Jay Cafferata
MA, CDE   

With 40 years of experience as a trainer and presenter, Jay Cafferata, MA, CDE is a master of creating dynamic learning environments. Their background spans the non-profit, corporate, and public sectors, with a deep focus on Personal and Professional Development. Jay Cafferata, MA, CDE is particularly recognized for their specialized work in LGBTQIA+ and disability education, offering a unique perspective on the nuances of parenting and identity. At this year's conference, Jay Cafferata, MA, CDE leverages their extensive skills in curriculum design and interpersonal communication to help MFTs deepen their cultural humility and clinical adaptability. 

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Olive, the Other Reindeer: Navigating Incongruence, Identity, and the Experience of "Otherness"    

Saturday | May 2, 2026
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm 
(1.5 CEs)

Description:

In a world built on rigid categories, what happens to the individual who exists outside the expected "herd"? Using the narrative of Olive, the Other Reindeer as a powerful clinical metaphor, this session explores the complex journey of identity formation within the LGBTQIA+ and disability communities. 

Drawing on four decades of experience in DEI training and program development, Jay Cafferata, MA, CDE invites MFTs to move beyond binary thinking. This course examines the linguistic and societal "tags" we place on individuals—from the gendered implications of a name to the systemic "othering" of those who process the world differently. We will dive deep into the "Body-Brain-Mind" disconnect, providing clinicians with a framework to help clients resolve the distress of internal and external incongruence. 

Through a blend of storytelling, interpersonal communication strategies, and clinical analysis, participants will gain a more nuanced understanding of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI). Join us to transform the concept of being "the other" into a pathway for radical self-acceptance and clinical breakthrough. 

Learning Objectives:

After participating in this presentation, attendees will be able to: 

• Analyze the concept of "othering" through the metaphorical lens of Olive, the Other Reindeer to better understand the psychological impact of social exclusion on marginalized identities. 
• Describe the role of gendered naming conventions and societal expectations in the development of self-identity and early childhood socialization to help clients resolve "Body/Brain/Mind" incongruence, specifically as it relates to somatic experiences of identity.
• Differentiate between sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) within a clinical framework to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic rapport.
• Apply at least one inclusive DEI principle to MFT practice to better support clients navigating "otherness" within the intersections of LGBTQIA+ and disability communities.