The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center is proud to recognize Deanna Laser as a nominee for the 2025 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg (MLG) Award. This prestigious award honors professionals who exemplify the principles of Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to strengthening families and communities.

A Passion for Growth and Systemic Change

Deanna has been a dedicated booster in her program, navigating numerous challenges, including the pandemic. Through it all, she has remained committed to her growth and the well-being of the families she serves. Her ability to balance authenticity, transparency, and continuous learning makes her an exceptional clinician, mentor, and leader.

Deanna embraces a systemic perspective, recognizing that challenges within families are relational, contextual, developmental, and trauma-informed. She helps teams and caregivers shift their focus from isolated behaviors to meaningful family interactions, guiding them toward lasting change.

Empowering Caregivers and Strengthening Families

One of Deanna’s greatest strengths is her collaborative approach with caregivers. Regardless of the challenges a family faces, she finds ways to connect, highlighting strengths and fostering hope. Her work is deeply rooted in social ecology, recognizing how lived experiences shape family culture while also providing resources for resilience and success.

Working in a region where families often experience economic hardships, Deanna ensures every family is treated with respect, dignity, and belief in their ability to grow. She intentionally finds something to appreciate in each caregiver, reinforcing their capacity for positive change.

A Well-Deserved Nomination

Deanna Laser’s dedication to systemic family therapy, her unwavering support for both families and colleagues, and her ability to navigate complex challenges embody the very best of ESFT-FBMHS. We are honored to recognize her as a nominee for the 2025 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg Award and celebrate the incredible impact she continues to make in the field.

Join us in congratulating Deanna on this well-deserved recognition!

Burnout is real—but it doesn’t have to be inevitable.

As systemic family therapists, we dedicate ourselves to supporting families through some of their most difficult challenges. We hold space for pain, navigate complex relational dynamics, and work tirelessly to create meaningful change. But in the process, we often forget one crucial factor—ourselves.

Burnout and compassion fatigue are alarmingly common in our field. The emotional demands of therapy, coupled with long hours and the pressure to “fix” problems, can leave even the most passionate therapists feeling drained. And when burnout sets in, not only do we suffer—our clients do, too.

So how do we protect our energy while still showing up fully for the families we serve?

1️⃣ Set Boundaries & Honor Them

Many therapists struggle to set limits around their work, feeling guilty if they’re not constantly available to clients. But the truth is, a burnt-out therapist is not an effective therapist. Set clear work hours, avoid taking calls or answering emails outside of those times, and give yourself permission to say “no” to extra obligations that don’t serve you.

2️⃣ Prioritize Work-Life Balance

A fulfilling personal life is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether that’s spending time with loved ones, exercising, or engaging in hobbies. Remember: Your well-being is just as important as your clients’.

3️⃣ Build a Strong Peer Support Network

Isolation makes burnout worse. Surround yourself with other systemic therapists who understand the unique challenges of this work. Whether through supervision groups, professional organizations, or casual meetups, connecting with others in the field provides validation, support, and fresh perspectives.

4️⃣ Keep Growing Through Professional Development

Burnout can sometimes stem from feeling stuck or stagnant in our work. Engaging in continued learning—whether through workshops, consultation groups, or advanced training—can reignite our passion and remind us why we love this work in the first place.

5️⃣ Remember: A Healthy Therapist = Better Therapy

When we take care of ourselves, we show up more present, engaged, and effective in the therapy room. Prioritizing our own well-being is not selfish—it’s a necessary part of providing the best possible care for the families who trust us.

🔥 Therapists, how do you protect your energy and prevent burnout? Share your strategies in the comments!

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Check out our store and boost your professional growth by engaging in innovative systemic family therapy training, education, supervision, and consultation at PCFTTC. Immerse yourself in the rich tradition of systemic thinking passed on from the original Family Therapy Training Center, founded by Dr. Salvador Minuchin. Develop into a lifetime member of the alliance and become well-equipped to commit to a strength-based approach that is relational, contextual, developmental, and trauma informed when working with suffering children, youth, adults, and families served across the continuum of care.

The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center, Inc. became a corporation in July, 1999, as an outgrowth of the as an outgrowth of the Training Center at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic founded by Salvador Minuchin, M.D. in 1975 for systemic family therapy and training. The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center offers Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) training, education, consultation, and research in family and couples therapy, and developmentally based approaches to child, adolescent and adult behavioral health issues. The Center has trained thousands of mental health and other human service professionals in the practice of family therapy, examining the social ecology of the home, school, and community environments.