LB-SB CAMFT upcoming events

Addiction as Relationship. Understanding Substance Use Through Attachment & Connection. (Fri, May 08, 2026)

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:45:00 GMT

Meet Joshua

Joshua Pickett, LMFT, brings over 10 years of experience working with mental health, substance use, and family dynamics. He holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and has completed a two-year training program in Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy, including extensive training in trauma-focused care.

Joshua currently works in private practice, specializing in complex PTSD and substance use. His clinical background includes work in IOP and PHP settings treating severe trauma and addiction, as well as experience with Children and Family Services.

Both professionally and personally, Joshua has dedicated his career to understanding the complexities of substance use and how to support lasting, meaningful change for those who are struggling.

Addiction as Relationship

Understanding Substance Use Through Attachment & Connection

What if addiction isn’t just about substances...

But about relationships?

Many clients struggling with substance use aren’t just battling a behavior… they are navigating unmet attachment needs. This training will help you understand addiction through a relational lens— so you can intervene with more clarity, compassion, and effectiveness.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Substance use often becomes a substitute for connection. Without understanding the attachment dynamics underneath, interventions can miss the mark.

This training offers a deeper framework to:

Understand the why behind substance use
See how early attachment shapes regulation and coping
Respond in a way that supports lasting change

Educational Goals

Have an understanding of attachment theory and how relationships affect human development.
Understand how substances become a substitute for a proper attachment relationship.
Have a way of understanding and a way of intervening regarding clinical work with Substance Use clients.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

✔ Name 2 ways in which early attachment can affect the autonomic nervous system.

✔ List 2 therapeutic strategies or frameworks that can be used to treat Substance Use.

✔ Describe 2 types of relational support needed for Substance Use.

Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Science. Course completion certificates will be awarded at the end of the course upon completion of the Evaluation form via the Attendee Dashboard, which will be emailed to you.

SCHEDULE:

8:45 AM	Breakfast & Introductions
9:15 AM	Presentation Begins
11:15 AM	Presentation Ends

MEETING INFORMATION:

Our presenter will be delivering their session virtually.

*VIRTUAL REGISTRATIONS CLOSE May 7th @ 6 PM*

*In-Person Registrations Available at The Door*

We look forward to seeing you there!

____________________________________________________________________________________

CE Information

Long Beach South Bay CAMFT (Approval #56159) is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. LBSB CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Course completion certificates will be awarded at the end of the course upon completion of the Evaluation form via the Attendee Dashboard, which will be emailed to you. This training is all inclusive and is applicable for Trainee Students, AMFT, APCC, ACSW, LMFT, LPCC, LCSW and PSyD's. Attendees will receive an email with a link to complete an evaluation to access their CE certificate within 24 hours of the completion of the training.

Important Information

Event Policies & Protocols: click here
Grievance Procedures: click here

Event Policy

No canvassing or distribution of materials is permitted without a pre-purchased sponsorship. Business card exchange between clinicians is allowed.

www.lbsbcamft.org

For questions regarding this meeting, contact:

Communications@lbsbcamft.org

Healthy Ways to Manage Chronic Mental Illness: How You Can Help (Fri, May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Healthy Ways to Manage

Chronic Mental Illness:

How You Can Help

This interactive workshop explores practical, evidence-based approaches for supporting clients living with chronic mental illness. Therapists will learn effective strategies to foster client stability, build resilience, and promote recovery through person-centered care. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening therapeutic alliances, integrating community resources, and teaching coping and relapse prevention skills. Participants will leave with practical tools and strategies they can apply immediately in their work to help clients manage symptoms, improve their quality of life, and maintain long-term wellness.

Meet Cherie

Cherie Harper is a seasoned mental health professional with over 20 years of experience in community mental health, where she has served in senior-level roles supporting diverse populations. Her work has spanned counseling, advocacy, and program development, with a strong focus on empowering individuals to navigate life’s challenges with dignity and resilience.

A central part of Cherie’s career has been dedicated to working with individuals living with chronic mental illness. She has provided long-term counseling and case management for those managing conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. This work requires patience, empathy, and a commitment to continuity of care, as well as close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers, to ensure holistic treatment and support.

In addition to direct client care, Cherie has mentored emerging professionals, helping them build the skills and understanding necessary to support individuals living with chronic mental illness. She strongly believes that mental illness does not define a person and has seen firsthand how, with the right resources and consistent support, individuals can pursue education, re-enter the workforce, and maintain meaningful family relationships.

Beyond this specialized work, Cherie’s professional path has included guiding youth transitioning out of foster care into college, counseling couples navigating anxiety and conflict, and leading initiatives that strengthen mental health services across communities. Her dedication lies in helping people find stability, growth, and hope, even in the face of ongoing challenges.

ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES 5/28/26 @ 6 PM

*Attendees who did not register online may also pay at the door

Schedule:

9:00 am - 9:30 am	Breakfast and Networking
9:30 am – 10:30 am	Course Presentation (1 Hr = 1CE)
10:30 am – 11:00 am	Q & A Networking

MEETING INFORMATION:

Our presenter will be delivering this workshop

In-Person at Fusion Academy Hermosa!

For attendees who value the opportunity to network and connect with other clinicians, we are hosting this in-person gathering where you can enjoy a continental breakfast and meet the presenter in person.

Unpaid invoices must be paid 24 hours before the event.

Learning Objectives:

Consistent Treatment Engagement: Maintain at least an 80% session attendance rate over 3 months.
Symptom Management Improvement: Reduce self-reported symptom severity by 20% within 6 months using standardized tools.
Functional & Quality of Life Gains: Increase participation in at least 2 meaningful daily activities within 3 months.

LOCATION:

Fusion Academy, 1601 CA-1 Suite 260, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

PARKING INSTRUCTIONS:

Enter the ticketless parking structure on 16th Street off PCH across from the Pavilions (formerly Vons) Shopping Center.

Parking validation is provided via your mobile device. Scan the QR code in the parking structure or in our lobby to set up an account. Please have your license plate number available. Metropolis Parking Garages employs a camera system for easy exiting.

ENTERING THE BUILDING:

From the parking garage, take the elevator to the 2nd floor or enter through the doors on level P6.

CE Credit Information

To obtain CE Certificate please refer to the email with the blue Dashboard sent from LBSB. Upon completion of the Evaluation form you will have access to your Certificate.

Important Information

Event Policies & Protocols: click here
Grievance Procedures: click here

Event Policy

No canvassing or distribution of materials is permitted without a pre-purchased sponsorship. Business card exchange between clinicians is allowed.

Questions: Contact Yesenia Rosado, Director of Communications at communications@lbsbcamft.org