American Family Therapy Academy

Plenary I: Pioneering Approaches to Outreach and Therapy with Native Americans
Spero Manson directs the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health in the Colorado School of Public Health; he will speak on pioneering approaches to outreach and therapy with Native Americans.

Plenary II: Mental Health Disparities and Cultural Issues
Margarita Alegria researches cultural barriers to Latino mental health.
William Turner studies African American families and family therapy and worked with President Barack Obama when he was a senator, from 2007-2008.
Douglas Novins develops and implements programs with Native American youth and communities.

Plenary III: Innovations in Couples Therapy
Mona Fishbane integrates neuroscience and attachment theory with couple therapy.
Jill Freedman and Gene Combs develop and teach Narrative Therapy approaches to couples.
Jean Malpas specializes in LGBTQ couples, substance abuse, and cultural adjustment.

Plenary IV: Vulnerable Youth and Resilience
Michael Ungar researches systemic contributions to resilience across cultures and contexts in more than a dozen countries.
Chris Behan works with the foster care system as a member of the Annie E. Casey Foundation Strategic Consulting Group.
Rebecca Harvey develops family therapy theory and practice that nutures sexual minority youth and their families.