The New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST) is dedicated to increasing systemic training opportunities, advocacy and clinician connectedness.

Timeline:

• Workshop/Poster Request for Proposals (RFP) Accepted: Starting March 25th, 2025
• Deadline for Submissions: June 16, 2025
• Applicants will be notified no later than June 20, 2025
• Registration for Conference Opens: June 2nd (Early Early Bird)

Conference Background

Overview

In five short years psychotherapy has shifted from a primarily face to face practice to teletherapy as the new normal. Clinicians are now being asked to respond to new issues like virtual infidelity, and cyber bulling, while also facing the challenge of staying informed about emerging therapies like psychedelic assisted treatment. While the advances of AI have offered the possibility of new resources for clients and clinicians, it also creates new, darker concerns including Chatbots posing as live clinicians or ethical questions about AI enhanced documentation. These dramatic changes take place against the backdrop of an ever-evolving social media landscape which serves as both an incredible resource, and the cause of social unrest and political division. How will the introduction of online therapy platforms like Headway, Betterhelp, or Alma impact the work we do? What are the issues associated with new technologies like ChatGPT, social media marketing, and clinical documentation? This conference will create dialogue and seek to inform attendees of the emerging issues that impact the current and future state of our profession.

General Workshop Information

We are seeking proposals for workshops to address an audience of mental health professionals seeking increased knowledge on issues that will impact how we practice now and in the future. Workshops must be designed to support clinician education in systemic thinking, promote clinical growth and address movement towards direct action or advocacy.

Criteria for Evaluation

• Must be delivered in a 75-minute window

• Have clear connection to the theme of the future of the profession in family/couples/systemic therapy

• Are relevant to the practice of ethical, intersectional therapy

• Introduces ideas and concepts which will enhance competence in clinical practice

• Can be delivered in person in Worcester, MA

• Must contain practical and actionable tools and techniques

• Are supported by research and/or have evidence-based foundations

Logistics

• Workshops will be 75 minutes long, to include didactic presentation, small group discussion of a provocative question, large group discussion and questions (for example 45 minutes didactic, 10 minutes small group discussion, 20 minutes large group discussion and questions)

• Workshops will be held on September 26th, 2025. Presenters should plan to attend and participate in the entire conference.  

Workshop Categories

Potential Topics May Include, But Are Not Limited To: 

• Values in the Therapy Room: Political Landscape
• Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
• The Rise of AI and the Impact on Ethics and Practice
• Chatbots
• Venture Capital in the Therapy Room (i.e. Headway/Alma/Betterhelp)
• Virtual infidelity
• The Impact of Social Media on the Couple or Family System 
• Future of Advocacy

Proposal Contents

Proposals must be submitted online at the link above or below. To help you prepare, all the information requested in the proposal is listed below. 

Workshop Information

1. Workshop title

2. Description of the workshop

3. Three learning objectives

4. Three references (Peer reviewed articles)

Presenter Information - required for each presenter

1. Contact information - name, pronouns, email, phone

2. Previous presentations

3. Accommodations needed

4. Organization or affiliation

5. Bio - 100 word limit, use third person

6. Headshot

Questions & Additional Information

NEAFAST thanks you very much for your interest! Please contact the Training and Education Committee at [email protected] for more information.