Stephen Odom
Candidate Statement

Candidate Statement - CAMFT President-Elect (2026-2027): Stephen Odom, PhD, LMFT

It’s an honor to be considered for CAMFT President-Elect. Serving on our current Board has reinforced that as clinicians, our voices matter now more than ever. Public trust is shifting, mental health demand continues to grow, and the work of psychotherapy is being reshaped by new technologies, workforce pressures, and cultural change.

My career as a clinician, executive, educator, and advocate—across healthcare systems, public-safety agencies, intensive mental health programs, clinical training, and private practice—has given me a broad view of how essential CAMFT is to the identity and future of our profession. CAMFT’s Strategic Framework calls us to strengthen member value, elevate our professional voice, promote equity, and build long-term organizational capacity. These priorities mirror the areas I hope to continue advancing.

• Member Support and Value: CAMFT’s 40,000 members need accessible resources, practical tools, and advocacy that reflect the realities of practice—from pre-licensees to seasoned clinicians. We must continue pushing for insurance parity, fair reimbursement, and paid associateships, which reduce barriers for new clinicians and widen the pipeline for a more diverse profession. When early-career therapists can make a living, grow clinically, and select the populations they are best equipped to serve, our entire field benefits.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: As a white male clinician who has benefitted from privilege, I take seriously the responsibility to use that privilege in service of a more equitable professional community. This includes listening with humility, supporting culturally responsive practice, expanding accessible training pathways, and amplifying voices historically marginalized in our field. Equity should inform our decisions—not as an add-on, but as a core element of competent, ethical practice and the evolution of our profession.
• Professional Identity and Public Trust: The visibility and recognition of MFTs must remain strong as California’s behavioral health landscape evolves. My work leading and training clinicians across California and the United States has reinforced how essential ethical clarity, systemic thinking, and modernized education are to our continued relevance. Advancing the relational lens of MFTs is central to both public trust and the strength of our identity as a profession.
• Sustainability and Partnerships: CAMFT must continue building the infrastructure that helps members thrive. Our longstanding offerings—such as legal consultation and professional liability insurance—remain foundational, and new avenues like the Business Hub and expanded Affinity Partnerships enhance our ability to support members. Strategic partnerships will be increasingly important as the field evolves across legislation, technology, AI, and workforce demand.

My one-year vision focuses on clearer communication among members, chapters, staff, and the Board, along with improved tools for practice, ethics, and advocacy. My five-year vision is for CAMFT to be the premier professional association for marriage and family therapists in California and beyond—recognized for leadership in training, reimbursement equity, DEI integration, advocacy, and the sense of belonging members feel in this community.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and for the trust you place in your Board of Directors.

– Stephen Odom, PhD, LMFT

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