Endorsements
Thank you to the CAMFT Nominating Committee for this opportunity: Shannon Hanrahan, PsyD, PhD, LMFT; Bob Casanova, PsyD, LMFT; Lisa Cox-Romain, PhD, LMFT, LPCC; Dean Lobovits, LMFT; and Laura Strom, PsyD, LMFT.
If you’d like to share your own endorsement you’ll find a submission form at the bottom of this page.
San Diego North County - Chapter President 2025-2026
Sara Baker, LMFT
"As the current president of the San Diego North County chapter of CAMFT I would like to fully endorse Tara for the position of Director at Large. Tara stepped into the role of treasurer with our chapter when we needed her most. She took on several responsibilities right away with ease and guided us towards a more stable, profitable, and financially savvy position. She has been beyond helpful in guiding our board members in every aspect and in every position. Her experience with CAMFT and being a board member for several chapters has been key to helping our chapter grow and thrive.
Tara's passion for CAMFT, therapy, and supporting our members is unmatched. I am fully confident that appointing her as Director at Large would be one of the best things you could do for the community. She is dedicated, experienced, highly educated and willing to do whatever it takes to help the community expand into greater potential. I am incredibly grateful to know Tara and honored to endorse her for the position of Director at Large for CAMFT."
-Sara Baker, LMFT
Redwood Empire - Chapter President 2026
Pat Hromalik, LMFT
“As President of RECAMFT I wholeheartedly endorse Tara D'Orazio for CAMFT Director-at-Large. I met Tara almost 10 years ago at a large training event and found her to be very engaging and intelligent and was impressed by her dedication and compassion for her clients, particularly young adults struggling with life transitions. I watched as Tara skillfully and compassionately led RECAMFT as President during the pandemic, quickly and adeptly pivoting us to online monthly meetings and CE presenters. She also spearheaded ways for members to connect during that isolating time - starting a crafting group and outdoor hikes for members. Our paths crossed again when Tara helped start a Scholarship Program for our pre-licensed and newly licensed members with financial need and with an emphasis on helping underrepresented groups including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ members. This was an idea I dreamed about when I was RECAMFT CFO; so I was thrilled to be invited to be part of the Scholarship Committee chaired by Tara where we worked to award $3,000 in scholarships each year to deserving members since 2022. I also joined Tara's crafting group and got to know another side of her - she is so creative and fun loving. I rejoined the RECAMFT board in 2023 and watched Tara in action: as CFO, chairing the Membership and Scholarship Committees, adding and administering the Tzedekah Scholarship partnership offered by TCD, helping to spread, head, and start the Racial and Social Justice Committee after the shooting of George Floyd, being part of the Tech Committee and running our social media, being chat monitor at our monthly Zoom speaker programs, managing our monthly book raffle at the speaker programs, and helping to cover administrative tasks including how to navigate the back end of Wild Apricot when our admin assistant had a leave of absence for a family emergency. While Tara's list of accomplishments and skills she demonstrated in the various roles she has taken with RECAMFT are so impressive, she simultaneously also took on the role of CFO with San Diego CAMFT when Tara relocated. Her energy is boundless! However, what is most valuable about Tara, is who she is - her warmth, her caring, her compassion, her sense of fun and humor, her keen intellect, the way she analyzes, her unique perspectives and out of the box thinking, her excellent communication skills including her calm, thoughtful way of speaking and her excellent writing abilities. Finally, what I value most about Tara besides being a wonderful person and colleague is that she has become a dear friend that I am privileged to know and be influenced by. CAMFT members will be so well served in having Tara represent them and CAMFT will gain one of the hardest working board members ever! Please join me in voting Tara for CAMFT DAL.”
Inland Empire, Redwood Empire - Past President
Doreen Van Leeuwen, MA, LMFT
RECAMFT President 2019
IE-CAMFT President 2013
CAMFT Recipient of the Mary Riemersma Distinguished Clinical Member Award 2019
“Tara is a gifted and experienced therapist and leader who is more than qualified to fill the role of CAMFT Director-At-Large. Although the list of volunteer positions she has so ably occupied in her home chapter, RECAMFT is impressive, these don't convey the fine qualities of her PRESENCE. Tara is one of the kindest people I know; she leads with calm and steady dignity; she listens attentively and offers thoughtful, informed feedback. She is well-organized, a careful planner, and in spite of her busy career, generous in the time and energy she gives to our profession as a volunteer. There is no doubt in my mind that Tara will be a coveted asset to the CAMFT Board of Directors. You have my vote!”
CAMFT Outstanding Chapter Leader Award 2024
“Tara D’Orazio, is an outstanding leader in the Redwood Empire CAMFT Chapter. She served as our 2020 President at the start of the pandemic and kept our ship steady as we pivoted to online meetings. Concnerd for the health of our board members, she developed new touchless accounting methods of paying our bills, that still have multiple board member approvals built into the process.
Tara founded our Racial and Social Justice Committee in response to the murder of George Floyd. After serving as Past President, she stepped into our Chief Financial Officer position where she currently serves. In October 2021, with the unexpected loss of our Administrative Consultant, Tara stepped up to serve in that role until it could be filled. This loss inspired her to propose a scholarship fund to honor our last two administrative consultants benefiting Prelicensed and Newly Licensed members, which has been adopted as an active program going into its third year. To date, $5000 has been awarded to five deserving members. Tara is a valued board member whose ideas and advice are always measured, thoughtful and sound. We are fortunate and delighted to nominate Tara D’Orazio as our 2024 Outstanding Chapter Leader at RECAMFT!”
-2023 RECAMFT Board of Directors
San Diego North County - Director-at-Large, Membership Chair
Leila Atiyeh, LPCC
“I am pleased to endorse Tara for the position of Director at Large. I have the privilege of serving alongside her on the San Diego North County CAMFT board, where she consistently demonstrates integrity, leadership, and exceptional competence.
Since stepping into the role of CFO, Tara has brought clarity, rigor, and strategic insight to the board’s finances. She has not only strengthened our financial systems, but also regularly provides thoughtful, data-driven guidance to help the board operate more efficiently and sustainably.
Beyond her financial leadership, Tara brings a strong understanding of CAMFT and its mission, which consistently guides her contributions and decision-making. She is highly collaborative, approachable, and solutions-oriented. Tara elevates both the work and the culture of the board.
We are fortunate to have Tara in leadership, and I fully support her candidacy for Director-at-Large.”
Redwood Empire Chapter Members
Lisa Wenninger, PhD - Founder & Executive Director Resonant Equity, Inc.
“Tara is the type of leader that our profession and our world needs most: Thoughtful, compassionate, dedicated, kind, and practical, and both serious and also lighthearted and funny. She is amazing! I have had the pleasure of working with her, and for her, in my multiple roles in the therapy communities and CAMFT chapters of Northern California, and she's an absolute joy to collaborate with on any team or project. She's the first to show up and the last to leave type of person and always says "yes" when there's a need to fill. She simply gets the job done, and also makes sure that everyone's voices are heard and that each one feels supported. Most important to my heart, she puts equity into action, suggesting new ideas and taking risks to bring change to outdated systems of thought and practice within our profession. She does all this while continually advancing her own knowledge and ability as a practitioner herself, always striving to learn more, and sharing what she learns. She wants all of us to get better and be healthier together, so we can do more for our communities and our clients and this world that we love. She walks the talk. A leader with heart. I encourage all CAMFT members to please vote for Tara so she can bring these incredible qualities of energy and vision to help our state organization do more!”
Rhonda Shea, LMFT
“During the five years that Tara and I shared a consultation group, I depended on her grasp of the legal/ethical intricacies of our profession, and in the two years since then, she has remained my go-to person for that purpose. During her tenure as RECAMFT President, the entire membership depended on her ability to shepherd us through a series of unprecedented difficulties. When she returned to SoCA, it seems possible she leapt into SDNC chapter's breach before she even got unpacked.
Tara is proven. You can count on her to step up and stay standing. I have consistently experienced her as emotionally and intellectually honest, discerning in thought and meticulous in action, a natural collaborator, and capable of viewing the big picture through a detailed lens. Tara is a woman who gets things done. As Director at Large, I would completely trust her to lead all California LMFTs into what will surely be a challenging future.”
Sher Winston, LMFT
“I am pleased to recommend Tara D’Orazio for the Director at Large position with CAMFT. Having worked with Tara in a long-term consultation group, I have consistently observed and admired her analytical skills, research acumen, and quick thinking. She is exceptionally organized and attentive to detail, providing support that has benefited every member of our group. Tara’s integrity, social awareness, and sensitivity are evident in her interactions. She approaches challenges with openness and genuine care for others. I am confident that Tara would be a tremendous asset to CAMFT, and I whole heartily endorse her.”
Althea Kai, LMFT
“I have known Tara professionally for almost 10 years. I value her dedication, follow through, communication and care. Tara has concisely been involved in RECAMFT activities and goes above and beyond in her commitment to serving others and professional growth.”
Hannah Caratti, LMFT
“I strongly endorse Tara D’Orazio LMFT for the CAMFT director at large position. She has been our Sonoma County CAMFT chapter president and has been supportive of myself and other colleagues in so many ways in recent years. She is highly professional, responsive, capable and aware. She has been an invaluable asset to our professional community here in Sonoma County and I am sure she would do very well at the state level.”
Patricia Ann Clark, MA, LMFT
“Tara is a born leader. As a member of RECAMFT, I've had the opportunity over time to witness her hard work, dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence as to all aspects of the clinical world. Tara has the energy, vision, and passion to be an effective leader in whichever role she chooses. I fully support her candidacy for the CAMFT Director-At-Large position.”
Dr. Jean Hayes, LMFT, - RECAMFT Director-at-Large
“I have worked on the RECAMFT Board of Directors with Tara for the past three years. Tara is competent, efficient, knowledgeable about all things business, and gets every task done in the most timely manner. Besides being an astute business woman, Tara is fun, engaging, and a delightful colleague to work with. The CAMFT board would be grateful and relieved to have Tara on your team!”
Marylou Donnelly, LMFT
“Tara is an incredible organizer. Over the years I’ve watched her create and participate in numerous projects for the betterment of our local chapter. She is a dynamic leader.”
Gina Culver, LMFT, - Past RECAMFT Director-at-Large
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Tara since 2020 when I joined the RECAMFT board. She was amazing at the helm navigating the COVID-19 crisis to help the chapter pivot to remote trainings to continue to serve and support our members. I continue to work closely with her as a member of the finance committee. I am happy to see her challenge herself and continue to support the work and clinicians in our community and state. She is caring, thoughtful, and an excellent leader.”
Diane Camurat, LMFT
“I am a psychotherapist in private practice in Sonoma County, and have been a member of RECAMFT for 14 years. I have had the privilege and pleasure to recently collaborate with Tara regarding a mutual patient. I was impressed by her responsiveness, care about this patient, clinical intelligence, and ability to rapidly assess what course of treatment would be best for them.
I have also observed how much aliveness, dynamism, and capacity for community-building she brings to our local therapist community. Her leadership is clear, kind, connected, acutely sensitive to diversity issues, and generous.
I wholeheartedly endorse Tara for the position of Director at Large.”
Stephanie Seibel, Ph.D. Candidate
“I've seen her leadership in action and appreciate her commitment to the local issues we North Bay therapists face. I trust she would be a great representative to advocate and represent us at the state level.”
CAMFT Outstanding Chapter Leader Award 2021
“The Redwood Empire Chapter of CAMFT is honored to nominate Tara D’Orazio, LMFT, RECAMFT President, as this year’s Outstanding Chapter Leader. Tara had already impressed us with her considerable skills in her role as President-Elect, by 1) helping to format and provide content for our annual retreat, and 2) just about single-handedly orchestrating our successful summer picnic in 2019.
But who could have envisioned the chaotic environment she would preside over as she took over the presidency in January 2020?!?! Yet, Tara has been handling the incomparable changes required of our chapter with an elegant aplomb and wisdom beyond her years!
When emotions have run high as we struggle to adjust to ever-changing circumstances, Tara’s redirection to keep our interactions constructive and positive is spot-on. Her leadership is suffused with the kindness she consistently reminds us to practice, while her monthly newsletter messages provided timely inspiration and reflect her concern and compassion for us.”
-2020 RECAMFT Board of Directors
She has our vote!
Jessica Heaney, LMFT
Emily Larkin, LMFT
Brian Crites, LMFT
Cyndia Cole, LMFT
Lael Fraser, LMFT
Reyna Seminara, LMFT
Not sure what to write? Any of these are always great to mention:
-what you value about my work, leadership or involvement
-why you think I'd be a good representative for CAMFT
-why you support my candidacy
Your endorsement doesn't need to be long (but it can be) - just genuine.
