The State of Therapy 2021
NEAFAST Annual Conference

October 29 & November 5, 2021 — 9am-12:30pm
Live on Zoom — 6 CEs

Instructors: Jeremiah Gibson, MMFT; David Haddad, EdD; Jacqueline Gagliardi, MEd, David Treadaway, PhD
Co-sponsored by: NEAFAST and BRIDGES Associates, Inc.
*Please note, the dates for the State of Therapy Conference 2021 have changed to accommodate changes in CE sponsorship.

The State of Therapy Conference is a two day-long, 6 CE conference that combines components of the practice of group therapy with collaborative language systems theory to explore how therapists in Massachusetts can participate in advocating for the practice of family and systemic therapy to larger systems. The State of Therapy Conference utilizes lecture, panel discussions, and group discussions as its primary learning platforms. 

Each day of the Conference will begin with a half-hour long panel discussion that describes the format for the Conference, the benefit of collaborating as professionals to advocate for our field, and the introduction of principles from collaborative language systems theory and group therapy practices. The Conference then moves into two series of 60-minute-long breakout sessions. These workshops will include brainstorming discussions about how therapists can develop next steps for practicing from the perspective of intersectionality and antiracism, create guidelines around telehealth after the pandemic, discuss how the pandemic impacts therapist development and burnout, identify best practice standards for relational therapists, establish ways that the pandemic has impacted relationships and sexuality, and incorporate family therapy models into telehealth practices. The Conference will conclude with a 45 minute panel discussion that reflects both on the ideas discussed during the six brainstorming sessions and on the incorporation of collaborative language systems and group therapy principles in the discussions.

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be better able to:

1. Develop three strategies to best adhere to the ethical standard of scope of practice.
2. Explain at least one ethical decision-making process for determining when and how to use telehealth with relationships and families following the pandemic restrictions.
3. Discuss three strategies for incorporating intersectionality and other antiracist principles into professional work.
4. Demonstrate two ways to incorporate basic family therapy principles and modules into telehealth practices with specific populations (e.g. couples, families with children, individuals with disabilities).

Schedule for both days:

9-9:30am State of Therapy: An Introduction
9:30-10:30am Breakout Session 1:

• How the Pandemic Impacts Therapist Development and Burnout — David Treadway, PhD, and panel
• Guidelines Around Telehealth Post-Pandemic — Kate Sanford, LMFT
• Impact of Pandemic on Sexuality and Relationships — South Shore Sexual Health Center

10:30-10:45am Break
10:45-11:45am Breakout Session 2:

• Articulating Principles of Relational Therapy — Jason Neely, PhD
• The Role of Self-Reflection in Telehealth and Beyond — David Haddad, EdD, Jacqueline Gagliardi, M.Ed, and Frank Gomez
• Antiracism: Next Steps — Jennifer Driscoll, LMFT

The State of Therapy Conference includes the opportunity to learn from, network, and collaborate with other family and systemic therapists, and is incredibly affordable: $125 for Non-Members; $100 for Members; $40 for Students & Agency Worker Non-Members; $10 for Student & Agency Worker Members, with a generous donation from the Emily Mitchell Scholarship Fund. If you are a licensed Non-Member or Member and sign up before October 1, you get a $25 discount. 

Become a NEAFAST Member here.

Register for The State of Therapy Conference 2021

Instructor Bios:

Jennifer Driscoll, LMFT, received most of her training through her work experience as a home visitor offering parent-child psychotherapy in the Oakland, California area. She also has worked in schools, daycares, clinics and health centers. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Boston College and a Master's in Counseling from California State University, Hayward. She currently works in private practice in West Newton, Mass.

Jacqueline Gagliardi, M.Ed is a licensed marriage and family therapist, clinical supervisor, consultant and co-author of Study-Guide for the Marriage and Family Therapy National Licensing Examination. She holds a M.Ed. in Counseling and a C.A.G.S. in Family Systems from Northeastern University. She has a private practice specializing in individual, couple and family therapy. She also is full-time core faculty and director of the Couples and Family Therapy Program at William James College. She is a member of NEAFAST, a clinical member of AAMFT, an AAMFT approved supervisor, and a past board member of the Massachusetts Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a recipient of the MAMFT Award for Outstanding Contribution to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. She currently is serving on the Board of Allied Mental Health.

Jeremiah Gibson, LMFT is the Executive Director of the New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST), a professional association dedicated to the expansion of quality training and education in family and relational therapy in Massachusetts. He is a certified sex therapist through the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), and works with couples at the South Shore Sexual Health Center in Quincy, MA, where he is also on the faculty for their year-long training program for sex therapy. Jeremiah has spoken in numerous contexts, including the Harvard Medical School, about the intersection of couples therapy, sexuality, and religion. 

David Haddad, Ed.D. is a systems therapist and licensed psychologist, and consultant who combines his skills in Appreciative Inquiry and positive psychology with his interest in meditation and mindfulness to facilitate his work with organizations in the profit and non-profit sectors. Dr. Haddad is an associate professor at William James College, a member of NEAFAST, a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor in The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), as well as member of the American Counseling Association (ACA). His consultation practice focuses on helping clients cultivate their capacity for intention and self-reflection in service of building appreciative organizations. 

Jason Neely, PhD has been working in the world of autism and developmental disabilities for about 20 years. He has worked with individuals, couples, and families in various therapeutic contexts. Currently, he works at the May Institute in the Children’s Services Division. Jason is a board member of the New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy.

Kate Sanford, LMFT, has practiced in a variety of community based settings. In addition, she has numerous years experience teaching graduate level courses about Family Therapy and the ethics of practicing therapy, and is also an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor. Kate is additionally is Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC), and Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC), and has worked in Compliance & Privacy for community based mental health organizations and a health plan.

David Treadway, PhD is a nationally known couple therapist and author who has been teaching workshops and trainings around the USA for the past forty years. Dr. Treadway is the author of four other books, as well as an award winning author of over thirty articles. He also has appeared on Good Morning America, 20/20 and numerous other television and radio shows, and did host his own radio program on family communications.

This activity is approved certification by the New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST) on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMFT professional continuing education.

This activity is approved certification by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMHC professional continuing education.

This activity is approved certification by the National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Chapter on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LICSW professional continuing education.

Please note: It is the participant’s responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.

This program is being offered independent of any commercial support or conflict of interest. Clinicians with any level of experience are welcome to participate.

Cancellation Policy: Please email us at [email protected] if you are unable to make it. We will give a full reimbursement for cancels prior to September 22.

Accessibility Statement: Participants will receive access to the Zoom link after signing up for the conference. Closed captioning can be provided through request.