MetroMFT upcoming events

Trauma-Informed Consent for Therapy - MetroMFT Peer Consultation in October (Friday, October 09, 2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for this month’s MetroMFT Peer Consultation Group, hosted by Alexandra Simione, LCMFT, with a focus on Trauma-Informed Consent for Therapy.

This gathering provides a supportive space to explore how informed consent can be approached in ways that prioritize emotional safety, transparency, empowerment, and collaboration.

Whether you’re navigating how to introduce consent conversations, refining your written or verbal consent processes, or consulting on cases where power dynamics or trauma histories add complexity, this session offers space for dialogue and practical guidance.

Come ready to engage, reflect, and learn with colleagues!

2026 MetroMFT Peer Consultation Schedule

November 13: Case Consultations hosted by Alexandra Simione

Have you enjoyed our monthly peer consultation groups? We are looking for LCMFT volunteers to host our 2027 Peer Consultations! If you want to facilitate one monthly group please email Liann Seiter Brown at vicepresident@metromft.com.

Please note: Peer Consultation Groups are collaborative, member-led discussions. Ideas, perspectives, and recommendations shared during these sessions represent the opinions of participating therapists, not of MetroMFT as an organization.

The Ideal Practice Collective: A Yearlong Book Club & Support Group - October Meeting (Monday, October 12, 2026)

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Turn uncertainty into momentum — one month at a time.

Building a successful private practice takes more than clinical skill. Many therapists find themselves:

Struggling to launch and unsure where to start.
Working to build and maintain strong referral sources.
Avoiding or fearing the business side—marketing, planning, or finances—that feels overwhelming.

You’re not alone.

Join MetroMFT for a yearlong journey through Lynn Grodski’s Building Your Ideal Private Practice and the accompanying Twelve Months to Your Ideal Private Practice Workbook. Expect monthly discussions, accountability, and peer support—designed to help you build a thriving, sustainable practice with confidence.

Build community. Build confidence. Build your ideal practice.

Focus for October's Meeting

Stamina: Creating Business Strength and Endurance

"Position yourself and your practice for long-term success by learning how to anticipate future challenges. This month, explore the early stages of business evolution to see how to develop greater stamina and endurance, deal with competition as it occurs, transform envy into excellence, and stay true to your business vision."

To best prepare for this month's meeting we suggest you:

✅ Complete Your Monthly Prep Form

✅ Workbook: Stamina: Creating Business Strength and Endurance

✅ Book: Solo versus Group Practice

See the 2026 Reading Schedule for the Ideal Private Practice Collective.

For any questions about the Ideal Practice Collective please email Liann Seiter Brown at liann@alignedfamilytherapy.com.

Please note: Ideal Practice Collective Meetings are collaborative, member-led discussions. Ideas, perspectives, and recommendations shared during these sessions represent the opinions of participating therapists, not of MetroMFT as an organization.

MD Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists - October Meeting (Friday, October 16, 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

We encourage MetroMFT members to attend the monthly Licensure Board (BoPCaT) meetings and represent our field by being a thoughtful, listening MFT presence during the public sessions. Your participation helps strengthen the visibility and voice of marriage and family therapists within our professional community.

Our goal is to have at least one or two members attend each month. If you’re interested in advocacy and supporting the profession, please click this link to attend the meeting:

https://meet.google.com/nbr-bcqg-mke

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 267-689-8192‬ PIN: ‪498 972 751‬#

Please complete this google form and let us know you attended and share your takeaways!

https://forms.gle/W6N6JEknGfqkWEFUA

Board Website

https://health.maryland.gov/bopc/Pages/index.aspx

Happy Hour for Couples Therapists (Thursday, October 29, 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Calling all DMV area couples and relationship therapists! Join us for a happy hour to mix and mingle. Therapists of all modalities and license types are warmly welcome, including graduate students. Your RSVP is requested so we know how many people to expect, but it is not required.

This event is organized by the Center for Intimacy and Relationships in partnership with MetroMFT.

Click here to register.

Please contact Camille Espinoza on camille@centerforintimacy.com with any questions. See you there!

The Ideal Practice Collective: A Yearlong Book Club & Support Group - November Meeting (Monday, November 09, 2026)

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Turn uncertainty into momentum — one month at a time.

Building a successful private practice takes more than clinical skill. Many therapists find themselves:

Struggling to launch and unsure where to start.
Working to build and maintain strong referral sources.
Avoiding or fearing the business side—marketing, planning, or finances—that feels overwhelming.

You’re not alone.

Build community. Build confidence. Build your ideal practice.

Focus for November's Meeting

Optimization: Upgrading Your Practice

"Optimize and upgrade your practice. This month, focus on strategies that enhance your practice management, broaden you network, and diversify your services so that you can run a problem-free operation that can handle continued growth. Also, get comfortable with a normal and important entrepreneurial emotion: ambition."

To best prepare for this month's meeting we suggest you:

✅ Complete Your Monthly Prep Form

✅ Workbook: Optimization: Upgrading Your Practice

✅ Book: Building a Practice to Sell

See the 2026 Reading Schedule for the Ideal Private Practice Collective.

For any questions about the Ideal Practice Collective please email Liann Seiter Brown at liann@alignedfamilytherapy.com.

MetroMFT Fall Conference: Getting Beneath the Armor through Emotionally Focused Therapy (Friday, November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join us for Our 2026 Annual Conference

This 6-hour experiential intensive is built for clinicians with foundational training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) who are ready to turn what they know into what they can do in the room.

After a brief review of EFT's attachment-based framework, most of the day is hands-on practice. You'll work on accessing and deepening primary emotion in session, using self-of-the-therapist and working with your own reactivity, and navigating the bowtie, all while holding both partners with empathy and keeping a felt sense of safety in the room.

Through recorded live sessions and structured role-plays with real-time feedback, you'll sharpen your moment-to-moment tracking, emotional deepening interventions, and de-escalation skills for those high-affect moments when sessions heat up.

Less lecture, more practice. Open to licensed mental health clinicians looking to strengthen their applied EFT skills.

Speaker

We are excited to have Debi Scimeca-Diaz. LMFT present. She is one of a small group of International Center for Excellence in EFT (ICEEFT) Certified Trainers worldwide. With over 25 years of experience working with couples, she brings a wealth of knowledge and real-life application.

Continuing Education Units

6 hours of continuing education through the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists pending approval.

Learning Objectives

Identify a markers indicating readiness to deepen primary emotion in an EFT session.
Identify 3 interventions that can be used to access emotion
Identify 2 different ways an EFT therapist can use self as guide to help couples be in the present and get in touch with deeper feelings
Demonstrate at least one live role-play application of an EFT deepening and de-escalation intervention.
Describe strategies for maintaining Balanced Empathy when conflict is present in the room and Strategies for working with escalated couples

Schedule for the Day

8:30 am - Registration
9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Morning Session
12:00 - 1:15 pm - Lunch / MetroMFT Membership Meeting
1:15 - 4:30 pm - Afternoon Session

Location

This year's conference will be held in the Fenton Room of the Silver Spring Civic Center (719 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20910).

In the heart of downtown Silver Spring, this location offers many lunch options nearby for non-MetroMFT members.

Annual MetroMFT Membership Meeting & Lunch

Our Metro-MFT Members are invited to attend our annual membership meeting, which will be held during lunchtime. Complimentary lunch will be provided for members, please indicate any dietary restrictions upon registration.

Don't forget to register by October 15th for early bird pricing!

If you have need to cancel your registration please contact us at admin@metromft.org.

MetroMFT Peer Consultation in November (Friday, November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Join us for this month’s MetroMFT Peer Consultation Group, hosted by Alexandra Simione, LCMFT.

This monthly gathering provides a supportive space for therapists to discuss cases, share insights, and navigate the challenges of providing therapy. Whether you're exploring self-care strategies or tackling complex clinical issues, each meeting centers around topics chosen by the group to ensure relevance and connection.

With a focus on a systemic approach, you'll engage with like-minded professionals who share your passion for fostering growth and resilience in both your practice and personal well-being. Come ready to engage, reflect, and learn with colleagues!

Post-Conference MetroMFT Happy Hour (Friday, November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 22:00:00 GMT

You spent the day getting beneath the armor. Now let your own guard down a little. Join fellow clinicians, MetroMFT members, and friends for a relaxed happy hour right after the conference, just a short walk from the Civic Center.

It's a chance to keep the conversation going, connect with colleagues across the region, and celebrate a day of deep work together. Conference attendance isn't required, so feel free to bring a colleague who couldn't make the training. Drinks and food are on your own.

Please RSVP so we can save enough space for everyone.

Once we finalize the details we'll share the exact location with everyone who RSVPs.

The Ideal Practice Collective: A Yearlong Book Club & Support Group - December Meeting (Monday, December 14, 2026)

Mon, 14 Dec 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Turn uncertainty into momentum — one month at a time.

Building a successful private practice takes more than clinical skill. Many therapists find themselves:

Struggling to launch and unsure where to start.
Working to build and maintain strong referral sources.
Avoiding or fearing the business side—marketing, planning, or finances—that feels overwhelming.

You’re not alone.

Build community. Build confidence. Build your ideal practice.

Focus for December's Meeting

Expansion: Increasing Your Capacity for Growth

"Expansion and growth are important goals for many small business owners. This month, expand your practice by learning how to select the best opportunities for growth and prioritize your use of time. Then add balance to your expansion plan to become a model of services your offer, as you create strong community connections."

To best prepare for this month's meeting we suggest you:

✅ Complete Your Monthly Prep Form

✅ Workbook: Expansion: Increasing Your Capacity for Growth

✅ Book: Personal Growth and Coaching

For any questions about the Ideal Practice Collective please email Liann Seiter Brown at liann@alignedfamilytherapy.com.