GAMFT

02/16/2026

🚨 SAVE THE DATE! 🚨
July 23–25, 2026
The 2026 GAMFT Annual Conference is coming — and it’s going to be NEXT LEVEL 🔥🎉

📍 Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre — Metro Atlanta, GA
📅 July 23–25, 2026
Get ready for:
✨ Robust CE opportunities
✨ Pre- & post-conference workshops
✨ Powerful plenary sessions
✨ Networking with colleagues from across the state
✨ Self-care, connection, and community

🎤 Featured Plenary Presentation:
Love, Lies, and Large Language Models: Infidelity Recovery in the Era of AI- TREVOR WHITE, LMFT
A bold, timely conversation exploring how infidelity and technology intersect — and how MFTs can help couples not just survive, but grow in the age of AI. 💡🤖

Registration isn’t open yet… but it’s coming 👀
👉 Click the link for updates + be first in line when registration goes live: https://gamft-s-school.thinkific.com/bundles/2026-annual-conference

Mark your calendars. Tell your colleagues. Start the group chat.
We’ll see you in JULY ☀️ 💥

02/11/2026

🏛️ GAMFT Capitol Day is almost here — February 11th!
We’re coming together to advocate for MFTs and mental health at the Capitol 💙
If you’re attending, take photos, record videos, and share your experience throughout the day!
📸🎥 Don’t forget to tag everything so we can repost and amplify our collective voice.
🔗 Event info & details:
https://gamft-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/MFT-Capitol-Day
Let’s make our voices visible ✨

In-person MFT Celebration Day at the Capitol - February 11, 2026

01/14/2026

📣 MFT Celebration Day is coming up! 🎉
Hear from Dan Upshaw, GAMFT legislative chair, as he shares why showing up for our profession matters 💙🏛️ Join Marriage & Family Therapists from across Georgia for a day at the Capitol focused on advocacy, connection, and celebrating the impact of MFTs 🙌🧠

📍 Where: Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta
🗓️ When: February 11
🎉 What: MFT Celebration Day
💸 Cost: FREE
📚 CEs: Earn 2 Ethics CEs
👉 Register here: https://gamft-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/MFT-Capitol-Day

Let’s show up, be seen, and make our voices heard! 💪✨
🎊

01/14/2026

📣 MFT Celebration Day is coming up! 🎉
Hear from Dan Upshaw, GAMFT legislative chair, as he shares why showing up for our profession matters 💙🏛️ Join Marriage & Family Therapists from across Georgia for a day at the Capitol focused on advocacy, connection, and celebrating the impact of MFTs 🙌🧠

📍 Where: Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta
🗓️ When: February 11
🎉 What: MFT Celebration Day
💸 Cost: FREE
📚 CEs: Earn 2 Ethics CEs
👉 Register here: https://gamft-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/MFT-Capitol-Day

Let’s show up, be seen, and make our voices heard! 💪✨
🎊

01/08/2026

Be part of something meaningful! 💪✨

On Feb 11, 2026, MFTs across Georgia will gather at the Capitol 🏛️ to build alliances, 🤝 celebrate our history, 🎉 and engage in advocacy 📣 for our profession. Whether you’re seasoned or new — your voice matters! 🗳️💬

Why attend? 👇
As MFTs, we’re trained to see beyond the individual — to families, communities, and systems 🌱🏘️ This event puts that training into action.

✔️ No prior advocacy experience required — just your presence 🙌
✔️ 2 FREE Ethics CE hours 📚✨
✔️ Direct engagement with policy makers shaping mental health policy in Georgia 🧠⚖️
✔️ Meaningful connection with fellow MFTs across career stages 🤗
✔️ Alignment with core MFT values: systems, relationships, and advocacy ❤️🔗

🔗 RSVP here: https://gamft-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/MFT-Capitol-Day

12/18/2025

With deep gratitude, we share Kara’s words as she reflects on her time serving GAMFT—especially her years as President. 💙 Thank you for your leadership, heart, and dedication.

GAMFT Members and Colleagues,

It’s difficult to capture in words what the past ten years on the GAMFT Board—especially these last four as President—have truly meant to me. The trust you placed in me to serve in this role has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. Serving as GAMFT’s President has been an extraordinary experience—one that has allowed me to learn, grow, and help champion meaningful progress for MFTs and the communities we serve. I have approached this responsibility with care, commitment, and heart, and it has truly been a labor of love.

A special friend and mentor once told me, “GAMFT is a small organization trying to do big things.” And indeed, GAMFT has done just that! Together, we have advanced meaningful and impactful initiatives over the past four years—efforts I believe will continue to create positive ripple effects for many years to come. Of course, none of this work would have been possible without the unwavering support of our remarkable board members and dedicated membership. Working alongside so many enthusiastic, talented, and compassionate individuals has been both inspiring and deeply humbling.

Stepping away from this role brings mixed emotions, but above all, I feel immense gratitude and a profound sense of fulfillment. Contributing to GAMFT’s continued growth has been a true blessing, and I have tremendous confidence in the bright future that lies ahead under such thoughtful and dedicated leadership.

My commitment to GAMFT remains strong, and I look forward to supporting and celebrating its continued success in the years ahead.

With heartfelt appreciation for this incredible journey,
Kara

Kara Z. McDaniel, Ph.D.

12/12/2025

📅 Wednesday, February 11, 2026
⏰ 8–11am
📍 The Georgia Freight Depot — 65 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
✨ Free, in-person event | Earn up to 2 CEs

Legislation shapes nearly every aspect of our work as MFTs — from licensure requirements and scope of practice to how easily our clients can access care. MFT Celebration Day at the Capitol offers a systemic, accessible way to connect with this process and understand how it directly affects you, your clients, and your career.

This year, we’re taking a fresh approach. Instead of an online town hall or a students-only gathering, we’re requesting all Georgia MFTs to join us in person at the Georgia Capitol. It’s your opportunity to build community with colleagues, learn from leaders, earn CEs, and engage meaningfully with the decision-makers who shape our field.

And your presence is vitally important. Every MFT who attends strengthens our collective voice and helps raise awareness about our profession and the mental health priorities that are important to us and our clients.

By showing up, you invest in your professional growth and help advance the future of MFTs in Georgia.

Save the date. Registration coming soon!

Click to learn more➡️ https://gamft.org/CAPITOL-DAY/

10/31/2025

🧠✨ Coming soon! Join us for “What Every MFT Should Know about Stroke & Brain Injury” — a one-hour virtual CE with our very own Communications Chair, Abby Culin, LMFT! 💫

Abby brings deep expertise from her work at Shepherd Center, a nationally recognized hospital specializing in brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Her experience working with individuals and families navigating recovery makes this session a must-attend for helping professionals.

You’ll learn how to:
• Identify different types of brain injury and their symptoms
• Understand how recovery really unfolds
• Recognize what families experience when caregiving becomes part of life
• Explore therapeutic themes & treatment ideas for brain-injury families

📅 Date: Friday, November 7
⏰ Time: 12 pm – 1 pm
💻 Format: Virtual (Zoom)
🎓 Credits: 1 Core CE Hour

Whether you’re working directly with brain-injured clients, supporting family systems, or deepening your trauma-informed lens — this course is for you.

👉 Register here: https://gamft-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/brain-injury — and join us in cheering on Abby as she shares her expertise!

Live, Virtual CE Event on Friday, November 7 from 12-1pm - 1 Core CE Hour / Click to learn more

09/17/2025

💡 2025 Armour Lecture Series 💡
Using Neurobiology & Positive Psychology to Reawaken Love and Advance Couple & Family Therapy

Join GAMFT and Mercer University School of Medicine for a dynamic, evidence-based workshop exploring the neuroscience of relationships and practical interventions to strengthen love, connection, and family bonds. 🧠💞

🗓 Date: September 26, 2025
⏰ Time: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM (1 hr lunch break)
📍 Location: Mercer University Atlanta Campus, Administrative & Conference Center Auditorium

💵 Investment:
• Members: $150
• Non-members: $175
• Students & Mercer Faculty: $15
Includes lunch – email office@gamft.org for dietary needs

✨ CEs: 5 Core CE hours for MFTs
🎤 Presenter: Dr. Rick Weinberg

What you’ll learn:
• Rekindle love and harness its healing power ❤️
• Manage emotional reactivity by activating the prefrontal cortex 🧠
• Navigate disagreements more effectively 🤝
• Encourage clients to savor positive interactions 🌟

This lecture series is made possible by Dr. Mary Anne Armour and Dr. Rollin Armour. Dr. Mary Anne Armour came to the School of Medicine in 1982 when the first class of medical students enrolled. She retired as Associate Professor in 1998.
📌 Reserve your spot today! https://gamft-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/2025-armour-lecture

08/22/2025

Meet your 2025 GAMFT Board Leaders! 🎉

We’re excited to celebrate our amazing GAMFT members stepping into leadership roles starting January 2026!

Elizabeth Bizzell, LMFT – Our current Vice President is continuing for another two-year term!

Shakera J. Hawkins, LMFT – Joining as a new Elections Committee Member!

Dr. Danielle Veney, PhD, LMFT – Also joining the Elections Committee Member!

We’re so excited to welcome (and welcome back!) these amazing leaders starting January 2026. Let’s give them a big round of applause 👏👏👏

08/06/2025

JOIN US IN SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH PARITY

You're invited to attend a special event hosted by NAMI Georgia and the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership.

Join mental health professionals from across the state near the Capitol to encourage Commissioner King to enforce the mental health parity law.

Date: Monday, August 18
Time: 10am
Location: Twin Towers, Sloppy Floyd Building
2 MLK Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334

Register now: https://gamft.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96d3813568ee2ae294e8515e5&id=ea07de8074&e=82f4ff9a56

Can't make it? Sign the petition: https://gamft.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96d3813568ee2ae294e8515e5&id=562bfc5e58&e=82f4ff9a56

07/21/2025

📢 THIS FRIDAY!

Don’t Miss GAMFT’s Virtual Ethics Training with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey 📝⁠
⁠
The Art of Clinical Documentation: Mastering Intake, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning
⁠
🗓 Date: Friday, July 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00–3:00 PM (ET)
💻 Location: Virtual via Zoom
🎓 CEs: 3 Ethics CEs for MFTs
💵 Investment:
▪️ Members – $75
▪️ Students – $35
▪️ Non-Members – $85
⁠
Join GAMFT in welcoming back Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey, founder of QA Prep! If you attended last summer’s ethics event, you know she delivers practical, engaging, and truly helpful content for clinicians.⁠
⁠
This interactive workshop will help you:
✅ Conduct efficient, comprehensive intakes
✅ Make accurate diagnoses
✅ Create meaningful, ethically-sound treatment plans
✅ Cut down your documentation time while increasing quality
⁠
🎯 Perfect for mental health professionals ready to streamline paperwork and sharpen clinical focus.⁠
⁠
👉 Register now: https://gamft-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/art-of-clinical-documentation-

Live, Virtual CE Event on Friday, July 25 from 12-3pm - 3 Ethics Hours Click to learn more