Every Thursday at 11:30am – 1:00pm PST

This group aims to offer support, build community, and organize resources that will help navigate alternative relationships (e.g. polyamorous, ENM, kink, etc). Additionally, focus will be given to promoting healthy family dynamics, exploring kinks & boundaries safely, embracing sexual identities & expression, and reducing stigma. This group embraces all queer and heterosexual relationships. LGBTQ+ and allies are all welcome!

Facilitators: Akasha Heinzig, MFT Trainee & Renee Maksoud, MFT/PCC Trainee

Bio: Akasha Heinzig is an MFT Trainee at Liberation Institute and graduate student at Pacifica Graduate Institute, pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling as well as a Certification in Sex Therapy. Her education provides a Psychodynamic and Humanistic foundation; however, in practice, Akasha takes an integrative approach to psychotherapy that honors each clients’ subjective perspective and the unique therapeutic relationship created together.

Akasha is a Caucasian, Malaysian, and Native American cis-gendered, queer woman. She is a single mother, sexual assault and domestic violence survivor, and has previous experience working in both the tech and corporate industries.

Renee Maksoud is a dual MFT and PCC Trainee at Liberation Institute and has nearly completed a Master’s degree in Psychology at University of Massachusetts Global. Her past experiences include being a coordinator and case manager at a domestic violence shelter, extensive practice of applied behavioral analysis as Board Certified Autism Technician, and experience in developing and running her own small business. Renee has clinical experience working with depression, anxiety, and trauma as well as the ways in which these experiences impact interpersonal relationships and self identity. She believes in an eclectic approach tailored to fit the individual needs and learning styles of each client. She largely pulls from cognitive models (CBT, ACT, and DBT) in addition to psychodynamic therapy, internal family systems, and narrative therapy, among others.

Supervisor Name: Akasha Heinzig’s Supervisor: Lynndal Daniels, LMFT #78183 – Renee Maksoud’s Supervisors: Lynndal Daniels, LMFT #78183, Crystal Haviland, LPCC7633, Adina Morguelan Ascher, MSW, PhD LCSW 28900
RVSP/Contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org
Location: California
Who this group is for: Any adult individual or adult couple (18 or older) who is interested in the group’s topics/intentions
How many weeks will the group run for: 12 weeks