CFI is a proud sponsor of the the 6th annual AAMFT California Division conference. We are excited about this years topic; Dimensions of Cultural Diversity in Couples and Families: Race, Gender, and Social Justice. Come join us and come and say hello at the conference!
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Yesterday CFI Executive Director Chris Hoff gave a day long training in narrative therapy to a full-house of students from several local universities. Did you know that CFI offers bi-monthly training's in narrative therapy at no cost? Please contact us if you would like more information on our regular training schedule.
CFI therapists Robin Blauvelt and Megan Yarnall are starting up a new Young Women's Support Group. Please contact them for more info and tell a friend.
![]() The results of a pilot examination of the use of narrative therapy with individuals diagnosed with PTSD was released recently and the findings are quite promising. In this study 14 veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD (11 treatment completers) completed structured diagnostic interviews and self-report assessments of symptoms prior to and following 11 to 12 sessions of narrative therapy. After treatment, 3 of 11 treatment completers no longer met criteria for PTSD and 7 of 11 had clinically significant decreases in PTSD symptoms as measured by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale. Pre- to posttreatment effect sizes on outcomes ranged from 0.57 to 0.88. These preliminary results, in conjunction with low rates of treatment dropout (21.4%) and a high level of reported satisfaction with the treatment, suggest that further study of narrative therapy is warranted as a potential alternative to existing treatments for PTSD. Participants in the present study had refused well-established empirically supported treatments for PTSD prior to enrolling suggests that narrative therapy may, if it is shown to have efficacy in more extensive trials, provide an alternative treatment for those who struggle to engage in current state-of-the-science treatments. More information about the pilot study can be found HERE. If you are interested in learning more about narrative therapy and/or would like to attend one of our trainings please contact CFI. We want to let you know about a project that you might find interesting.
CFI executive director Chris Hoff will be participating in a 2 day event as part of Mexico City based artist's Pedro Reyes exhibition titled The People's United Nations at the Hammer Museum. Throughout the two days Chris will be doing "Foreign Affairs Therapy," which invites two delegates representing nations that share historical connections yet have spent much of their past in the turmoil of conflict, to join in a kind of couples therapy trying to work together to improve communication, understanding, and looking for ways to rebuild and strengthen partnership. pUN is an exhibition as well as a two-day gathering on May 2nd and 3rd, that brings together everyday citizens connected by birth or family ties to the 195 member and observer nations of the UN. Reyes’s hypothesis is that conflict-resolution techniques used in social psychology, theater, and art can help solve the world’s most challenging problems, from climate change, to fair wages for women, to food shortages. Throughout the weekend the public will be able to participate in tours that will leave on the hour and will be able to observe the sessions. For more info please click on the exhibition link. http://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2015/hammer-projects-pedro-reyes/ We hope to see some of you on May 2nd & 3rd. ![]() CFI currently offers two trainings a month in narrative therapy. At this time there is no cost to attend. These two hour small groups are held on the first and second Monday of the month. The first group is suited for those new to narrative practice and the second group would be suitable for those that want to go deeper in the practice of narrative therapy. Please contact CFI for more information. California Family Institute is pleased to announce that two new directors, Brian Beelner and Michele Hoff, have been added to the CFI Board effective immediately. Brain Beelner, CPA is currently Assistant General Manager - Finance and Administration for the City of Anaheim Public Utilities and Michele Hoff, MA, is currently Vice President of Human Resources for Epson America. Both Brian and Michele bring unique skill-sets to the board to help guide California Family Institute as it moves forward. More information on Brian and Michele follow: ![]() Brian Beelner, CPA Assistant General Manager – Finance and Administration, joined the Anaheim Public Utilities Department in May 2005. Anaheim Public Utilities is a not for profit water and electric utility that provides water and electricity to the 350,000 residents and 15,000 businesses in the City of Anaheim. APU employs 400 people and has an annual budget of $500 million with approximately $1.7 billion in assets. Mr. Beelner has 14 years of experience in utility finance and accounting. He is responsible for all financial aspects of the Department including: accounting, budget development, strategic planning, rate design, long-term forecasting, debt administration, human resources, safety, and billing and collection services. Mr. Beelner graduated from University of California-Riverside with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics and currently holds an active Certified Public Accountant license in the State of California. Prior to joining Anaheim, Mr. Beelner worked for Gursey, Schneider & Co., LLP as a municipal utility accounting and finance consultant. Mr. Beelner is also a member of the SCPPA Finance Committee and a member of the Finance Committee for the Intermountain Power Project (“IPP”). ![]() Michele Hoff, Vice President Epson America, Michele Hoff joined Epson in 1997. She provides strategic direction and oversees all aspects of Human Resources for Epson in North and Latin America. She received her master's degree in Organizational Psychology from California State University, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. This past week CFI Executive Director Chris Hoff Presented at the Diversity IN Leadership Conference held at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, CA. Chris' presentation was titled Conflict Coaching in the Workplace: Shifting Culture Bound Conflict Through Narrative Mediation. The purpose of the conference was to provide an educational experience on the benefits of diversity and inclusion in leadership, while offering the latest tools for practical implementation. Some pictures from Chris' presentation follow: Chris with Dr. Helen Easterling Williams. Dean of Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education & Psychology.
California Family Institute is looking for experienced non-profit board members who are willing to provide leadership for growing organization. Members should be willing to use sphere of influence to raise funds, recruit additional board members and provide goverance guidance to the executive director. Please contact Chris Hoff to discuss the Board positions further. A job description follows:
Position The Board will support the work of California Family Institute and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by CFI’s Executive Director, the Board-CEO relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. Specific Board Member responsibilities include: Leadership, governance and oversight
California Family Institute Board Members will consider CFI a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority. So that CFI can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, CFI expects to have 100 percent of Board Members make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity. Board terms/participation CFI’s Board Members will serve a three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. Board meetings will be held quarterly and committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings. Qualifications This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about CFI’s mission and who has a track record of board leadership. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members. Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:
![]() California Family Institute is excited to announce that Golnoush Yektafar will be joining our clinical team. Golnoush Yektafar, M.S. is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern previously working at the Behavioral Health Institute in Loma Linda, California, and Strive Holistic Campus in Ontario, California. Golnoush completed her Masters Degree at Loma Linda University and is currently working on her PhD at Loma Linda University. Golnoush has taught Solution Focused Therapy and Crisis Intervention courses to masters level students, and has clinical experience working with diverse client populations. Golnoush’s research interests include chronic illness and the systemic changes that often occur in families due to illness, acculturation and its impact on couple and family dynamics, and socio-cultural contextual factors that impact marginalized couples and families. |
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