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 Y. Gutiérrez (she/her) is a nationally recognized mental health professional, author, activist, and international keynote speaker committed to supporting survivors of complex trauma within communities of color. Her healing work centers on the deep wounds of racial, ancestral, historical, multigenerational, and interpersonal trauma and grief.
Natalie weaves together ancestral wisdom, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, and Earth-based healing practices to guide people toward a liberation-centered path to wholeness. She is the author of the transformative books The Pain We Carry and The Pain We Carry Workbook, and serves as a trainer at the IFS Institute.
Her voice and work have been featured in NPR, HipLatina, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Poderistas, Born This Way Foundation, Pop Sugar, and across media committed to equity and healing. Experience her work at www.natalieygutierrez.com
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 am – 9:30 am
Welcome, Acknowledgments, Plan for the Day, Introduce Featured Speaker
9:30 am – 11:00 am
Natalie Y. Gutierrez, LMFT – National Keynote Speaker
Author of The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color & The Pain We Carry Workbook
11:00 am – 11:30 am
Q & A Portion following Keynote Presentation
11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Break for Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Workbook Application (led by Natalie)
2:10 pm – 3:00 pm
Nervous System Regulation Exercise
Led by Andrea Steele
3:10 pm – 4:15 pm
Guest Speaker: Roy Fisher
4:15 pm – 4:30 pm
Wrap-Up & Raffle
Conference Pricing - Early Bird Prices have been Extended throughout May.
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
All Scholarship Funds have been distributed at this time, and are no longer available.
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.