Leveling Up: The Journey of Hawai‘i’s Next-Gen MFTs

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This panel features emerging Family Therapy leaders in Hawai‘i exploring how they are “leveling up” in the field by stepping into roles of leadership, advocacy, and innovation. Panelists will share how their work responds to the unique mental health needs of island communities through culturally grounded, relational, and community-rooted care.

As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to…

• Discuss how early-career and mid-career MFTs are navigating the nonlinear journey from graduate training to clinical independence, leadership, and a deeper sense of professional purpose in local communities.
• Explain how cultural identity, collective values, community needs, and systemic challenges inform the clinical practices, values, and leadership trajectories of the next generation of family therapists in Hawai‘i.
• Identify at least two (2) actionable ideas to foster mentorship, build community, and elevate early-career MFTs into roles that advance innovation, equity, and sustainability across Hawai‘i’s mental health landscape.