Author: Jennifer Benjamin

The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center is proud to recognize Beth Anne Keller as a nominee for the 2026 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg (MLG) Award. Beth Anne’s leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the principles of Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) have made a lasting impact on staff and the families they serve and the systems she supports.

A Leader Who Creates Safety and Growth

Beth Anne consistently exemplifies the heart of the ESFT model through the way she supports and develops clinicians. She leads with compassion, cultural humility, and genuine respect, creating an environment where staff feel safe, valued, and empowered in their professional growth.

Her ability to foster trust allows clinicians to stretch themselves, embrace learning opportunities, and grow in both confidence and competence. Beth Anne understands that supervision and support are relational processes, and she intentionally creates spaces where staff feel both challenged and encouraged in meaningful ways.

Strengthening Teams Through Relational Leadership

One of Beth Anne’s greatest strengths is her ability to strengthen team functioning through a relational and systemic lens. She skillfully identifies and amplifies the strengths of those around her while also providing thoughtful guidance and structure that promotes continued development.

Her trauma-informed approach to supervision and staff support reflects a deep understanding of how relationships shape growth and learning. Whether navigating everyday clinical challenges or moments of intensity, Beth Anne remains calm, grounded, and intentional, helping staff feel supported even during difficult situations.

Supporting Growth Through ESFT

Beth Anne is deeply committed to helping staff develop a strong understanding of the ESFT model. She consistently goes above and beyond to support her supervisor and team in “thinking outside the box,” encouraging creativity, reflection, and second-order change within supervision and clinical work.

Through her leadership, she helps staff translate ESFT concepts into meaningful practice, guiding them toward greater systemic understanding and relational competence. Her ability to simplify complex ideas while maintaining the integrity of the model strengthens both clinicians and the families they serve.

A Lasting Impact

Beth Anne’s professionalism, clinical insight, and dedication to family-centered care make her an exceptional nominee for the MLG Award. Her leadership reflects the true spirit of ESFT—grounded in collaboration, relational healing, and belief in the capacity for growth and change.

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We are proud to recognize Kristie Hartzel as a nominee for the 2026 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg (MLG) Award in the Supervisor category. This marks Kristie’s second nomination for the award—an affirmation of the consistent and lasting impact she continues to have on those she supervises.

Kristie embodies the heart of systemic supervision. Those she works alongside consistently describe her as someone who is always available to guide them—a steady, grounding presence in both everyday clinical work and moments of intensity. Her accessibility creates a foundation of trust that allows clinicians to stretch, reflect, and grow within the ESFT model.

Supervising Through the Model

Kristie does not simply teach the model—she supervises through it.

She joins with her supervisees intentionally, contextually, and meaningfully, modeling the relational stance we hope clinicians bring into their work with families. In supervision, she demonstrates how to hold awareness of the entire ecosystem while thoughtfully attending to the clinician’s developmental edge. Her guidance is rooted in systemic thinking, helping clinicians move beyond surface-level interventions toward deeper understanding and second-order change.

Intentional and Contextual Leadership

Kristie’s supervision reflects careful attention to context—whether that context is the family system, the clinician’s growth, or the broader organizational environment. She understands that professional development is relational and creates supervision spaces where clinicians feel supported while also appropriately challenged.

Her joining is purposeful. She meets clinicians where they are and walks alongside them toward greater clarity, confidence, and competence.

Sustained Impact

That this is Kristie’s second nomination speaks to the enduring nature of her leadership. Her impact is not momentary—it is steady, consistent, and woven into the fabric of her team’s development. Supervisees experience her presence as thoughtful, accessible, and deeply invested in their success.

Kristie Hartzel strengthens clinicians, which in turn strengthens families and systems. We are honored to celebrate her continued leadership and her well-deserved nomination for the 2026 MLG Award.

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Dear Committee,

Kristen embodies the highest standards of the ESFT model, making her an exceptional nominee for the MLG Award. In her work, she consistently fosters strong, collaborative partnerships with families, honoring their cultural identities, strengths, and unique narratives. Kristen approaches every interaction with deep empathy and curiosity, creating safe, trusting spaces where caregivers and youth feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported. Her ability to join with families in meaningful and authentic ways allows her to build strong therapeutic relationships that promote hope, connection, and lasting change.

Kristen demonstrates a remarkable ability to maintain a systemic perspective, helping families understand patterns and interactions through a relational and trauma-informed lens. She thoughtfully supports caregivers in recognizing their own strengths and leadership within the family system, while also helping youth feel valued and understood. Her calm and grounded presence during moments of crisis allows families to feel supported even in the midst of chaos, creating opportunities for growth and healing rather than remaining stuck in distress.

Her skillful use of trauma-informed, family-centered interventions strengthens protective factors, enhances caregiver capacity, and empowers families to achieve meaningful and sustainable change. Kristen is also deeply committed to her own professional growth and consistently engages in supervision, reflection, and collaboration to strengthen her clinical practice. Her unwavering dedication, clinical insight, and commitment to relational healing stand out in every service she provides, reflecting the true spirit of the ESFT model. She is profoundly deserving of this recognition.

Sincerely,

Kristie Hartzel, Program Director, RHA

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We are proud to recognize William Mayer as a nominee for the 2026 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg (MLG) Award in the Supervisor category.

William has demonstrated what it truly means to lead with integrity, accessibility, and unwavering commitment to his team. His leadership reflects the very heart of systemic supervision—creating spaces where growth, collaboration, and competence flourish.

A Leader Who Creates Safety and Belonging

William champions an open-door policy that ensures every team member feels valued and heard. His approachable presence fosters an environment of trust, open communication, and authentic collaboration. Team members feel comfortable bringing forward questions, ideas, and challenges, knowing they will be met with respect and thoughtful engagement.

This ability to create psychological safety strengthens not only individual clinicians but the entire system.

Translating Complexity into Confidence

William possesses a deep understanding of operational systems and the complexities inherent in family-based work. What sets him apart is his ability to translate that complexity into clarity. He takes the time to ensure that team members understand the “why” behind processes, especially when challenges arise.

Through thoughtful explanation and steady guidance, William enhances his team’s competence and confidence—making intricate systems feel manageable and accessible.

Mentorship Rooted in Care and Development

Beyond his knowledge and leadership, William’s demeanor inspires security and empowerment. He leads in a way that communicates genuine care for both professional growth and personal well-being. His dedication to developing others is evident in his consistency, patience, and encouragement.

William is not only a supervisor—he is a mentor. His passion for the success of his team is woven into every interaction.

A Lasting Impact

William Mayer’s contributions extend beyond daily supervision. He strengthens relational dynamics, fosters professional growth, and builds a culture of collaboration and trust. His leadership leaves a lasting imprint on clinicians, families, and the broader organization.

We are honored to celebrate William as a 2026 MLG Award nominee and grateful for the steady, empowering presence he brings to our community.

Congratulations, William!

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Dear Alliance,

This month’s PCFTTC newsletter highlights the incredible growth, leadership, and community engagement happening across our training center and professional network.

Inside this issue, we are proud to recognize the nominees for the 2026 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg Award and celebrate the clinicians who continue to embody the values of Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy through their work with families, teams, and communities.

We also share reflections from the recent ASPIRE Center workshops focused on suicide prevention in Black communities, celebrate award-winning faculty making an impact beyond the training room, and highlight meaningful community engagement efforts that reflect the power of relational healing and collaboration.

And, of course, keep an eye out for this month’s surprise book recommendation!

Thank you for continuing to learn, grow, and build community alongside us. We are grateful for the opportunity to remain connected through this shared work.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Benjamin, PhD, LPC (she/her)
Associate Director & CE Program Administrator
training@pcfttc.com 

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Dear Committee Members,

I am pleased to nominate Melanie (Mel) Sheaffer for the Marion Lindblad-Goldberg Award. Melanie exemplifies the belief that growth and development in Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy extend far beyond the successful completion of competency. Throughout my time supervising her, she has consistently demonstrated a systemic perspective, upheld a thoughtful balance between professional boundaries and collaborative relationships, engaged deeply with social ecology, utilized intensity and crisis as opportunities for meaningful change, and skillfully distilled complex assessments into simple, effective interventions.

Mel approaches her work through a truly holistic lens. She continually evaluates relational patterns, contextual influences, and the interconnectedness of each member within a system. She brings this systemic awareness into group, team, and individual supervisions, always attuned to her role within each family’s system. Mel is intentional in exploring the Person of the Therapist, reflecting on what is evoked in her and how this shapes treatment. Her willingness to engage in this level of self-examination strengthens her clinical presence and enhances the therapeutic process.

Throughout her clinical journey—including her competency process, panel presentation, and post-graduation work—Mel has demonstrated a deep understanding of professional boundaries while remaining highly collaborative. She recognizes that boundaries foster independence and lasting change for families. In her work, she balances challenge with validation, helping families shift perspectives, identify supports, and move toward healthier patterns. She brings this same thoughtful balance to team and group supervision, maintaining appropriate boundaries while collaborating to share knowledge, broaden perspectives, and support the growth of others.

Mel also embodies the principles of social ecology. She actively assesses and utilizes community resources, while remaining mindful of the external barriers families face related to race, socioeconomic status, and past negative experiences with institutions or providers. She works intentionally to create safety and inclusion in both sessions and supervision, addressing contextual stressors and advocating for meaningful change.

In moments of intensity or crisis, Mel shines. She uses these experiences to create powerful reframes, facilitate enactments, and strengthen therapeutic joining. Like a duck gliding across the water, she may be working tirelessly beneath the surface, but she presents with calm, purpose, and steadiness. Her ability to remain grounded while guiding others through crisis is one of her greatest strengths.

Finally, Mel’s conceptualizations are both rich and accessible. She works diligently to understand each family’s complexity and then translates that understanding into clear, impactful treatment goals. She shares this skill generously in supervision, supporting the development of other clinicians with clarity and compassion.

Mel not only practices ESFT, she lives it. She brings the model’s principles into her work, her supervision, and her daily life. Her commitment to growth, systemic thinking, and relational healing makes her an exceptional candidate for this award.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

 Rebecca Bowman, BS

Laurel Life FBMHS Supervisor

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Dear Committee,

Danitza exemplifies the heart and core values of the ESFT model, making her an exceptional nominee for the MLG Award. She brings warmth, cultural humility, and genuine curiosity to every family she serves, creating safe and trusting relationships that honor each family’s unique story and lived experience. Danitza consistently approaches her work through a systemic lens, recognizing the importance of relationships, social ecology, and the strengths already present within each family system.

She skillfully strengthens caregiver capacity by highlighting strengths, using protective factors, and supporting families through trauma-informed and relational interventions. Her ability to navigate complex dynamics with calmness, empathy, and clinical insight consistently leads to meaningful progress for youth and caregivers alike. Even during moments of crisis or heightened intensity, Danitza remains grounded and intentional, helping families move beyond immediate challenges toward lasting relational change.

Danitza is also deeply committed to her own professional growth and development. She actively engages in supervision, reflection, and collaboration to strengthen her clinical practice and ensure families receive thoughtful, high-quality care. Her unwavering dedication, strong engagement skills, and commitment to family-centered healing reflect the true spirit of ESFT, and her work has had a lasting, positive impact on every family she supports. She is truly deserving of this recognition.

Sincerely,

Kristie Hartzel, Program Director, RHA

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