March Newsletter 2026

Message From The SGVPA President

                   Dr. Shannon Thomas

   Psy.D

First, let me say what a wonderful honor it is to receive the Distinguished Member of the Year Award from the San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association.

When Shannon phoned me to give me the news, my first thought was, “At this stage of my career, ‘distinguished’ might just be a polite euphemism for ‘he’s still showing up.’” But seriously, it’s humbling—and deeply meaningful—to be recognized by such a dedicated and compassionate community of professionals.

I want to thank the board members of SGVPA. You’re the heartbeat of our organization. You host the programs, organize the events, and impart the vision. Thank you for nurturing this professional home where we can learn and grow and look to one another for support.

When both of our daughters were in preschool, I asked my good friend Jim Boswell, a father of two high school–age daughters, what he knew now that he wished he had known when they were much younger. Without hesitation he said, “Take each of them to lunch every week. Ask them to tell you about what’s important in their lives—their successes and their struggles, their questions and their insights. And share yourself with them so that they get to know you as a person as well as a father.” That began 15 years of bagel dogs and New Yorker sandwiches on weekends, shared stories and perspectives, and the foundation of two solid and very loving relationships that endure to this day. I’m so thankful to Jim for sharing this wisdom with me.

In the same vein, I found myself wondering this week what it is that I’ve learned after all these years of practicing psychology that I could pass along to you—to encourage those of you who are in the early years of your career to put into place now, and to those who are in the midstream of your career to continue practicing.

We spend so much of our lives learning how to be good therapists, to do effective work, to incorporate new practices and procedures into our bag of tools. We don’t spend nearly as much time thinking about how to support ourselves in doing this work that can oftentimes be draining and difficult, but always rewarding in the end.

Over the years, I’ve learned that while techniques and theories absolutely matter, the capacity to offer effective therapy—the foundation that enables us to continue doing what we do—comes down to three things, each as human as it is professional. This foundation is what I hope to encourage you to pay attention to now, at this stage of your career.

First: Cultivate a mentoring relationship.

None of us got here alone. Mentors teach us skills, yes—but more importantly, they model how to be grounded, thoughtful, and human. A good mentor helps us to find our own professional voice, reminds us that we don’t have to know everything or do everything just right, and offers wisdom—some that is immediately apparent, and some that we may not recognize until years later.

For the last 44 years I’ve spent nearly every Friday morning with Rick Thyne—first on the tennis court, then on the recumbent bike at the gym, and now over coffee and lemon poppyseed muffins. Rick, whom some of you know, is a master clinician. He has the capacity to listen to a client and quickly distill the chaos of their current and recurring situation into a coherent set of clear patterns, and he imparts a sense of hope and encouragement that sets the course for real and lasting change—often for the first time after a number of previous attempts at therapy. Rick has been generous in imparting that wisdom in our many Fridays together, and he’s helped me find and be comfortable with my own professional voice.

So, find a mentor. Or, if you’ve been around for a while—be one. It’s one of the most lasting gifts our field has to offer you.

Second: Build your support network—your professional community.

We carry the stories, the pain, and the hopes of others. That takes empathy, energy, and a multitude of resilience. Having colleagues who truly understand what this work takes, and what it takes out of us, isn’t a luxury—it’s essential.

Whether it’s the fellow members of your group practice, others who practice in the same building as you, a consultation group, or a committee that you serve on with other professionals, this connection provides crucial support and reminds us that we’re not doing this work alone. I’m so thankful for the members of our team at Psychology Resource Consultants and to those who practice with us in our office—Abbey Craigg, Patty Engert, Kim Prater, Maria Austin, Charity Scott, and our resident “recovering attorney” who’s now a Marriage and Family therapist, Alli Morgan.

And that brings me to the third, and perhaps most personal, foundational support: family.

Our families—by birth, by choice, by marriage, or by community—are the foundation that keeps us grounded. They tolerate our late nights, our emotional exhaustion, and our feared proclivity to analyze everyone at the dinner table. They also give us love, perspective, and the energy to reenter the demanding world we inhabit when we open the door to our first client in the morning.

Our effectiveness in the therapy room depends, in so many ways, on how fully we live outside of it—as partners, parents, siblings, and grandparents. I encourage you to recommit yourself to valuing the time you spend with your family, to making the sometimes difficult choice to prioritize them over the needs of your clients or your practice. Whether it’s over bagel dogs and New Yorker sandwiches, quiet mornings taking a walk together, or family trips full of misadventures, make a point to stay connected to this lifeblood of what we do.

I’m so thankful that the members of our family, who are so important to me, have come this evening to join me in this special occasion: my wife Hally; my daughter Kim and son-in-law Jesse Barglow; and my daughter Hayden and son-in-law Zach Jaffe.

So, mentoring keeps us wise.
Community keeps us connected.
And family keeps us whole.

Those three, I think, are the foundation that supports us in being and becoming remarkably effective therapists. I feel deep gratitude—for my mentors, my colleagues and friends in our practice and here in SGVPA, my family, and for all of you who devote yourselves to this healing work, even on the days it’s hard.



And finally, to borrow from my twin separated at birth in his acceptance speech at the recent Golden Globe Awards: “If I’ve learned anything from this moment, it’s that longevity may not make you wise or glamorous… but it definitely makes you grateful.”

We are so lucky—to do this work, to pursue this calling, and to share it with one another. Thank you.

Dr. Kristin Goradietsky, Psy. D Newsletter Editor

Newsletter Editor Transition

I’ve really enjoyed serving as the SGVPA newsletter editor for the past two years and I am truly grateful for the experience. It has been a pleasure working alongside such dedicated and supportive colleagues, and I’ve appreciated the opportunity to contribute to our community in a meaningful way. I’ve learned so much during my time in this role and am thankful for the trust and encouragement I’ve received. Due to time constraints, I’ve decided to step down from the role.

We’re now looking for a new editor for the SGVPA newsletter. If you or someone you know might be interested and are a licensed clinical psychologist or have a doctorate in psychology, please reach out to kristingorad@gmail.com.

Top Tips for New Therapists by Shlomit Liz Sanders, LMFT, CCTP

Whether you’re in graduate school or about to start working with clients, congratulations on making it this far!

Entering the field of therapy is both a professional milestone and a profound responsibility. New therapists step into a role that invites them to witness vulnerability, foster resilience, and support meaningful change in the lives of others. This work requires not only clinical knowledge and technical skill, but also empathy, humility, and a commitment to ethical practice.

At the heart of effective therapy is respect—for clients’ lived experiences, autonomy, and cultural identities. New therapists are called to approach their work with curiosity and openness, recognizing that learning continues well beyond formal training. Each therapeutic relationship offers an opportunity to deepen understanding, refine clinical judgment, and grow as a professional.

As new therapists establish their professional identities, they contribute fresh insight and energy to the field. By grounding their work in evidence-based practice, ethical integrity, and compassion, they help create therapeutic spaces where clients feel safe, respected, and empowered to change.

The profession is strengthened by those who enter it with intention, thoughtfulness, and a dedication to ongoing growth. New therapists are not only joining a field—they are shaping its future.



Here are my top tips for beginners:

• You’re not meant to know everything: Whether you’re about to start clinical work or you’ve already met with a few clients, it’s okay to have an array of feelings (even if they feel contradictory). It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers—you’re not supposed to. This thought is meant to bring you comfort and a sense of peace. You’re learning, so give yourself the grace and compassion you deserve.

• Don’t forget to breathe. You’re here to do your best. When meeting with a client, engage with curiosity. Try to focus less on modality or theoretical orientation in the beginning. Be human first; that will take you far. By reminding yourself to breathe before a session and during it, it can help you stay more focused and grounded on the individual before you.

• Never stop learning. As stated earlier, we never stop learning—both personally and professionally. We can learn from everyone and everything. You may not like the setting you’re in, but see what you can learn from it. There’s always something to learn, no matter where you are or who you work with. This mindset can help build the resilience that’s often needed in this field.

• Stay humble. This one is so important because we, as therapists, often feel like we should have the answers to everything, and when we don’t, we may feel like frauds (AKA imposter syndrome). Humility is the antidote to imposter syndrome. By reminding ourselves that we’re doing the best we can, we can significantly soften the harsh expectations we may place on ourselves (even unknowingly).

• Private practice isn’t for everyone. There’s a myth that everyone’s ultimate goal should be owning their own practice. What’s talked about less is how much goes into running a practice—and how stressful that can be. It’s okay if it’s not for you. You’ll find your own way and figure out what’s best for you.

• It’s okay to seek outside guidance, peer support, or a mentor. Even if you have a supervisor on site, it’s ethical and appropriate to seek outside guidance and support to help you grow professionally. Having a trusted compass—someone who knows you and supports you—can pave the way in many meaningful ways, whether through advice, encouragement, guidance, or future networking opportunities.

• Find a therapist. This work is difficult and can be stressful. You will likely be triggered by a case or a client, and that’s completely normal. Working through your own concerns helps you set appropriate boundaries at work and is a service to yourself—both personally and professionally. It can also help reduce anxiety as a new clinician.

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Tips for Facilitating Empowering Groups With Marginalized Communities by Kristin Goradietsky, Psy.D

What Is Empowerment?

Empowerment involves supporting people who belong to historically marginalized or stigmatized social groups in increasing their sense of agency and control over their lives.

Empowerment includes:

• Strengthening competence, skills, and self-esteem
• Supporting individuals in identifying and using existing community resources
• Recognizing that stressors such as prejudice, discrimination, and systemic barriers can contribute to reduced self-efficacy and self-worth
• Promoting increased self-efficacy, confidence, and a sense of personal and collective power

Considerations When Working With People Experiencing Houselessness

Note: These reflections are informed by experience facilitating and co-facilitating groups in a women and children’s shelter, a community mental health center serving adults experiencing houselessness, and an addiction treatment facility in an underserved community and based on relevant empirical research.

• Group settings can increase access to social support, as individuals experiencing houselessness often have limited access to consistent support networks and resources.
• People experiencing houselessness, particularly women and gender-diverse individuals, face elevated risks of victimization and may experience heightened emotional distress.
• Rates of mental health challenges and substance-related concerns are higher among houseless populations, often due to chronic stress, trauma, and systemic barriers.
• Dignity may be compromised because of social stigma and dehumanizing conditions frequently associated with houselessness. Facilitators should intentionally promote respect, choice, and autonomy.

Considerations When Working With Low-Income Communities

• Participants from low-income backgrounds may be more likely to leave groups early due to practical barriers such as childcare needs, transportation challenges, or inflexible work schedules.
• The prevalence of common mental health conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress, is higher among low-income populations, often related to ongoing stressors and economic insecurity.
• Racial and ethnic minoritized groups are disproportionately represented among low-income populations, largely due to structural racism and discrimination within education, housing, and labor markets.

Considerations When Working With BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Participants

• Levels of verbal participation may vary in culturally diverse groups and can be influenced by group composition, intergroup dynamics, facilitator cultural humility, and the cultural relevance of the group format.
• When English is not a participant’s primary language, facilitators should ensure that information is clearly understood and that members feel safe and supported in contributing.
• Individualistic values such as competition and achievement may be emphasized in Western cultures, while collectivist cultures may place greater value on humility, cooperation, and community well-being.
• Group members may enter with cultural assumptions or stereotypes that can interfere with group functioning. Facilitators should support respectful dialogue and encourage exploration of cultural values and lived experiences.
• BIPOC individuals may seek mental health services less frequently, often accessing care only when distress becomes severe, and may disengage from services prematurely due to past or anticipated experiences of discrimination.
• Fear of prejudice, stereotyping, or cultural misunderstanding can be a significant barrier to help-seeking.

Considerations When Working With Women

• Intimate partner violence, including physical and sexual abuse, is prevalent and is associated with serious physical and mental health consequences such as depression, suicidality, injury, and increased risk of homicide.
• Women with histories of sexual trauma may have higher rates of group attrition, particularly if safety and trust are not firmly established.
• Difficulties with emotion regulation are common among individuals who have experienced abuse. Affect dysregulation refers to challenges in managing or tolerating intense emotional states.
• Introducing traumatic material too early may increase distress or feel re-traumatizing, while complete avoidance of trauma-related content may also exacerbate symptoms. Establishing physical and emotional safety should be the primary initial goal.

Best Practices for Facilitating Empowerment-Focused Groups

• Collaborate with group members: Facilitators are not positioned as all-knowing authorities. Instead, facilitators and participants are viewed as partners, each bringing valuable strengths, knowledge, and lived experience.
• Validate lived experience: Acknowledge participants’ thoughts, emotions, and perceptions as meaningful and real.
• Attend to non-verbal communication: Be mindful of body language, tone of voice, pacing, and eye contact.
• Practice cultural humility: Consider each person’s culture, context, identity, values, personality, and goals.
• Explore power dynamics: Support awareness of how power operates at societal, cultural, family, and individual levels.

Promoting Skills, Strengths, and Community Connection

• Become familiar with community organizations, mutual aid groups, advocacy efforts, and support networks so participants can access opportunities for collective involvement. Providing a handout of local resources may be helpful.
• Support skill development in areas such as decision-making, communication, social connection, and assertiveness.
• Actively notice and highlight participants’ strengths, coping strategies, and existing resources.
• Emphasize resilience, empowerment, hope, healing, meaning-making, and growth rather than deficits, diagnoses, or limiting labels.
• Acknowledge the full spectrum of human experience, from suffering and loss to connection, fulfillment, and well-being.
• Use encouragement and positive reinforcement consistently.
• Invite group members to recognize and affirm one another’s strengths.
• Reinforce effort and intention rather than outcomes alone. Acknowledge attempts at change, even when results are not as expected.
• Highlight exceptions, times when challenges are less present or absent.
• Use language that is strength-based, hopeful, respectful, and possibility-oriented.

Strength-Based Questioning Approaches

• Exception questions: Explore times when the problem was less present or absent.
• Survival questions: Highlight how participants have endured and navigated past challenges.
• Support questions: Identify sources of emotional, social, or practical support.
• Esteem questions: Build confidence by focusing on strengths, skills, values, and accomplishments.

Language Use

• Avoid labels that are stigmatizing, restrictive, dehumanizing, or that reduce individuals to diagnoses or circumstances.
• Prioritize person-centered, respectful language that affirms dignity, agency, and complexity.

December is National Seasonal

Affective Disorder Awareness Month

Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month is typically observed in December each year. Focusing on understanding SAD, reducing stigma, and sharing resources about symptoms and treatment options.

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Offers an overview of SAD, symptoms, and where to seek help, including

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.

https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/what-is-mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Provides a downloadable publication  on SAD causes, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatments

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

Mayo Clinic

Clinical information on SAD including diagnosis and treatments, including CBT, antidepressants and light therapy

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Explains SAD symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options

https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/seasonal-affective-disorder

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

Offers insights into SAD as a form of depression and explains therapeutic strategies

https://www.dbsalliance.org/education/depression/types-of-depression/seasonal-affective-disorder/

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month was officially designated in January 2010 by President Obama. President Obama urged Americans to raise awareness about modern forms of slavery and to continue efforts to prevent human trafficking, protect survivors, and prosecute traffickers. It's estimated that 50 million people are in modern slavery worldwide.

Human trafficking involves exploiting g a person for labor, services or commercial sex.

January 11 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

This day has become a focus on education, advocacy, and public engagement.

The observance is meant to:

• Educate the public about recognzing warning signs of human trafficking including physical abuse, underpayment and restricted freedom
• Raising awareness on modern slavery
• Encourage prevention through awareness and community action
• Promote survivor-centered responses and survivor support
• Reinforce the idea that ending human trafficking requires cooperation and coordination across government, businesses, nonprofits and individuals

Historical roots of slavery
While slavery is often thought of as a historical institution abolished in the 19th century, the month is meant to highlight that forced labor, debt bondage, and sex trafficking still exist worldwide and in the United States today. Modern slavery looks different than slavery of the past, but it shares common elements: coercion, exploitation, and the denial of freedom.

To learn more about this month please see the link below

https://nationaltoday.com/national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevention-month/

Hotlines and Resources

National Human Trafficking Hotline:

A confidential hotline connects victims with support and services, provides information and receives tips about potential trafficking situations

• Phone: 1-888-373-7888.
• f you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
• Text 233733
• email: help@humantraffickinghotline.org for information requests.

StrongHearts Native Helpline

24/7 safe, confidential, and anonymous support line offering peer support, advocacy, and crisis intervention primarily for Native American and Alaska Native survivors of domestic, dating, and sexual violence, including issues that intersect with human trafficking and abuse

• Call or text: 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483)-available 24/7/365.
• Online chat: Available on their website at strongheartshelpline.org for real-time advocacy.

Public Awareness Resources from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Offers fact sheets, screening tools, webinars, and informational packets related to trafficking, especially focusing on youth vulnerability, trauma responses, and clinical insights, for educators, caregivers, and professionals.

https://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness

AHA (American Hospital Association) Digital Toolkit

A digital toolkit with graphics and social media content (in English and Spanish) designed to help organizations, especially health care professionals,  raise awareness and educate about modern slavery and trafficking.

https://healthiertogether.aha.org/digital-toolkit

February is Black History Month

A Brief History of Black History Month

Black History Month traces its roots to 1926, when historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched "Negro History Week" to reflect upon the overlooked contributions of Black Americans. Chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, the week encouraged schools and communities to engage with Black history year-round.

In 1976 Black History Month was officially recognized by the federal government. Today, it serves as both a celebration of Black achievement and a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equity, ensuring that Black history is recognized as an crucial part of American history.  Woodson established Black History Month to promote the teaching of Black history in schools and to promote pride in African American heritage. 

Resources

NAMI – Offers resources, including lists of culturally focused groups and support options; some local affiliates host Black-centered peer support.

https://namiglac.org/

Mental Health America (MHA) – Provides educational material on Black mental health history and links to support services

https://mhanational.org/

Black Mental Wellness Foundation  – A nonprofit advancing equitable access to mental health education and resources for Black communities.

https://www.blackmentalwellness.com/

Local Resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Greater Los Angeles County (NAMI GLAC) – Offers education, support groups, and advocacy for people and families affected by mental health challenges.

https://namiglac.org/

NAMI Urban Los Angeles (NULA) – Local NAMI affiliate offering virtual support groups, classes, and Black-focused mental health awareness events.

https://www.namiurbanla.org/

African Communities Public Health Coalition (ACPHC) – Works with African and Black communities in LA to promote culturally appropriate mental health services.
https://africancoalition.org/