This workshop focuses on infidelity recovery. The presenters will discuss assessment, goal setting, short and long term progress, prevention and intervention techniques, and healing. There will also be break rooms focusing on the stages of recovery.

This workshop offers 3 CEUs and will be held virtually on:

Friday, May 3rd, 2024, 9:00 am -12:00 pm (click HERE to register)

Clinical Member: $75

Pre-Clinical/Retiree Member: $65

Student Member: $50

Board Member: $45

Non-Member: $100

Please contact our Event Coordinator for this event, Denisse Bergondo, at njamfteducation@gmail.com, with any questions.

Presenter: Christina DeFuria, MA, LMFT

Cristina DeFuria is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Brainspotting Therapist. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and minor in Women’s Studies from Stockton University and her Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Drexel University. 

Cristina specializes in couples therapy, specifically infidelity recovery and has been in practice for the past 14 years. She is the founder of The Counseling Center for Relationships, where she sees couples for weekly therapy, runs support groups and hosts workshops for couples and families. 

Cristina has previously worked as an in-home family therapist throughout Ocean and Burlington County. Cristina has also worked within the high school setting working with youths and their families. 

Cristina and her husband Roque have been together for 13 years, married for 8 and have 3 incredible daughters together. 

Presenter: Nicole Garamella, MA, LMFT

Nicole Garamella received her undergraduate degree in Acting with a concentration in Drama Therapy from Marymount Manhattan College and her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Kean University.

Nicole specializes in couples therapy, specifically working with attachment styles and trauma recovery. She has been in practice for five years, three of which she has happily spent at The Counseling Center for Relationships treating couples, families, and individuals in need. Nicole has also worked in both private and public school settings running drama therapy groups for children and families.

Nicole and her husband AJ have been together for 9 years, married for 3, and now get to share not only their lives together, but their work, too, as Armand pursues his graduate degree in the MFT field as well.

Cancellation/No Show Policy: Please be aware that refunds and exchanges are not available. However, we do offer the option to apply 50% of the event cost as credit toward a future NJAMFT training. To qualify for this credit, you must inform the NJAMFT Treasurer at njamfttreasurer@gmail.com before the event's commencement if you need to cancel or will not be attending. No credit will be provided after the event has taken place.

Our NJAMFT DEIJ Committee will be hosting a virtual Zoom workshop on February 23, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

Presented by:  Caitlyn Burns, PhD LMFT

The number of relational therapy clients practicing consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is increasing. Therefore, it is essential for relational therapists to increase their knowledge and understanding of CNM, as well as examine personal biases that may create challenges to providing affirming, inclusive, and ethical care when working with these clients. The purpose of this presentation is to increase general understanding of what consensual non-mongamy is (including common terms and language), as well as to provide relational therapists with tips and strategies for practicing more inclusive and affirming care when working with CNM clients.

One important factor to provide ethical care is to examine personal beliefs and biases, which can negatively impact practice and the therapeutic relationship. Dr. Burns will discuss mono-normativity and mono-normative bias, which stem from dominant discourses about relationships. Using research results from her dissertation on this topic, Dr. Burns will demonstrate how mono-normative bias can show up in relational therapy and how this can be harmful to ethical therapy and the therapeutic relationship.

Using both research and clinical experience, Dr. Burns will provide some quick tips and strategies for providing more inclusive and affirming care when working with CNM clients. Some of these strategies will pull from existing models or theories and others will be new ideas uniquely rooted in CNM culture and thinking.

At the end of this workshop, you will have a greater understanding of what CNM is and what mono-normative bias is and why it is dangerous. You will also experience the reframing of relationships in a more CNM-inclusive lens, which in turn will provide you with affirming strategies for working with CNM clients. Dr. Burns will also provide additional resources and connect you with other means of support and methods of learning more about working with CNM clients.

Please register HERE!

Members: $30

Non-Members: $50