Presenter: Omar Gonzalez-Valentino, PhD, LMFT, LPCC

Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.  Registrants must attend the full 2 hours to receive CEs..

Descriptive Narrative:

Therapists are not only called to lead and follow for their clients but also themselves and the broader systems in which they work. Drawing from Omar González-Valentino’s (2023) The Therapist Magazine article, “Layers of Coexistence: The Complex Nature of Therapists Leading and Living ‘The Good Life,’” this webinar explores the interplay among Chaos Theory, Complexity Science, Ecological Frameworks Theory, Virtue Ethics, and Wisdom development.

Participants will examine how these frameworks illuminate the therapist’s multilayered role as simultaneous leader and follower within their own life, their clinical practice, and their professional community. Through theory, case examples, and reflective exercises, attendees will learn to apply these insights toward cultivating adaptability, ethical grounding, and flourishing while ultimately aligning their leadership and followership practices with their own definition of “the good life.” 

Objectives:

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

1. Integrate key principles from Chaos Theory, Complexity Science, and Ecological Frameworks Theory to analyze how nonlinear dynamics and nested systems shape therapist leadership across clinical, organizational, and personal domains.

2. Synthesize insights from Virtue Ethics and Wisdom development to inform ethical decision-making, cultivate flourishing, and embody therapeutic leadership aligned with “the good life.”

3. Design a personalized framework that applies feedback loops, emergent change, and reflective self-leadership to enhance adaptability, resilience, and balance within interconnected professional and personal ecosystems.

About the presenter:

Dr. Omar González-Valentino, PhD, LMFT, LPCC is a licensed clinician, corporate behavioral health leader, and leadership scholar with over 15 years of experience advancing innovation in mental health and human services. He currently serves as Program Administrator for a 16-bed crisis residential treatment facility, where he leads a multidisciplinary team focused on recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care. His career spans Applied Behavior Analysis, inpatient psychiatry, outpatient psychotherapy, and executive leadership, with expertise in crisis response, clinical supervision, and organizational development. Dr. González-Valentino earned his MS and PhD in Leadership Studies from California Baptist University, where his research explored how team psychological safety moderates the relationship between Dark Triad leadership traits and team climate for innovation. He is recognized for building resilient teams, fostering psychological safety, and implementing system-level improvements in high-takes environments.

In addition to his administrative and research roles, Dr. González-Valentino serves as adjunct faculty at California State University, San Bernardino, and holds leadership positions with the Inland Empire Chapter of CAMFT, the CAMFT Chapter Advisory Council, and the Reach Out Board of Directors. A proud Boricua, he honors his Puerto Rican heritage by elevating Latino voices through mentorship, teaching, and community service. His most cherished roles are as husband and father, finding joy and meaning in a family life grounded in laughter, adventure, and love.

Inland Empire Chapter of CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCS, AND/or LEPs. IE-CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. CE Provider # 62278