May President’s Message

Dear IE-CAMFT Community,

Let me reintroduce myself and share a little more about who I am — both as a clinician and as a person.

I’m Dr. Muriel Casamayor, DSW, LMFT, and I am honored to serve as your President for the 2025–2026 term. I’m a proud formerly undocumented and Afrolatina therapist whose work centers on serving undocumented and LGBTQIA+ communities, reducing stigma, and advocating for the representation of BIPOC clinicians. I teach in the UCLA Extension Public Health & Sustainability Program, own a group practice, and am a dog mom to two lovable Great Danes. I truly enjoy connecting with fellow clinicians at networking events, and I’m excited to continue building community with all of you this year.

Thank You & Welcome

I want to express deep gratitude to our Past President, Ilse Aerts, for her incredible leadership and service. Thank you for paving the way for this new term.

Please join me in welcoming our 2025–2026 IE-CAMFT Board:

• President-Elect: VACANT – We encourage you to explore this leadership opportunity!
• Past President: Ilse Aerts
• Financial Officer: Omar Gonzalez-Valentino
• Secretary: Angie Moxey
• Program Chair: Jane Akponye
• Membership Chair: Wandalyn Lane
• Board Members at Large:
• • Susan Lowe
  • Ayo Amadu
  • Imani Coleman
  • Crystal Folk

We currently have a vacancy for the role of President-Elect, and I invite those who are curious about leadership or community-building to connect with us. This is a wonderful way to get involved and help shape the future of our chapter.

What’s Coming Up at IE-CAMFT

We’ve got exciting events on the horizon! On Friday, May 23rd from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (online), we’ll be hosting Part 1 of our Law & Ethics training titled “It’s Just a Piece of Paper” with legal expert David Jensen, JD. Whether you're a seasoned therapist or early in your journey, this session will offer valuable insights and up-to-date legal considerations. Registration is open now — it’s just $25 for members and $50 for guests. Don’t wait — spots are filling up!

Then in June, we’ll be gathering in person for our “Welcome Aboard” event to celebrate the new term, meet new members, and build relationships across the Inland Empire. The exact date and location will be announced soon, but we promise good conversations, new connections, and maybe even snacks. Stay tuned!

Marketing Monday + Let’s Get Social!

We’re proud to spotlight the incredible work our members are doing through our Marketing Monday feature on Instagram. If you have an upcoming event, group, training, or announcement, we’d love to help share it with our community! Just fill out our quick form and we’ll do our best to post it on an upcoming Monday.

Submit here: Marketing Monday Form

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at @iecamft to stay connected, see what others are up to, and build community online. Let’s make this year about visibility, collaboration, and connection. I’m so excited to continue growing with you — and I hope to see you at one of our events soon.

With warmth and gratitude,

Dr. Muriel Casamayor (She/her/Ella), DSW, LMFT

Dear Valued IE-CAMFT Members,

The Board of Directors Election is happening now! All our active members should have received the ballot to vote.  As a member in good standing, you are both entitled and encouraged to cast your director election ballot before the polls close on April 15.

As you know, IE-CAMFT is completely volunteer led which means that we need YOU to continue to run our chapter. As a board member you have a direct voice and are part of the decision making process on topics and presenters for workshops as well as social events. As you notice on the ballot there are a few vacant positions, which might catch your interest. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about it, other than the basic information about each role which you can find at: https://ie-camft.org/page-1858252

In April and May we will have our Law and Ethic’s presentation each for 3 hours. Details and sign up will be set up in next few days.

We had fun at our March Happy Hour and are looking forward to our next in person social event in June. More info to follow.

State CAMFT has asked to complete a short survey. Congress is discussing possible Medi-Caid/Medi-Cal cuts to health care. As you are likely aware, Medicaid/Medi-Cal is a vital program that provides over 72 million Americans health care coverage, including mental health care.

If you do see Medi-Caid/Cal patients, we are asking you to take a short survey here to help us better understand how potential funding cuts could impact the population you serve. SURVEY

In addition state CAMFT is hosting a social event and they are hoping that you can join them:

"The CAMFT Board of Directors would like to invite your chapter board and chapter members to a Meet & Greet on Friday, June 6, 2025, from 5:00 – 6:00 pm at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa (7100 Aviara Resort Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011.) This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet members from your chapter, the CAMFT leadership., and CAMFT Staff."

Complimentary light refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there!

RSVP here by Friday, May 16, 2025: https://forms.gle/TxtgM8F88tD2dVu59

It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve as your president this past year,

Kindly,

Ilse
President of IE-CAMFT

Dear Members and Colleagues,

My calendar indicates that it’s not only time for daylight savings time but also time for our board elections. It has been a privilege to serve as your president this past year, but the time has come to transition so we are looking for some passionate volunteers for different roles including President-Elect, Membership Chair and Member at Large. Our chapter is counting on you so we can continue growing and making our region thriving. You can express your interest on: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16JUp2HEbtpxxGATudXKz9YoRgj-bNiMhI4ztlVSRZJY/edit

These are roles that need to be filled to continue being a chapter. Several chapters in our state have dissolved over the past few years due to lack of volunteer board members. I hope IE-CAMFT will not be one of them since I enjoy our programs to gain knowledge and obtain our mandatory CE’s, as well as our social events where we can enjoy each others company and build a referral network. So I encourage you to fill out the interest list.

I know some of you might be curious about what those positions actually entail, and we are happy to discuss this further with you at our Happy Hour event on March 21 at El Torito. Don’t forget to register so we know to save you a seat. If you are unable to make it and still have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to any board member and send us an email: iecamft@gmail.com

I also encourage you to bring a friend/colleague that is not a member of our chapter yet and introduce them to all the benefits a membership with our chapter entails.

Our board is aware that we have many talented members in our chapter and we would like to hear from you and do a presentation about your passionate expertise so we can all learn from you, gain better understanding and know who to refer to and/or consult with when we come across a similar situation. You can complete an interest form for your presentation: https://ie-camft.org/events

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our next events!

Kindly,

Ilse
President, IE-CAMFT

Hello Wonderful IE-CAMFT Members,

My name is Crystal Folk, I have been the Membership Chair for the IE-CAMFT board for the last 2 years. I must admit I was a little scared when I first started and not sure what to expect. The board members were so helpful, and welcoming, they made me feel right at home. I attended the holiday party a couple of years ago and was invited to apply for a board position, since I was looking to connect with some therapist outside of my normal job, it seemed like a natural progression. As someone who has been in private practice for some time, I know it can feel like a lonely island at times, I have enjoyed connecting with the members and the board, because I get to attend events as well as increase my professional development where I feel the sense of belonging to a community.

Being on the local board helps us achieve a greater purpose, and we need your help. This coming March, we have elections for several different board positions. Whether you want to dive in or dip your toes in, we have a place for you. If you have ever thought, “I wish they would,” or “I would love to see,” then we want to hear from you.

We are a group of individuals working hard to bring connection and community to the IE CAMFT members. We want to continue to bring you great events like we did in 2024. Our first event of the year is the pre-licensed Q&A testing on February 18, check out ie-camft.org to sign up. Did you know there are monthly networking opportunities, check out our IE CAMFT Instagram for all the latest events. I look forward to connecting with you soon, whether you want to share an idea, some feedback, or you want to say hi at an event; I will see you in 2025! Happy February.

Thank you,

Crystal Folk
IE CAMFT Membership Chair

Happy New Year,

I was hoping for an amazing start, however noticed so many people have been sick with different illnesses. And at the time I write this there are so many fires in our state which has been devastating to see in the media. We hope that our members, their family and friends are safe. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me (or a board member) if we can be of assistance. State CAMFT has compiled a resource page that might be helpful: https://www.camft.org/CAMFTLAWildfiresResources

We had fun at our holiday party, and I was happy to meet some of our newest members. Our membership chair, Crystal, did an amazing job in organizing the party and being our MC for the evening with fun games, raffles and white elephant gift exchange. We are also grateful for Arcadia’s food donation.

Looking at all the great presentations that Dr. Akponye has lined up for us this coming year, we hope that you can join us online. If you missed one, several of them are available in our on-demand library which is still free for our members: https://ie-camft.org/Online-Webinars. And if you want to be a presenter, you can submit your proposal: https://ie-camft.org/events

I also wanted to make a request to all our members to start thinking and inquiring for our upcoming board of directors elections in April. So if you are interested in joining our board, please don’t hesitate to reach out, get some more information or put yourself on the upcoming ballot. You can find more info about the different positions: https://ie-camft.org/page-1858252

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Kindly, Ilse - IE-CAMFT president

Dear IE-CAMFT Members,

As I continue to serve as Secretary of the IE-CAMFT Board, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the incredible journey this chapter has taken over the years. My involvement began over 10 years ago as a pre-lisenced volunteer, where I had the privilege of helping to automate our membership functions and launch our first website. Contributing to these foundational efforts has been deeply rewarding and has given me a profound sense of connection to this community.

Being part of the board has allowed me to witness and participate in the inspiring work of our members. The relationships I have built and the collective dedication I see in our chapter continues to bring me a sense of belonging and purpose, and I encourage each of you to explore ways to get involved—whether through volunteering, attending events, or simply connecting with your fellow members. Our first upcoming event is this month's Holiday Gathering on 12/13, don't forget to RSVP.

Our focus remains on providing meaningful opportunities for professional development, networking, and advocacy. Together, we can ensure that IE-CAMFT remains a source of support and inspiration for all. Your contributions and feedback are vital to our success, so please do not hesitate to share your ideas.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to IE-CAMFT. It is an honor to be part of this extraordinary community.

Warm regards,

Angie Moxey
Secretary, IE-CAMFT

November and the holidays are right around the corner, which means that our November presentation will be earlier than the regular 4th Friday of the month and thus will be on 11/15/24. Since (I assume) you have your calendar out now, save the date for Friday 12/13 for our Holiday Gathering which you will be able to RSVP soon. Personally I always have fun at social events since I like to interact with people and learn about their personal and professional journeys. So hopefully you can join us and we get to know each other even better.

I am already looking ahead a tiny bit and would like to invite you to start thinking about your role in our chapter and how you can be an addition to our board for a specific task or even a board member (at large). I know I know it’s a bit soon, but I would like you to really think about it and talk to any board member to get a better idea of their role and realize it might be something you would like to do in the (near) future. Don’t hesitate to reach out, you can find our contact info: https://ie-camft.org/page-1682891.

We had some great presentations the last few months, in case you missed them, check out our ‘on demand library’ and if you would like to present yourself, please complete the form on: https://ie-camft.org/events.

I noticed several of you also found our Instagram and have taken advantage of our newest way of connecting with the community and post YOUR events with us. Not sure what I am referring to, check our September Newsletter as well as: https://forms.gle/tmgmrg784x6t6Lg36

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Kindly,
Ilse

Hello IE-CAMFT,

I am Dr. Muriel Casamayor, LMFT, and it is an honor to serve as your President-Elect. As a proud formerly undocumented and Afrolatina therapist, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and share a bit about my journey and passions. My focus is on working with the undocumented and LGBTQIA+ communities, addressing disparities in mental health, breaking the stigmas surrounding mental health and HIV, and advocating for more BIPOC therapists in a field that has been predominantly white.

IE-CAMFT is committed to fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse professional landscape. As we look toward the future, we are not only focused on growing in numbers, but also in advocacy, equality, and accessibility for all. I want to extend an invitation to more BIPOC therapists in the Inland Empire to join us as members, to bring your unique perspectives and experiences, and help us make a difference in addressing the systemic inequities that affect our communities. Together, we can break down barriers and create lasting change.

Last month, we took a step in this direction by hosting a Therapy Book Fair, where 11 incredible authors were able to share their knowledge through books and workbooks. It was a great opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. We are also becoming more active on social media, and if you haven’t yet, I encourage you to follow us on Instagram and be part of our virtual community.

As a board, we are committed to not only growing our membership but also challenging ourselves to embrace future changes in the profession. We are actively working to deepen our understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ensure that these values are reflected in everything we do. Change begins with us, and we are dedicated to creating a space where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered to make an impact.

Please continue to check our website for updates and stay tuned for more in-person meetups and events. I look forward to connecting with many of you as we build and grow together.

Warmly,

Dr. Muriel Casamayor, LMFT

President-Elect, IE-CAMFT

Dear Colleagues,

Hope you all were able to enjoy a longer weekend and spend some time for self care and/or well deserved rest. I feel like we all have been going and trying to take care of so many things, that Labor Day weekend was nice to take some much needed rest.

Following up on our last newsletter regarding the cybersecurity and recent scam events, as a board we have decided to not show our members' email addresses in the therapist directory as of 9/13/24. We are hoping this will eliminate the amount of scam emails our members are receiving. If you prefer to have your email posted on the member directory, please send us an email at iecamft@gmail.com and we will take the necessary steps.

To increase our connection and community, we offer our members to submit their upcoming events, and we will share them on our social media - more info:  https://forms.gle/tmgmrg784x6t6Lg36

State CAMFT would like the input from their members by completing the following form:  
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CAMFT24StratPlanMembership

Looking forward to seeing you at our Author’s gathering/book fair on September 28. We encourage you to RSVP so we have enough snacks available.

Make a note that our November presentation is earlier than our usual 4th Friday of the month due to thanksgiving Holiday, so will be on November 15.

We are looking forward to hearing from you about ideas for the end of year social event. Please email us with suggestions: iecamft@gmail.com.

Kindly,
Ilse
President IE-CAMFT

Dear IE-CAMFT Members,

At our July board retreat and strategic planning for the upcoming year, we discussed that our main goal will be: Growth, Community and Connection.  We are looking at being more present for our members in different areas including encouraging more community, which will partly be done by some more in person/social events, as well as an increase in our presence at different social platforms to share our valued members’ events. As always we are open to your suggestions from all members, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

In light of recent global cybersecurity events, we are taking decisive action to further safeguard our chapter’s digital environment. Your security and privacy are of utmost importance to us, and we are committed to protecting you through proactive measures.

We are investing a portion of your membership dues in security software, expert consultation, and requiring comprehensive cybersecurity training for all board members. These enhancements will significantly improve our ability to detect and respond to potential cyber threats, ensuring that our chapter remains a safe and secure space for everyone.

This initiative underscores our dedication to your safety and well-being. By fortifying our cybersecurity defenses, we are not only protecting your information but also reinforcing the integrity of our chapter. Our proactive approach is a testament to our commitment to you and our collective resilience against any potential threats.

If you receive any suspicious communications, please do not hesitate to contact any board member or message iecamft@gmail.com. Your vigilance and cooperation are crucial to maintaining our shared security.

I also want to remind you about the change in our planned programming.  Please check out our events page for up to date info. As mentioned in previous newsletters, if you happen to miss a presentation, don’t worry, most of our presentations you can re-watch in our ‘on demand’ library which is free for members, and you can still gain CE’s. One of the many perks of being a member.

While you are browsing our event page, don’t forget to mark your calendars (and RSVP) for our upcoming Author’s/book fair in September where some of our members will showcase their book/program and we can start stocking up for holiday presents…..

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or comments. This is your chapter and we want to make it worthwhile for you.  Those of us who attended the Welcome A Board event, have been enjoying their free headshots…. Looking forward to continuing to connect with you at upcoming events.

Ilse & Omar