The WAMFT 2023 Annual Conference, Entering into Fullness: Self of the Therapist will be held September 22-23 in Spokane.  New this year, we will be expanding to a two-day conference format, with a chance to earn up to 12.5 CEUs!  Returning again this year is the hybrid format with the option of the in-person connection and networking in Spokane or the accessibility of many sessions being streamed virtually. Information on conference logistics can be found here. 

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We are excited to present Dr. Harry Aponte’s work around being “wounded healers” in the Person of the Therapist model as the heart of our conference.  Aponte believes that helping professionals need to commit to their own personal journey of growth to relate to what it takes for clients to engage in the daunting journey of change. Providers must resonate with the pain their client’s experiences and personally engage through the therapeutic relationship, the family and associates, and any aspect of the client’s personal, institutional, governmental, and personal spirituality community.  To learn more about Aponte’s model, visit https://harryjaponte.com.  Come learn how leaders in our field are stepping into their fullness through navigating provider burnout, engaging in creative ways to enter into fullness, and integrating modalities with self of the therapist.  Also, returning this year is an opportunity for medical, MFT, and the greater mental health community to come together through professional development and partnership.  Our systemic lens tells us our individual fullness is influenced by the strengths of our connections.

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Along with our overall conference theme, we will offer four tracks from which attendees can choose during the breakout sessions (CEs will be offered):

• Provider Burn-Out: Symptom of Lacking Fullness - This track will consider ways providers can manage burnout through person of the therapist techniques, innovative self-care, and culturally attuning client centered care to enable therapist authenticity and effective client care.  
• Side Hustle: Creative Ways to Enter into Fullness - This track will include sessions where attendees will learn from others’ experiences of starting new career paths beyond the typical borders of therapy such as starting a therapy podcast, a consultation group, or creating dance battles for therapists. Ethical and practical considerations will be addressed.
• Topic Spotlight: Integrating Sex Therapy & Self of the Therapist - Focuses on how the self of the therapist can be integrated with sex therapy modalities.
• General Person of the Therapist - Explores ways to engage fully through person of the therapist techniques, self care, and cultural attunement.