History of VC CAMFT
The Ventura County Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (VC-CAMFT) is a non-profit organization of mental health professionals: Clinically licensed and Pre-licensed Marriage and Family Therapists along with Related Professionals. Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) are relationship specialists who treat people involved in interpersonal relationships. They are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, couples, families and groups to help them achieve more adequate, satisfying and productive marriages, family relationships, and social adjustments. MFTs also provide premarital counseling, child counseling, divorce or separation counseling. Marriage and Family Therapists are psychotherapists and healing arts practitioners licensed by the State of California. Licensure requires a related doctoral or two-year master’s degree, comprehensive written examinations, and at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience.
VC-CAMFT was first established in 1973 and incorporated as a 501C-6 non-profit organization in 1994. The Ventura County Chapter is one of 28 Chapters of the State organization, (the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) and encompasses the geographical boundaries of Ventura County. The Chapter enjoys a membership of 150+ which includes related professionals such as social workers, mediators, psychiatrists, etc. The Chapter benefits from a proactive volunteer Board of 5-10 members who are committed to the membership and surrounding community.
The VC-CAMFT Board meets monthly, along with two annual retreats and an annual Leadership Conference sponsored by the State organization, CAMFT. VC-CAMFT sponsors bi-monthly (6) luncheons with a speaker for mental health professionals in the community. The Chapter luncheons are known for their warm and inviting atmosphere, and speakers who enhance our knowledge and skill level on topics of professional interests and needs. The luncheons also offer the opportunity to connect with agencies, organizations and clinicians in the county to share what is happening in the community. In addition to the luncheons, VC-CAMFT hosts an annual Legal and Ethical Workshop that is required for continuing licensure for LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs. The Chapter also holds an annual Pre-licensed Job Fair that brings together roughly 18+ agencies and 50+ Pre-licensed MFTs for available intern positions.
VC-CAMFT has made outreach to the community a priority from the beginning of the Chapter. In the first 20 years, VC-CAMFT sponsored workshops for lay people in the community, calling it a “Community Spotlight”. As more agencies and organizations have come into the community, providing a wide range of services, VC-CAMFT has carried on the name, Community Spotlight, but now uses it to promote a local agency or organization in VC-CAMFT’s quarterly newsletter. There are several interest groups that VC-CAMFT has sponsored and promoted to both mental health professionals and the community: Carpe Diem, NAMI, Trauma Response Training, The Soldiers Project, Soldiers Plus, and others.
VC-CAMFT has been recognized and honored for its contributions to support and enhance the education of mental health professionals along with supporting the community at large.