Outgoing President's Message

Elizabeth Clark, LMFT

2025 Marin CAMFT President

Hello Marin CAMFT Therapists, Associates, Mental Health Advocates and Leaders of Behavioral Health and Wellness!

This message comes to you with great heaviness and also a full heart. It has been one of the most powerfully intense experiences of my life to work with, alongside, and amongst you all. On October 6, 2024, I stood in front of those who attended our Fall Celebration and spoke to my hope of bringing "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)" to the forefront of everything that Marin CAMFT does. In addition, we rolled out the On-Demand learning platform, updated our bylaws for the first time in ten years, collaborated with East Bay CAMFT and SF CAMFT for a hiking series, placed really great advertisements in the Marin Mag, provided three scholarships to our MFT associates, put on an engaging Fall Celebration and provided ten trainings! I have learned so much since that day. 

DEI (now called "Inclusivity" at Marin CAMFT) is having the capacity and desire to set aside our preconceived beliefs about other cultures to create safety and belonging for those cultures. This is my own definition, but you can watch this 23-minute video with Vernā Myers for an even better definition. It is explicitly outlined in our Mission Statement:

The objective and purposes of this Chapter shall be to advance marriage and family therapy as an art, a science, and a mental health profession, to advocate for and work to achieve diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our leadership, membership, programming, and projects, and to assist CAMFT in furthering its objective on a local level.

In 2025, Marin CAMFT hired an Inclusivity Consultant, created a position on the board for an Inclusivity Director, gathered a solid group of Inclusivity Committee members, distributed a DEI member survey and developed actionable items based on the feedback from that survey. All of these efforts are essential because Inclusivity is a very challenging concept. For some, it is hope and salvation. For others, it is triggering and upsetting.  Engaging in conversations with you all about how to create momentum for DEI was and is something that I enjoyed immensely. Unfortunately, I will need to do these explorations further within myself and apart from the Marin CAMFT Board of Directors, as I have chosen to resign from the board effective immediately. I believe that this is the right decision for me at this time.

Thank you to those who open your home, your heart, and your arms to all people in need of mental health support. Thank you to those who have shown up in whatever way possible to support Inclusivity efforts...not just at Marin CAMFT, but amongst your loved ones and to those from other walks of life. We really are in this together and I understand that better now than ever. 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

-Elizabeth

Elizabeth T. Clark, MFT (she, her)

2025 President, Marin CAMFT

Incoming President's Message

Lauren Ogren, LMFT

2026 Marin CAMFT President & 2024 Past President

Dear Members,

It is with both gratitude and genuine excitement that I step back into the role of Board President. Having served in this position before, I return with a deep appreciation for our community and a renewed dedication to the work ahead. I’m honored to once again help guide our organization - this time with fresh energy, new ideas, and an inspiring group of leaders by my side.

The success of MCAMFT is not solely on the shoulders of the president. It is a team effort that takes all of us working together. I want to say a thank you to our departing board members:

Liz Clark, who sounded the alarm on our need to focus efforts on diversity, equity, and inclusivity. This will remain central to our mission as this work is not a chapter we close, but a living practice we continue to deepen. I look forward to supporting and expanding our Inclusivity and DEI efforts that were put into place this last year - ensuring that every voice in our community is heard, valued, and represented.

A special thank you to Katharine Spencer, and her tireless efforts in updating our chapter bylaws. This was a years-long effort that we were finally able to bring to a close this year due to Katharine’s tenacity and wisdom. 

I am excited to continue working alongside Nicole Lako, who keeps our vision running by supporting our budgeting needs (and discussions), and Ryan Plumb who continues to bring new ideas to move us forward and deepen the MCAMFT legacy. 

As for our re-elected Board Members, I am so happy to continue to have Rachel Barr as our Marketing Director, as she has worked tirelessly to move MCAMFT into public view and created exciting events for us to meet and work together both personally and professionally. Rachel spearheaded an advertising campaign that continued this year to help add value to your membership. Rachel’s work and leadership has earned her the CAMFT Chapter Leadership Award for 2025, and she will be representing our chapter at the CAMFT Leadership Conference in January.  

Finally, I want to express my deep gratitude about working alongside Norman Hering, who will serve as President-Elect next year. Norman brings wisdom, warmth, and a collaborative spirit that I deeply admire. He has created our stellar programming offerings the last four years, and helped to form the 2026 programming vision before stepping into this new role. I know that with his partnership, we will continue moving forward with purpose and heart. 

I’m also delighted to welcome FIVE! new board members who bring new energy and passion to their roles:

• Director of Inclusivity, Hamaseh Kianfar, LMFT, who will help guide and elevate our equity-centered initiatives.

• Programs Director, Arianna Sifuentes, LMFT, who will help guide our thoughtful and robust CE offerings 

• Secretary, Rhiannon Garcia-Penning, LMFT, who will become the backbone of the organization by supporting all of us in all of our operations and organization

• Community Services Director, Ryan Woodring, LCSW,  who will help our connections to serve our community in Marin and beyond

• Pre-Licensed Director, Bradford Leaser, a student at Touro University, who will advocate for and uplift our emerging professionals
  
  

We are incredibly fortunate to have each of them, and I can’t wait to see the ways they will help shape our future. Congratulations to all of our new and returning Board members.

What excites me most about returning to this role is the opportunity to continue building a community rooted in connection, joy, and shared purpose. Over the years, we have created a space where people feel welcomed, supported, and uplifted - and I’m committed to strengthening those bonds even further through more in person options, as well as continuing our online connections. Community is at the heart of who we are, and together we can continue to cultivate meaningful relationships, celebrate one another’s successes, and meet challenges with unity and compassion.

Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and the joy you bring to this community. I’m honored to step back into this role, and I look forward to all that we will build together in the year ahead.

With gratitude and enthusiasm,
Lauren Ogren
2026 President & 2024 Past President, Marin CAMFT