Bridge Builders MFT National Exam Study Workshop (Fall 2025)

This workshop will be on Zoom, and is open to anyone studying for the exam. As the course is online, anyone, including those outside of Minnesota, can join the class. This class is based on the work of Mark Anderson and his Bridge Builders classes.

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The workshop will be conducted on four Saturdays (October 4, 11, 18, and 25), from 9AM to 12PM Central Time on those days. The workshop will address how the exam is written, ethical and social-cultural factors related to the exam, and how to study for the exam. With your ticket, you will also receive a digital binder filled with everything you need to know for the exam, including family systemic theoretical models and their theorists.

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The following therapists are instructors for this course:

• Ana Lewis, M.A., LMFT, MN State Approved Supervisor

• David Hesse, Ph.D., LMFT, MN State Approved Supervisor, AAMFT Approved Supervisor

• Jennifer Garrido Santos, M.A., LMFT, LICSW, MN State Approved Supervisor

• Jody Nelson, Ed.D., LMFT, State Approved Supervisor (course advisor)

• Sue Schroeder, M.A., LMFT

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Change Inc. has a vested interest in decreasing barriers to accessing resources by offering scholarships addressing the needs of communities. These scholarships are available for certain trainings. If you are interested in these resources please contact:

Lisa Xiong (LXiong@thechangeinc.org)
David Hesse (DHesse@thechangeinc.org)

If you have any questions about this course, please contact David Hesse at dhesse@thechangeinc.org. Please note that registration closes 24 hours prior to the start of the course. If you would like to register less than 24 hours before the course starts, contact dhesse@thechangeinc.org.

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Cost: $300 (including all materials)

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Meet Your Presenters: 

Jennifer Garrido Santos, M.A., LMFT, LICSW, MN State Approved Supervisor

Jennifer Garrido Santos is on the faculty of Change Institute where she teaches a portion of the MFT National Exam Prep course and the 30-hour course in Clinical Supervision as well as other workshops for developing mental health professionals.  Jennifer is trained in Internal Family Systems and Brainspotting and has expertise in school-based mental health programs and in advocacy for parents of neurodivergent children and youth. Her private practice is Edme Therapy and Consultation Services. 

David Hesse, Ph.D., LMFT, MN State Approved Supervisor (BMFT; BBHT); AAMFT Approved Supervisor

David Hesse holds a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University. He is a therapist and clinical supervisor with Change Inc, as well as the Training and Internship Manager for Change Institute. For over 10 years David has provided individual and family therapy for clients and their families in school-based and outpatient settings, and provides supervision for graduate and post-graduate level interns.

David is a core faculty with Change Inc.’s MFT National Exam preparation course, and with the Fundamentals of Supervision course. David is a MN-board (BMFT; BBHT) approved supervisor, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.

Ana Lewis, M.A., LMFT, MN State Approved Supervisor

Ana is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has been working with young children, school-aged children, teens, and adults since 2012. Ana is bilingual in English and Spanish. Ana is trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Brainspotting, and DC-05 Early Childhood Intervention. She is also trained in play therapy.  

Ana is very client-centered and solution-focused and feels that the client has the answers they need to get them through their problems but can help facilitate them in getting to those solutions faster. Ana is a Minnesota Board Approved Supervisor and has worked in this capacity supporting Masters-level therapists to licensure.
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Jody Nelson, Ed. D., LMFT - MN-BMFT Approved Supervisor

Jody Nelson, M.A., LMFT is the Senior Advisor for Change Inc. – a community-based non-profit providing education and workforce development programs, mental health school-based and clinic-based services, and family-based services in communities challenged by racism and poverty.  Nelson is a state approved clinical supervisor with 40+ years in the field.

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Sue Schroeder, M.A., LMFT

Sue is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified in EMDR, an evidenced-based treatment for trauma. Thirty-seven years of working as a nurse in oncology demonstrated that some part of healing happens in the relationship between people. Exploring the patterns in one’s life, in relationships, and in marriages can reveal both the challenges and the solutions to these challenges. Sue believes that being human is often revealed to be messy and flawed but that human beings also have an almost infinite ability to heal.