor and my privilege to serve as President of such a vibrant community of dedicated mental health professionals and advocates...

Community Focus:
Cultural Field Guides

Gia Reyes interviews Kusum Punjabi, Director at Large of the DEI Committee, about the soon-to-be-launched Cultural Field Guides program, an innovative initiative that promises participants a more profound understanding of different cultures and their nuances via immersive experiences.  This program is aiming to provide opportunities for therapists to experience cultural traditions and customs firsthand, through immersive encounters led by members of those communities. 

When Boundaries Collide:

Navigating South Asian Familial Norms in a Western Clinical Context    
By Amal Khan, AMFT

The article explores the incongruence between South Asian cultural norms and Western models of boundaries in therapy. It highlights how collectivist values—such as extended family involvement and communal caregiving—interact with Western expectations of autonomy, direct communication, and individual boundaries. 

Slice of Humor:
Object Inconstancy

Edna Wallace’s poem “Object Inconstancy” reflects on the pain of inconstant love.

Upcoming Events

Cinema Therapy Club 

Facilitated by Kusum Punjabi, AMFT, Director at Large

Saturday, February 21, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
San Jose, CA

no CE credits

EMDR for Kids 101: An Introductory Workshop for Curious Child Clinicians 

Presented by Christine Mark-Griffin, LCSW, RPT, RYT

Friday, February 27, 10:30 AM - 2:15 PM
Michael's at Shoreline, 2960 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View + ONLINE

3 CE credits

Facilitated by Sabreen Azhar and Heba El-Haddad

Saturday, March 1, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Muslim Community Association, 3003 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054
no CE credits

Reconnected Digital Wellness: Essentials for Mental Health

Presented by Chay Tanchanco, LMFT

Friday, March 27, 10:30 AM - 2:15 PM
Michael's at Shoreline, 2960 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View + ONLINE

3 CE credits

Presented by Luke Martin, CAMFT Staff Attorney

Friday, April 10, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
ONLINE

3 CE credits

Online Support Groups

w/Greg Rowe-Pasos, LMFT

First Wednesdays at 9:00 AM

Support Group for 55+ Therapists 

w/ Alex Mackenzie, LMFT and Liliana Ramos, LMFT
First Mondays at 5:00 PM

Pre-Licensed Support Groups  

w/ Natasha Kazmi, LMFT

DEI Dates

FEBRUARY

Black History Month
2nd - Candlemas (Christian)
11th - International Day of Women and Girls in Science
14th - Valentine’s Day
15th - Nirvana Day / Parinirvana Day (Buddhist)
16th - Presidents’ Day
17th - Lunar New Year (Chinese / East Asian)
18th - Ramadan Begins (Islam)
18th - Ash Wednesday (Christian)
20th - World Day of Social Justice 
23rd - 1st - National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 

MARCH

Find us on Social Media 

Please follow us, like us, and share! This is a great way to expand our chapter, get more members, and have a greater impact in our community. Click the buttons on the left.

Check Out More of Our Informative Newsletters!