Amended May 12, 2026

Definition:

We are a group of mental health clinicians, researchers, prelicensed associates and students based in the San Francisco Bay Area who have an interest in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Mission/ Purpose:

The Northern California CBT Network (“NCCBT Network”) is a nonprofit unincorporated association formed under the laws of the State of California. It is not organized for profit or organized to engage in an activity ordinarily carried on for profit, and no part of its net earnings will inure to the benefit of any for-profit entity or private individual. The principal purposes of the NCCBT Network are as follows:

To disseminate information, education and training to local professionals, prelicensed associates and students on the theory and practice of cognitive and behavioral approaches to psychotherapy;

To promote utilization and growth of CBT as a professional activity in the San Francisco Bay Area; and

To provide local professional networking opportunities for like-minded colleagues.

NCCBT Network is intended to qualify as a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(6).

Membership Qualifications:

Full members are mental health clinicians, researchers, prelicensed associates and students (18+ years old) in the San Francisco Bay Area who identify themselves as predominantly cognitive behavioral in their practice/conceptual orientation and/or have an interest in learning about or becoming more proficient in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Unlicensed and student members must be in or have graduated from a clinical or academic training program for mental health clinicians/researchers. Anyone not meeting these qualifications (including but not limited to marketing groups, marketing firms and companies attempting to use the Network for the purpose of growing their databases, lead generation or other non-sanctioned commercial use) will be subject to the terms of exclusion or termination listed in our Mission and Bylaws and/or Terms of Use.

All members will have signed a statement of understanding for membership, which includes agreeing to the terms for exclusion or termination stated in the Mission and Bylaws as well as the NCCBT Network online Terms of Use. Renewal of this statement of understanding will be required annually for membership renewal.

Members of the Northern California CBT Network shall not be deemed voting members within the meaning of California Corporations Code section 18015(b), and only the NCCBT Network Board shall have the right to participate in the selection of persons authorized to manage the affairs of NCCBT Network or to participate in the development of policy of NCCBT Network, as further set forth below.

Membership Structure:

There are three registration components to the NCCBT Network:

1. The NCCBT Network Member Master Email List:

All members must be on the NCCBT Network Member Master email list in order to send announcements to members and to participate in the other components of the Network. To join, members must register with their email address and pay annual member dues. Communications from NCCBT Network may include but are not limited to, communications about membership, announcements about workshops and social networking events, use of the NCCBT website or services, or updates regarding new or existing features of the website or services.

2. The NCCBT Network Google Group:

The NCCBT Network Google Group serves as an optional, private, online forum that allows NCCBT Network members to communicate directly with each other about CBT/evidence-based practice topics including workshops, events, referrals, and resources. The NCCBT Network Google Group is not open to the public and is not provided for the purposes of lead generation or other commercial use and shall not be used for such purposes without the express written consent of the NCCBT Network Board. Anyone not adhering to these terms and the NCCBT Network Google Group Guidelines may be subject to the terms of exclusion or termination listed in our Mission & Bylaws and/or Terms of Use.

3. The NCCBT Network Clinical Directory:

The NCCBT Network Clinical Directory is an optional, private directory listing for NCCBT Network members who meet the membership criteria. The Clinical Directory is for the use of NCCBT Network members to share information about their practices. It is not intended to be made available to the public and is not provided for the purposes of lead generation or other commercial use and shall not be used for such purposes without the express written consent of the NCCBT Network Board. Anyone not adhering to these or NCCBT’s website Terms of Use may be subject to the terms of exclusion or termination listed in our Mission & Bylaws and/or Terms of Use.

Registration for NCCBT Network Events:

NCCBT Network members have registration priority for all Network events. Paying non-members and non-paying graduate students may attend network-sponsored workshops or social events if space is available after Network members have been accommodated.

NCCBT Network Board Members:

The exclusive governing body of NCCBT Network shall be the NCCBT Network Board (“Board”), which shall be deemed the “Board” under Corporations Code Section 18003.

The current Board are self-appointed volunteers, including a couple of remaining founders of the NCCBT Network. The current size of the Board is seven (7) members and may be changed from time to time by majority vote of the Board. Board Members’ duties are as follows: to establish policy; to organize/implement the activities of the NCCBT Network; to uphold the Mission and Bylaws of the NCCBT Network; to make administrative decisions for the NCCBT Network. A quorum of the Board shall meet as a group approximately every quarter for the purpose of addressing specific NCCBT Network topics as they arise. Attendance by a majority of Board members shall be deemed a quorum for the meeting. Meetings shall be called upon no less than 48 hours’ notice by any means reasonably determined to provide notice of the meeting to all then-current Board members. Notice of a meeting shall be deemed properly given to any member of the Board who attends the meeting without protesting before or at its commencement about lack of adequate notice. Decisions for the NCCBT Network are made based on a majority vote of such a quorum of the Board members and shall be recorded in the minutes of the NCCBT Network. Majority consensus decisions made by a quorum of the Board at duly noticed meetings are acts of the NCCBT Network. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board consent in writing to such action. The Board shall have a president, treasurer, and secretary, and may designate such other officers, with such titles and duties, as deemed appropriate by the Board. Each officer shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The president shall be the general manager and chief executive officer of NCCBT Network. The Treasurer is responsible for handling the NCCBT Network bank account, including all funds collected/paid. The Treasurer is also responsible for making sure bookkeeping records are kept, taxes owed by the NCCBT Network are paid, and bookkeeping records are available to members for review. These Bylaws may be amended in the future to allow for a procedure for the general membership to appoint or elect Board members. Each member of the Board shall have the right at any reasonable time to inspect and copy all books, records and documents of every kind, and to inspect the physical properties, of the NCCBT Network. Members may raise topics or questions for the Board to address by emailing the topic or question to one of the Board members or by emailing support@nccbt.net.

A member of the Board may resign at any time upon written notice to the Board (six month notice preferred), and a member of the Board may be removed by the vote of a majority of the Board.

Current (May 2026) NCCBT Network Board:

Janie Hong: President

John Montopoli: Treasurer

Kathrine Gapinski: Secretary, Educational Series Committee Co-Chair

Simone Madan: Social Networking Events Committee Co-Chair

Aleksandra Soykin: Membership Committee Chair

Nancy Liu: Educational Series Committee Co-Chair

Bridget Whitlow: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Co-Chair

Changes in the membership or composition of the NCCBT Network Board shall be recorded in the minutes.

CEs:

As part of the NCCBT Network’s commitment to education and training, continuing education credits will be made available for most NCCBT Network sponsored workshops.

Financial Entity:

The NCCBT Network is a tax-exempt Unincorporated Association registered as such with the Secretary of State of California, the California Franchise Tax Board and the IRS.

Dues:

The NCCBT Network charges annual membership dues for full and prelicensed members to cover the costs of doing business.

Membership Exclusion/Termination:

Exclusion:

Members may be excluded from joining or rejoining, or their membership may be terminated, if they:

1. Do not pay membership dues;

2. Are not deemed by the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, to be eligible to be a member of the NCCBT Network; or

3. As provided below.

Termination:

The membership of a member is automatically terminated upon the death or resignation of the member.

Members may be asked to leave the group if they:

1. Do not pay membership dues;

2. Are behaving, on the NCCBT Network Google Group or at Network events, in ways that are inconsistent with the mission of the NCCBT Network or by not adhering to NCCBT’s Google Group Guidelines, as determined by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion;

3. Violate any applicable law; or

4. Violate the NCCBT Network’s website Terms of Use.

Termination Procedure:

An individual’s membership in the NCCBT Network may be excluded or terminated by majority vote of the Board finding that one or more of the criteria for exclusion or termination has occurred with respect to the member. Written notice of exclusion or termination (via e-mail or U.S. mail) will be sent by a Board member to the NCCBT Network member at least 14 days before termination is to take effect, and the affected member may request to meet with the Board during such 14-day period in order to question the decision; provided, that unless the Board votes by a majority to rescind, the termination shall take effect as of the date indicated in the notice. These termination rights shall be in addition to any and all rights and remedies available to the NCCBT Network under its Terms of Use. If the member being terminated is a Board member, they will be excluded from the Board meeting discussion and vote regarding their termination. A record of the Board decision and written notice will be filed in Board meeting minutes.

Liability / Indemnification:

The liability of any and all directors, officers, or agents of NCCBT Network, including without limitation members of the Board, shall be limited to the extent provided under Corporations Code Sections 18615 and 18620. NCCBT Network shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made party, to any legal action or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director or member of the Board, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, attorney’s fees, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceedings, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Disclaimer:

Being a member of the NCCBT Network, listed in the NCCBT Network Clinical Directory, on the NCCBT Network e-mails, or on the NCCBT Network Google Group does not certify, sanction or verify expertise or training in cognitive behavioral therapy or other psychotherapy. NCCBT Network clinicians who post on the NCCBT Network Google Group any information regarding a current/past/potential patient, must adhere to HIPAA (1996) confidentiality guidelines. For information about HIPAA guidelines, go to:

Health & Human Services Guidelines:

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html

American Psychological Association Guidelines:

https://www.apaservices.org/practice/business/hipaa

American Psychiatric Association Guidelines:

https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/practice-management/hipaa

CAMFT Guidelines:

https://www.camft.org/Members-Only/Insurance-Corner/HIPAA

Amendment:

These Bylaws may be amended by majority vote of the then-current members of the NCCBT Network Board, at a meeting duly called and held for such purpose, or by unanimous written consent of the Board as provided under these Bylaws.