MetroMFT upcoming events

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

Tue, 12 May 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 May's Meeting

Spiritual Preparation: Orienting Your Practice Around Values and Vision

"To infuse your business with spirituality, orient your private practice around your passion and your core values. This month, define your business vision using a value-based approach and examine the integrity of your practice. Then, with your vision, purpose, and mission statement in place you can move forward with a clear direction."

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

✅ Complete Your Monthly Prep Form

✅ Workbook: Spiritual Preparation: Orienting Your Practice Around Values and Vision

✅ Book: Values and Vision; Getting a Strong Start

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.

Happy Hour for Couples Therapists (Thursday, May 14, 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 22:00:00 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!

MD Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists - May Meeting (Friday, May 15, 2026)

Fri, 15 May 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 register to get involved.

Helping Clients Navigate a Loved One’s Mental Illness - MetroMFT Peer Consultation in May (Friday, May 15, 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for May’s MetroMFT Peer-to-Peer Consultation Group, hosted by Viviana Azar, LCMFT, who brings both personal and professional experience to this important topic. This month’s conversation will focus on how therapists can support clients who have family members living with mental illness—navigating complex dynamics, emotional burdens, boundaries, and the systemic impact on individuals and families.

Clinicians are invited to bring cases for consultation or simply come to learn from the discussion and insights of colleagues. This group offers a collaborative, supportive space to deepen your thinking and expand your therapeutic approach to these often challenging and nuanced situations.

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

2026 MetroMFT Peer Consultation Schedule

June 26: Case Consultations hosted by Tiara Fennell
July: Working with Parents and their Adult Children hosted by Jane Connor
August 28: DBT Informed Safety with Teens and Families hosted by Laura Goldstein
September 25: Self-Care for Therapists hosted by Jordan Madison
October 23: Trauma-Informed Consent for Therapy hosted by Alexandra Simione
November 13: Case Consultations hosted by Alexandra Simione

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 - June Meeting (Tuesday, June 09, 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

At the halfway point of our yearlong journey together, The Ideal Practice Collective will gather in person at Takoma Park Beverage Company. for a morning of reflection, connection, and renewal.

This special midyear session offers a chance to step away from our screens, meet one another face-to-face, and strengthen the community that has been growing virtually since January.

In addition to reflecting on this month's theme of generating a flow of quality clients, we’ll also:

Revisit insights from the first half of the year.
Share what’s working in building our private practices.
Reconnect with our purpose and renew our energy for the months ahead.

Build community. Build confidence. Build your ideal practice.

Focus for June's Meeting

Articulation: Communicating Your Value as a Professional

"Now is the time to put the building blocks in place for your ideal private practice. The first step is to determine your basic message--the essence of who you are and what you do as a therapist. This month, you articulate your basic message and explore strategies to expand its reach. Develop your speaking ability further and learn the important skill of enrolling --how to persuade potential clients to become paying clients."

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

✅ Complete Your Monthly Prep Form

✅ Workbook: Articulation: Communicating Your Value as a Professional

✅ Book: Protecting Your Practice from Harm; The Brand Called You

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.

MD Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists - June Meeting (Friday, June 19, 2026)

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:30:00 GMT

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 register to get involved.

MetroMFT Peer Consultation in June (Friday, June 26, 2026)

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for this month’s MetroMFT Peer Consultation Group, hosted by Tiara Fennell, PhD 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!

2026 MetroMFT Peer Consultation Schedule

July: Strained Relationships between Parents and Adult Children hosted by Jane Connor
August 28: DBT Informed Safety with Teens and Families hosted by Laura Goldstein
September 25: Self-Care for Therapists hosted by Jordan Madison
October 23: Trauma-Informed Consent for Therapy hosted by Alexandra Simione
November 13: Case Consultations hosted by Alexandra Simione

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

Tue, 14 Jul 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.

Build community. Build confidence. Build your ideal practice.

Focus for July's Meeting

Marketing: Generating a Flow of Quality Clients

"A flow of quality clients is the lifeblood of a private practice and your ability to market your practice may determine whether or not you can keep it healthy. This month, explore the marketing strategies that work best for therapists. Then, add to your strategies with a targeted reading list so that you have an abundance of marketing ideas, and then learn to create and follow a marketing plan."

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

✅ Complete Your Monthly Prep Form

✅ Workbook: Marketing: Generating a Flow of Quality Clients

✅ Book: Expanding Your Reach; Your Online Presence

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.

MD Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists - July Meeting (Friday, July 17, 2026)

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:30:00 GMT

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 register to get involved.

Strained Relationships between Parents and Adult Children - MetroMFT Peer Consultation in July (Friday, July 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for July’s MetroMFT Peer Consultation Group, facilitated by Jane M Connor, focused on strengthening clinical work with older parents and their adult children—especially when there is ongoing contact, but the relationship feels strained, flat, tense, or unsatisfying.

Many families are not “cut off,” yet conversations are dominated by criticism, worry, defensiveness, obligation, role confusion, or repetitive conflict.

We’re going to consult as if you’re seeing one member of the family system – which is the most common reality. Our job is to generate formulations and interventions that work through a single client: shifting stance, tolerating hard feelings, setting workable boundaries, planning contact experiments and supporting “good enough” connection when necessary. This is a high-participation hour designed so that every attendee is both learner and resource

This is a high-participation hour designed so that every attendee is both a learner and a resource. Using structured peer-learning methods (inspired by participatory meeting design), we will move quickly from brief framing to focused small-group consultation: participants will work in rotating triads/small breakouts to clarify case questions, map the family system, identify attachment-driven interaction cycles, and generate practical, testable interventions. We will then harvest strategies and language that translate directly into sessions—especially for repair, boundary renegotiation, and “good-enough” connection when deep closeness is not currently realistic.

Participants may bring a case, a clinical dilemma, or simply come ready to contribute and learn with colleagues.

The Ideal Practice Collective: A Yearlong Book Club & Support Group - August Meeting (Tuesday, August 11, 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 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.

Build community. Build confidence. Build your ideal practice.

Focus for August's Meeting

Security: Establishing a Solid Client Base

"To feel more secure about your business, use this month's plan for solidifying your client base. Establish a strong client connection and turn your practice into an added-value business that builds client respect, trust, and endorsement. Then learn how to support all termination, because good endings create goodwill."

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

✅ Complete Your Monthly Prep Form

✅ Workbook: Security: Establishing a Solid Client Base

✅ Book: Retaining Today’s Clients

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.

MD Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists - August Meeting (Friday, August 21, 2026)

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

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 register to get involved.

DBT-Informed Safety with Teens and Families - MetroMFT Peer Consultation in August (Friday, August 28, 2026)

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for a MetroMFT Peer Consultation Group hosted by Laura Goldstein, LCMFT, focused on DBT-Informed Safety with Teens and Families. Adolescence can be a time of emotional intensity, risk behaviors, and relational stress — and many clinicians seek supportive, practical approaches to safety planning that are grounded in evidence and compassion.

In this session, Laura will facilitate discussion around applying DBT-informed principles to safety planning, risk assessment, and engagement with teens and their families in ways that promote connection, self-regulation, and collaboration. Clinicians are invited to bring cases or questions related to safety work, DBT frameworks, and family involvement. Whether you’re new to DBT concepts or looking to deepen your clinical application, this group offers a collaborative space to learn and reflect with colleagues.

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

2026 MetroMFT Peer Consultation Schedule

September 25: Self-Care for Therapists hosted by Jordan Madison
October 23: Trauma-Informed Consent for Therapy hosted by Alexandra Simione
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.

The Ideal Practice Collective: A Yearlong Book Club & Support Group - September Meeting (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 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.

Build community. Build confidence. Build your ideal practice.

Focus for September's Meeting

Profit: Making Peace with Making Money

"Show me the money! This month, take steps to ensure that you have a highly profitable practice. Examine your thoughts and feelings about money and profit, check your profit picture against a reliable formula, evaluate your current fee structure, see how to raise fees successfully, and build a business not just to own, but to sell."

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

✅ Complete Your Monthly Prep Form

✅ Workbook: Profit: Making Peace with Making Money

✅ Book: Why Good Therapists Go Broke

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.

MD Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists - September Meeting (Friday, September 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

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 register to get involved.

Self-Care for Therapists - MetroMFT Peer Consultation in September (Friday, September 25, 2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for September’s MetroMFT Peer Consultation Group, hosted by Jordan Madison, LCMFT, with a timely focus on Self-Care for Therapists.

As we transition out of summer and into the back-to-school season, a time when many clinicians experience an uptick in their intakes, this session offers a supportive space to reconnect with yourself before the fall rush begins.

Whether you’re seeking ideas for balancing workload, setting boundaries, cultivating rest, or integrating small daily habits that protect your emotional and physical well-being, this group invites open dialogue and shared strategies from fellow therapists.

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

2026 MetroMFT Peer Consultation Schedule

October 23: Trauma-Informed Consent for Therapy hosted by Alexandra Simione
November 13: Case Consultations hosted by Alexandra Simione

The Ideal Practice Collective: A Yearlong Book Club & Support Group - October Meeting (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)

Tue, 13 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.

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.

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

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

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 register to get involved.

Trauma-Informed Consent for Therapy - MetroMFT Peer Consultation in October (Friday, October 23, 2026)

Fri, 23 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

The Ideal Practice Collective: A Yearlong Book Club & Support Group - November Meeting (Tuesday, November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 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 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.

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!

MD Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists - November Meeting (Friday, November 20, 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 15:30:00 GMT

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 register to get involved.

The Ideal Practice Collective: A Yearlong Book Club & Support Group - December Meeting (Tuesday, December 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 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.