In Person Quarterly Event
Self of the Therapist in EFT:
Going Beyond Countertransference and
Using our Humanity as a Therapeutic Asset
Presented by:
JoAnne Robb LMFT & Jessica Montague LCSW
When: November 15, 2025
Time: 10am to 1pm
Where: The Calvin Room at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, 2407 Dana Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
SUBJECT:
Even the most skilled EFT therapist can find themselves activated, discouraged, or unsure in the therapy room. In this experiential workshop, we will explore the self of the therapist—the emotional, somatic, and relational responses we bring into our work, especially when sessions feel hard or “stuck.”
Through teaching, small-group exercises, and group work, participants will learn to recognize their own attachment-driven reactions, distinguish self-of-the-therapist from countertransference, and cultivate compassion for the parts of ourselves that show up under pressure. Together, we’ll explore how self-awareness and self-holding deepen therapeutic presence, strengthen our connection with clients, and protect against burnout.
Come prepared to reflect, connect, and rediscover your own humanity as one of your greatest therapeutic tools when working with EFT.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1-Participants will be able to explain Self of Therapist, especially as distinguished from countertransference.
2-Participants will be able to Identify two to three Self-of-Therapist issues as they come up in their EFT work with couples and individuals.
3-Participants will be able to define and distinguish how Self-of-Therapist issues in conjunction with EFT affect professional development, clinical development, and development of the self.
4-Participants will be able to explain and normalize the inherent vulnerability in Self of Therapist issues and will be able to safely address them in groups with an eye towards personal growth and development as an EFT therapist.
PRESENTERS:
JoAnne Robb, LMFT
After an award-winning career in magazine journalism, JoAnne Robb made a career shift to become a therapist. She has maintained a private practice in Oakland for over a decade. Early in her therapy career, she found her way to attachment-based therapies, training in EFT and AEDP. Because of these modalities, she brings a strong relational focus to her therapeutic work.
Her background also includes extensive training in eating disorders, especially in family-based models. She has studied and applies a blend of trauma modalities in her work, based on the teachings of Rachel Walker. JoAnne also served on the NCCEFT Board as Membership Chair, where she enjoyed building relationships with many wonderful community members. One is Jessica Montague; together they run an EFT consultation group that focuses on self-of-therapist issues.
JoAnne is married with three children, two of whom live with Type 1 diabetes. To better serve the diabetes community, she created and founded Diabetes Sweet Talk, which helps anxious parents center relationships with their children instead of focusing solely on the disease.
In her free time, JoAnne loves reading a good novel, finding secret staircases in her neighborhood, and taking long walks with good friends.
Jessica Montague, LCSW (jessicamontaguelcsw.com) has been a practicing clinician for over 20 years. She is a certified EFT therapist and supervisor specializing in couples and families. After earning her graduate degree, she was certified at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in family, couple, and systems work.
Her background includes extensive training in Internal Family Systems, grief and loss work, trauma-responsive modalities, and mindfulness-based practices. She regularly supervises both associates and licensed therapists and has served as adjunct faculty at The Wright Institute, teaching courses in couples therapy, family therapy, and professional development (her personal favorite). Jessica has also taught in the undergraduate psychology program at Cal Poly Humboldt and supervised graduate students in the counseling psychology program, where she was assistant director of the on-campus community counseling clinic.
She is a certified Reflective Practice facilitator and is endorsed as an Infant and Family, Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist in the State of California. She is also a former NCCEFT Board Chair and shares a deep gratitude for all those who have contributed their service.
In 2024, Jessica co-founded Relatable, a modern relationship program that brings the essential skills of strong relationships beyond the therapy room and into everyday life.
Jessica is married with two kids and a Shih Tzu named Charlie. She loves learning, laughing, and spending time with people she loves, trying to practice what she teaches—which, as it turns out, is trickier than it sounds.
AGENDA:
10:00 – 10:30: Snacks and Socializing
10:30 – 10:50: Announcements
10:50 – 11:50: Program
11:50 – 12:00: Break (not included in CE credits)
12:00 – 1:00: Program Resumes
1:00: Program Adjourns
TARGET AUDIENCE:
This training is appropriate for mental health practitioners who work with couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy. Level is intermediate and advanced.
COST:
This training is free to members, who will receive 2 Continuing Education (CE) credit at no charge. This training is available to non-members for $10, and CE credit is available for an additional $25. Prepayment is made online through the website at the time of registration.
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
This 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 Sciences;
Psychologists: NCCEFT is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. NCCEFT maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
NCCEFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. NCCEFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Provider # 93337
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Those who attend this workshop in full, and complete the course evaluation will receive a certificate of completion via email within one week following the workshop. Please note that credit will only be granted to those who attend the entire workshop. Those arriving more than 15 minutes after the start time or leaving before the workshop is completed will not receive CE credit.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
NCCEFT meets all applicable local, state and federal standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42, U.S.C. 12101-12213 (2008)). We hold events only at professional venues that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42, U.S.C. 12101-12213 (2008)
ADA NEEDS: We will be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please contact us at NCCEFTinfo@gmail.com at least two weeks prior to the seminar date.
PARKING:
For those with limited mobility, the underground church parking garage has disabled person parking spaces and an elevator up to the main floor. The entrance to the underground church parking garage is located on the south side of Channing Way between Telegraph Ave and Dana St. The cost is $1 per 20 minutes with a $10 maximum. A second option is across the street from the church on the north side of Channing Way at the Telegraph-Channing Garage. The cost is free for the first hour and $2 per hour after that.
NCCEFT PROGRAM GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICY:
The Northern California Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NCCEFT) is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists. NCCEFT will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the CPA PAS CE Program Director in consultation with the Board of Directors (Steering Committee).
While NCCEFT works to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues which will require intervention and/or action on the part of NCCEFT. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such complaints.
When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken:
1. If the complaint concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the complaint will be asked to put his/her comments in written format. The CE Program Director will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the aggrieved individual.
2. If the complaint concerns a workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the CE Program Director will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action during a workshop or conference, the CE Program Director or his/her representative will:
a. attempt to rectify the situation, and/or
b. provide a credit for a subsequent presentation, in the event of a program having an attendance fee or
c. provide a partial or full refund of the registration fee, in the event of a program having an attendance fee.
Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the aggrieved individual.
3. If the grievance concerns the business practices of the NCCEFT CE program in a specific regard, the CE Program Director or Administrator will attempt to arbitrate.
REFUND AND ATTENDANCE POLICY:
In the event that a program presentation has an attendance fee, CANCELLATIONS should be made 48 hours prior to the event.
