2026 Therapist of Color Conference
Remembering Sacred Spaces: Collective Healing Through Resistance and Renewal
Saturday, May 30th, 2026
Anderson University Center (Regency Room)
Featuring keynote speaker Natalie Y. Gutiérrez, LMFT
Natalie Gutiérrez is a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of the groundbreaking book “The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color.” and “The Pain We Carry Workbook”
Natalie is the founder of Mindful Journeys Marriage & Family Therapy PLLC, and a licensed marriage and family therapist working primarily with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) survivors of complex trauma—ranging from racial trauma, sexual trauma, attachment trauma, ancestral and intergenerational trauma. Natalie is a certified internal family systems therapist and assistant trainer at the IFS Institute. Natalie’s individual and group healing work blends the intersections of psychotherapy, activism, and curanderismo. She is a mother of two and currently resides in New York.
Book Signing Available
Earn 6-CEs for in-person attendance
Earn 2-CEs for virtual keynote speaker portion
Featuring guest speaker Roy Fisher, LMFT
Roy Fisher received his B.A. degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and his M.A. from Pacific Lutheran University in Marriage and Family Therapy.
The Therapist of Color Conference Committee, in partnership with the PLU’s Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, are excited to announce that on Saturday, May 30th, 2026 we will host our fourth annual Therapist of Color Conference: Remembering Sacred Spaces: Collective Healing Through Resistance and Renewal at Pacific Lutheran University.
We invite all members of the mental health community to join us for this conference. Our goal is to nurture a community of diverse professionals who are here to support and celebrate one another and build alliances within our community. This year’s conference will include in-person guest speakers, an interactive exercise grounded in somatic healing and regulation, and lunch!
The conference (in-person) will be held from 9 AM – 4:30 PM. We are honored to welcome back keynote speaker, Natalie Gutiérrez, LMFT who will be presenting on the topic of Remembering Sacred Spaces: Collective Healing Through Resistance and Renewal (6 WA State CE’s for all-day in-person attendance). Additionally, the committee is thrilled to announce that this year’s conference will feature an afternoon guest speaker, Roy Fisher, LMFT. Virtual attendance will solely be available for the morning portion, and conclude after Natalie Gutiérrez’s presentation (2 WA State CE’s for the virtual portion). We encourage folks to join in-person in community, and to share space with an incredible room of people, speakers, and participate in the energy of collective healing.
Schedule of Events
9:00 – 9:30 am
Welcome, Acknowledgments, Plan for the Day, Introduce Featured Speaker
9:30 – 11:30 am
Natalie Y. Gutierrez, LMFT – National Keynote Speaker
Author of The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color (The Social Justice Handbook Series) & Founder of Mindful Journeys Marriage & Family Therapy PLLC
Presentation Title (TBD)
11:40 am – 12:30 pm
Trauma-informed Interactive Exercise Grounded in Somatic Healing and Regulation
Nervous System Regulation for Healing
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 – 4:00 pm
- Roy Fisher, LMFT
- TBD
4:00 – 4:30 pm
Wrap up, Raffle, Evaluation
Conference Pricing - Early Bird Prices Reflected Until May 1st, 2026
In-Person
PLU Student $30.00
Non-PLU Student $40.00
PLU Alumni $170.00
Professional $200.00
Virtual Conference
PLU Student $30.00
Non-PLU Student $40.00
PLU Alum $60.00
Professional $60.00
Limited Scholarships available. If you are interested in attending the Conference, and would like assistance off-setting some of the costs, please email Rachel Howard, Assistant to the Dean of Health Professions, for more information.
If you are interested in making a donation to help someone attend the Conference, please email Rachel Howard at howardrm@plu.edu to inquire how to do so.