President's Message

Akiah Selwa, LMFT
LA-CAMFT President

Leaving a Legacy Gift

Welcome to the Voices February newsletter!

This month, I want to talk with you about why I chose the initiative “Clarify identified systems and practices with written formats and procedures.”

Please do not stop reading; I will not drone on about boring administrative ideas.

I’m always interested in the heart of a manner and prefer looking at the origin. For me, “clarify identified systems and practices with written formats and procedures” is an act of restorative justice. It’s an opportunity to leave a legacy gift rather than a legacy burden.

Disorganization is stressful and distracting. Interrupting life-giving organization and structure habitually can be traumatic and is the primal nefarious intent of oppression and abuse. So, exercising our freedom to create and maintain an organized system is liberating.

This idea of clarifying identified systems and practices with written formats and procedures does not suggest that the LA-CAMFT board or membership is disorganized. Absolutely not!

As a member of the LA-CAMFT board and a LA-CAMFT member who has spent time talking with many fellow LA-CAMFT members, I have found that we are a considerate group of people interested in doing things well and doing meaningful work. I suggest that we build on the legacy of prior LA-CAMFT leadership and take things to the next level!

When we have thoughtful systems and procedures in place, our work is much easier and more congruent. We can spend our time on other tasks, have a greater capacity for creativity, and are more likely to allow rest.

I will say more about mentorship and legacy in the Voices March newsletter, but for now, useful structure and organization enrich interpersonal connections and bolster the likelihood of passing down the history to the next generation.

This year, I plan to challenge myself and our LA-CAMFT board to ensure that our chapter’s values and aims are clearly reflected in all our practices, resources, and documentation.

In closing, I would like to leave you with the famous words of the wise Maya Angelou, poet, activist, and phenomenal human being: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” Let’s continue the legacy and do better, y’all!

If you are interested in learning more about being an LA-CAMFT board member and, more specifically, how we plan to do better as a board regarding written formats and procedures, please attend any of our open board meetings.

Anyone is welcome to attend any of our open LA-CAMFT Board Meetings. Note that only board members may speak and vote during the meeting. For upcoming LA-CAMFT board meeting dates, please refer to our website calendar of events. To receive a link to attend the online board meeting, please send your email request to president@lacamft.org. Our board looks forward to hosting you!

Akiah T. R. Selwa, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a great sense of humor, a heart full of hope, and twenty-three years of experience as a psychotherapist. Akiah is the owner of Sunrise Therapy Center (STC) a private practice corporation that services all of California via a telehealth platform. Akiah approaches her work with cultural humility and humor that promotes acceptance, empowerment, spirituality, and creativity. Akiah will complete Somatic Experiencing training in 2025 with Somatic Experiencing International, is a certified SoulCollage® Facilitator (2024), and a currently in a two-year Spiritual Direction program with Stillpoint. When Akiah is not working as a therapist, she is a mixed media artist, having fun with my next crochet project, singing, or exploring nature.