Mid-Atlantic Play Therapy Training Virtual Institute: 2021 - 2021 Speakers

Speakers

Rachel Altvater

Rachel A. Altvater, PsyD, RPT-S, is a licensed clinical psychologist, a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and certified clinical trauma professional. She is the owner of Creative Psychological Health Services and the president of the MD/DC Association for Play Therapy. Rachel published her dissertation research on technology and play therapy in the International Journal of Play Therapy and is a contributing author in several scholarly texts. She is the recipient of the 2019 Emerging Leader Service Award from the Association for Play Therapy.

Sophia Ansari

Sophia Ansari, LPCC, RPT, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist. She is an author, educator, and co-founder of the Let’s Play Therapy Institute. Sophia co-hosts Hero Nation, a podcast on the Geek Therapy Network, which celebrates diversity in the media and explores how to use geek culture in therapy. For more information on Let’s Play Therapy Institute, visit letsplaytherapy.org

Leslie Baker

Leslie Baker, MFT, NCC, RPT-S, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 30 years of experience in mental health. She is the owner/director of Therapy2Thrive® Marriage and Family Counseling Center, Inc. where she provides clinical services and supervision. She is a Certified Gottman Therapist. Leslie is author of Healing Feelings: A Healing Story for Children Coping with an Adult’s Mental Illness and co-author of Snug and Rug and the 'No Good Very Bad Thing,' a story of coping, calming and courage for children. Leslie is a guest author of "Therapy in the Digital Age" in Integrating Technology into Modern Therapies: A Clinician’s Guide to Developments and Interventions edited by Jessica Stone, PhD. She is a local, national, and international speaker.

Steve Baron

Steven Baron, PsyD, NCSP, is a nationally certified school psychologist and has had a private practice primarily treating children, adolescents, and their families for over 30 years. He has authored book chapters on bullying and utilizing a strengths-based model in a school setting. Steven has authored articles on positive psychology and child therapy. He has been a presenter at the Mid-Atlantic Play Therapy Institute and Expressive Therapies Summits previously, in addition to presenting at parent groups and school districts.

Ann Beckley-Forest

Ann Beckley-Forest, LCSW, RPT-S, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice. Her specialties include attachment and child and adolescent trauma, and she also works with adult survivors. Ann is certified in EMDR, an EMDR Approved Consultant, and on faculty at the Child Trauma Institute. She is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and approved provider of play therapy continuing education. Ann provides consultation in person and remotely, and gives trainings locally and nationally. Her primary interest is in the intersection of play therapy and EMDR and co-edited the 2020 book, EMDR with Children in the Play Therapy Room: An Integrated Approach.

Heather McTaggart Bryan

Heather McTaggart Bryan, RPT, LPC, a partner at Gil Institute, has worked over the past 20 years in the field of child abuse and neglect in a variety of settings. She provides trainings in complex trauma, cyberbullying, and working with sexually exploited youth. Heather also coordinates closely with schools to enhance children’s learning experiences, especially those with special needs. She has worked with adult and youth sex offenders, and has specialized training in working with very young children with sexual behavior problems. Co-author of a chapter in Play Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice, Heather has also received Level 1 Theraplay training.

Cheryl Catron

Cheryl Catron, MEd, LPCC-S, RPT-S, is a licensed clinical counselor supervisor, a registered play therapist supervisor, and the co-founder of Foothold International, a nonprofit organization that serves indigenous communities in Kenya, East Africa, addressing generational poverty holistically. Cherie worked as a long-time educator and mental health clinician, and has over 19 years serving students with a wide variety of academic and mental health needs. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Secondary Education and her Master of Education degree in School Counseling & Professional Counseling from Ohio University. For more information about her current work in Kenya, visit www.footholdinternational.org

Kimberly Cosgrove

Kimberly Cosgrove, LCSW-C, is the director of PACT’s Therapeutic Nursery for Homeless Babies, and has been instrumental in developing an attachment-based therapeutic child care program for very young homeless children and their families. She is a home visitor, family therapist, and trainer in attachment and infant mental health.

David Crenshaw

David A. Crenshaw, PhD, ABPP, RPT-S, is clinical director of the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie. He is past-president of the New York Association for Play Therapy, a board-certified clinical psychologist; a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychology, and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. David is the author/editor/co-editor of numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles on child aggression, play therapy, and child trauma. His latest books co-edited with Cathy Malchiodi are What to Do When Children Clam-Up in Psychotherapy and a book co-written with Eliana Gil, Termination Challenges in Child Psychotherapy.

Erica Curtis

Erica Curtis LMFT, ATR-BC is an award-winning author of "The Innovative Parent: Raising Connected, Happy, Successful Kids through Art." A Marriage and Family Therapist and board-certified art therapist, Erica is an instructor and curriculum developer for UCLArts & Healing. She consults for the Board of Behavioral Sciences, Loyola Marymount University, the Foundation for Art and Healing, and others. Erica is an internationally sought speaker and has been cited in over 100 media outlets as an expert on creative approaches to psychological, relational, and emotional health. Past president of the Southern California Art Therapy Association and past board member of the AATA, Erica maintains a practice in San Juan Capistrano. www.TherapyWithErica.com

Teresa Dias

Teresa Dias, MA, LMHC, RPT, is a counselor at Eliot Community Human Services, where she sees at-risk children, teens, and their families. She has her master’s in drama therapy from Lesley University. Teresa has spent over 20 years performing in the U.S. and abroad, including the True Story Theatre, a playback theater in Boston. She co-authored a chapter on the integration of play and drama therapy in a book by Malchiodi and Crenshaw entitled, The Expressive Arts to Promote Attachment. Teresa has presented at several play therapy conferences on the topic of drama therapy and attachment. She is a certified parent educator for the Circle of Security Parenting course and has received advanced education in the field of play, art, and sand therapies.

April Duncan

April Duncan, LCSW, RPT-S, obtained her Bachelor’s in Arts & Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Masters of Social Work from Saint Louis University, and is currently working towards her Doctorate of Social Work from University of Southern California. She has a private practice in St. Louis and is co-owner of the St. Louis Play Therapy Institute, which provides play therapy trainings for educational and mental health professionals. April’s current focus is on national and local workshops with educators and mental health professionals on the use of play therapy in the African American community to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. Recently she has been able to work with local schools in the St. Louis area to provide trauma-focused play therapy to children in neighborhoods experiencing high violence and crime.

Eliana Gil

Eliana Gil, PhD, ATR, RPT-S, LMFT, is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, a registered art therapist, and a licensed marriage, family, child counselor. She is former president of the Association for Play Therapy and has worked in the field of child abuse prevention and treatment for over 40 years. Eliana is founder and partner at Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education and was adjunct faculty at Virginia Tech University for over 15 years. Bilingual and bicultural, originally from Ecuador, she has authored numerous books.

Courtney Glickman

Courtney Glickman, MA, LPC, RPT, is a doctoral student in counseling at The George Washington University. Her research focuses on understanding human responses to social trauma and extreme stress. She is interested in examining the role of psychotherapy interventions from pregnancy through childhood. In particular, understanding how complex intersections of race, socioeconomic status, and social justice implications can be better integrated into treatment interventions to reduce disparities and improve outcomes among children and families that have experienced trauma and/or attachment related issues. Courtney is a clinician at the Gil Institute of Trauma Recovery and Education.

Myriam Goldin

Myriam Goldin, LCSW, RPT-S, certified Theraplay practitioner, supervisor and trainer, is a founding partner of Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education, and director of Starbright Institute. She has a master's in clinical social work (VCU), with training in the field of trauma, attachment, and the expressive therapies. Myriam is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, a certified parent educator in Circle of Security Parenting Groups, and a certified Theraplay practitioner, supervisor, and trainer. She has worked with bilingual and bi-cultural children experiencing socio-emotional and educational challenges as well as traumatic histories. A contributing author for the book, Working with Children to Heal Interpersonal Trauma, Myriam also co-authored a chapter on integrated play therapy.

Jennifer Hannett

Jennifer C. Hannett, MSW, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s in social work from New York University, works as a therapist at The Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education. Trained in play therapy, expressive therapies, and Theraplay Level 1, Jennifer has worked for 20 years in multiple roles and settings with children, adolescents, and families that have experienced trauma and breaks in attachment, including: adoption, therapeutic foster care, an adolescent boys residential treatment center, child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient units, and as a CPS investigator. She recently served as the director of the VA and MD offices of Children’s Home Society of MN, a private, non-profit, international adoption agency. Jennifer is an adjunct faculty member with Simmons U. and The Catholic University of America.

Roz Heiko

Rosalind Heiko, PhD, RPT-S, ISST, is a psychologist, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and a Sandplay teacher with the International Society of Sandplay Therapists and the Sandplay Therapists of America (STA). She also holds national certification in school psychology. Roz has worked clinically with children and families for over 35 years, and trains therapists nationally and internationally. An Executive Board Member of the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals, she has previously been an Executive Board member of the STA. Roz has authored book chapters, and is the author of several articles in the Journal of Sandplay Therapy®. Her most recent book is A Therapist’s Guide to Mapping the Girl Heroine’s Journey in Sandplay (2018), and her most recent article, which focuses on Jungian Play Therapy, was published in the APT Play Therapy Magazine.

Esther B. Hess

Esther B. Hess, PhD,is a developmental psychologist and executive director of a multidisciplinary treatment facility in Los Angeles, CA, Center for the Developing Mind. Dr. Hess specializes in the treatment of developmental/regulatory disorders. In addition to being a national and international speaker on ASD, Dr. Hess has also authored DIR/Floor Time: A Developmental/Relational Play Therapy Approach for Treating Children Impacted by Autism in Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders,www.centerforthedevelopingmind.com

Ping Ho

Ping Ho, MA, MPH, is Founding Director of UCLArts & Healing ‒ an organizational member of the UCLA Health Integrative Medicine Collaborative, of which Ping is a Steering Committee Member. She has a BA in psychology with honors from Stanford, an MA in counseling psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MPH in community health sciences from UCLA School of Public Health. Ping developed the Certificate Program in Social Emotional Arts (SEA), the SEA on a Shoestring training program, and the Beat the Odds® drumming program for social-emotional skill building. She is co-author of The Innovative Parent: Raising Connected, Happy, Successful Kids through Art (Ohio University/Swallow Press, 2019). Ping also co-chairs, with Barry Cohen, the annual Expressive Therapies Summit: Los Angeles. www.uclartsandhealing.org

Jason Jedrusiak

Jason Jedrusiak, CYT, has been leading laughter yoga sessions in the Boston area since 2010, which he founded through his training in yoga, improv, and therapeutic clowning. He’s spread the laughter to local organizations and institutions, including Harvard University and NUPath, where he's laughed with people living with developmental and neurological disorders. Jason directs Laughing Matters, a nonprofit that brings laughter and improv comedy to retirement homes, homeless shelters, and places in need of the healing effects of laughter.

Carmen Jimenez-Pride

Carmen Jimenez-Pride, LCSW, RCYT, RYT, RPT-S, is a licensed clinical social worker, registered children’s yoga teacher, and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. She is the owner of Outspoken Counseling and Consulting, LLC and a certified FirstPlay® practitioner. Carmen is trained in level one Theraplay and Internal Family Systems, along with other trauma-based models. She is the author of Amir’s Brave Adventure: Exploring Confidence, Mindfulness and Attachment, and the creator of Focus on Feelings®. Carmen specializes in developmental play therapy, attachment, trauma, and sand tray play therapy for infants, children, families, and adults of all ages. She is a university adjunct professor, trainer and speaker. www.carmenpride.com

Mandy Jones

Mandy Jones, LCSW, RPT, JD, is a certified Theraplay® practitioner, trainer, supervisor, and program director at The Theraplay Institute. She works almost exclusively with adoptive and foster families. Mandy is especially interested in helping families with young children form strong attachments and address sensory concerns. Over the past few years, she has developed a specialty in helping children with FASD. Mandy often integrates sandtray therapy techniques into her Theraplay practice. While she doesn’t regularly practice law, she continues to use her legal knowledge and advocacy skills to help families gain Individualized Education Programs and other essential academic resources.

Mary E. Knysh

Mary E. Knysh is the founder of Rhythmic Connections, which advances education, health, and creative development through music improvisation. She is a workshop facilitator and trainer, creativity, leadership and communications consultant, professional musician, and author. Mary presents at conferences around the world. An international teacher/trainer with the Music for People organization, she is also an Orff Schulwerk clinician and teaching artist for the PA Council of the Arts, Young Audiences of NJ, and NY BOCES.

Peggy Kolodny

Peggy Kolodny, MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT, earned her Master’s in Art Therapy from GWU. Specializing in trauma-focused art therapy with certificates in EMDR and in IFS, she is founder of The Art Therapy Collective. She is adjunct faculty for University of Maryland School of Social Work and the professional trauma-training faculty of the Ferentz Institute. Past positions include Vice President of the Maryland Chapter of American Professional Society on Abuse of Children; Chairperson of Central Maryland Sexual Abuse Treatment Task Force; President of Maryland Art Therapy Association. Peggy recently published chapters in Art Therapy in the Treatment of Addictions and Trauma (2020).

Garry Landreth

Garry Landreth, EdD, LPC, RPT-S, is a Regents Professor Emeritus in the Department of Counseling and founder of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas. He has published more than 150 journal articles, books, and DVDs, including his most recent publications with Sue Bratton, Child-Parent Relationship Therapy: An Evidence Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.), and an accompanying Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Treatment Manual. Garry is Director Emeritus of the Association for Play Therapy.

Jamie Lynn Langley

Jamie Lynn Langley, LCSW, RPT-S, specializes in treating children and their families who have experienced abuse, loss, trauma, abandonment, and divorce. After working in community mental health for over 27 years, Jamie transitioned to private practice in late 2016. She has continued as a supervisor and is also an adjunct professor for Middle TN State Univ. and Lipscomb Univ. Jamie helped co-found the TN Association for Play Therapy and the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals. She is writing and presenting on play therapy, including the use of sand tray, puppets, games and expressive arts within play therapy, and incorporating nature play in clinical practice. Jamie wrote a book chapter in Game Play (3rd ed.), by Charles Schaefer and Jessica Stone (Eds.)

Lisa Larrabee

Lisa S. Larrabee, LCSW, RPT-S, has provided play therapy services, supervision, and training for both private practice and for an outpatient mental health clinic. Her clinical focus has been in reducing post-traumatic symptoms in children impacted by interpersonal trauma, with a focus on children/families involved in the child protective system. Lisa oversees a play therapy training and supervision program, a problem sexual behavior program, and co-manages a trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy program. She has published the article, "Playful Strategies to Alleviate Shame within Traumatized Children" in Play Therapy™ magazine (Dec 2016). Lisa received her BA from Smith College, her master's from The Catholic University of America, and her postgraduate certificate in play therapy from Johns Hopkins University.

John (JP) Lilly

John Paul “JP” Lilly, LCSW, RPT-S, a licensed clinical social worker and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor in private practice, has authored and co-authored numerous clinical journal articles. He has written chapters on theory and practice, and taught play therapy at Brigham Young University for 18 years in the schools of clinical psychology, MFT, and social work. JP is the founder of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), a charitable organization of bikers who provide comfort and support for abused children. He served on the international board of BACA for more than 20 years. JP is currently serving his second term on the board of directors for the Association for Play Therapy. Well-known and respected as an expert on Jungian Analytical Play Therapy, he presents nationally.

Marshall Lyles

Marshall Lyles, LPC-S, LMFT-S, RPT-S, has over 15 years of practice in family and play therapy. Drawing on lessons learned from working with attachment trauma in a variety of mental health settings, he regularly teaches on trauma, expressive therapies, and attachment-informed family work around the globe. In addition to maintaining a small clinical practice, Marshall also conducts supervision and consultation sessions with counseling professionals who are pursuing EMDR certification and RPT status, often with a particular focus on the use of sand tray therapy. He is EMDR-certified and TBRI-trained. Marshall is nearing the completion of his PhD in marriage and family therapy.

Caleb Matthews

Caleb Matthews, LPC, LMFT, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Austin, Texas. He is the current Board President of The Human Empathy Project, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering empathetic connection around matters of Christian faith, gender, and sexual diversity through confidential consultations and resources. Caleb earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Texas A&M University and his Master of Arts in Counseling at St. Edward’s University. He specializes in counseling work related to the LGBTQIA community, trauma (EMDR Certified), and couples/families. If you are interested in knowing more, please visit comatthews.com.

Mandi Melendez

Mandi Meléndez, LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-S, s the co-founder of Nurture Family Counseling in Austin, Texas and Past President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy. She holds graduate degrees in marriage and family therapy with an emphasis on play therapy from Texas State University, as well as in interpersonal communication from the University of Texas at Austin. Mandi prefers holistic and creative systemic interventions, and has post-graduate training in Theraplay, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Child Parent Relationship Therapy, and Trust-Based Relational Intervention. Areas of particular interest are gifted children and their families, gender expansive children and their families, and attachment issues.

Clair Mellenthin

Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-S, is the author of the best-selling Attachment Centered Play Therapy, among other titles, and is a sought-after speaker and clinical supervisor. An adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern California MSW program, Clair is Past-President of the Utah Association For Play Therapy and serves on its Board of Directors. She specializes in providing play therapy to children, teens, and their families, and is currently the Director of Child & Adolescents at Wasatch Family Therapy in Utah. Clair frequently presents professional play therapy and family therapy trainings on Attachment Centered Play Therapy and Trauma nationally and internationally. She appears on television and radio as an expert on child and family issues.

Sheri Mitschelen

Sheri Mitschelen, LCSW, RPT/S, is owner and Clinical Director of Crossroads Family Counseling Center, LLC, and President of the non-profit, The Heart Leaf Center, in Fairfax, VA. Sheri has over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents and families specializing in working with children with emotional regulation and attachment issues. With post-graduate training in family therapy, child and infant mental health, play Therapy, and adoption competency, Sheri is adjunct faculty at George Mason University School of Social Work and Virginia Tech Marriage and Family Therapy Program. Currently President of the Virginia Play Therapy Association, she has given numerous play therapy presentations in Virginia, at the APT annual conference, and internationally.

Annie Monaco

Annie Monaco, LCSW-R, RPT, is a licensed clinical social worker and a faculty member of the Child Trauma Institute. She travels extensively throughout the U.S. and Asia teaching EMDR and specialty areas, including children, teens, and dissociation. Annie has been an EMDR consultant, trainer, and the co-regional coordinator of the Western NY region for over 10 years. She has extensive training in complex trauma, family therapy, and play therapy. Annie's private practice includes foster care, international adoptions, juvenile justice, and dissociation. She is the co-editor of the 2020 book, EMDR with Children in the Play Therapy Room: An Integrated Approach.

Wanda Montemayor

Wanda Montemayor, LPC-S-AT, ATR-BC, ATCS, RPT-S has been creating public art for more than 23 years. With a bachelor's in art education, a master's in professional counseling, a post-secondary degree in art therapy, and MARI training, Wanda focuses on creating large-scale works of art through group art therapy, focusing on hand-made ceramics. Wanda's 10 murals adorn schools and parks across the Austin region; multiple years in the making, they are created through multiple group art therapy sessions. She has been leading child and adolescent art therapy groups for more than 14 years, serving a diverse cross-section of teens around Austin, and has more recently developed skills as a virtual art therapy group facilitator.

Jodi Weinstein Mullen

Jodi Weinstein Mullen, PhD, LMHC, NCC, RPT-S, CCPT-Master, is a professor at SUNY Oswego in counseling and psychology services. She is the coordinator of the mental health counseling program and graduate certificate program in play therapy. Jodi is the director of Integrative Counseling Services. She is an international speaker, author, credentialed play therapist, and play therapy supervisor.

Carole Norris-Shortle

Carole Norris-Shortle, RPT-S, LCSW-C, LCMFT, is a faculty member of the Secure Starts: Center for Infant Study at the University of Maryland Psychiatry Department, the senior mental health consultant at PACT Therapeutic Nursery for Homeless Babies and their Families, a licensed family therapist, and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor.

Maggie Parker

Maggie Parker, LPC, is an assistant professor of counseling and human development at The George Washington University, where she teaches play therapy, child and adolescent development, and counseling skills. She is a licensed professional counselor and a board-certified supervisor. Maggie has provided play therapy services in a multitude of settings, including intensive outpatient clinics, private practice, community clinics, and detention centers.

Dee Preston-Dillon

Dee Preston-Dillon, MA, PhD, is founder of the Center for Culture and Sandplay and on the graduate faculty at GWU, Johns Hopkins, and the Ferentz Institute. Her research examined cross-cultural, indigenous experience in Jungian Sandplay with implications for social justice, clinical use of symbols in sand, and the healing power of imagination. A clinician-educator, Dee teaches narrative and existential approaches in sand therapy. In her Sand Therapy Competencies course, her emphasis is on ethics, theory, and proficiency to understand and respond to sand scenes. Dee's philosophy for clinician competency is the essential condition that therapists immerse in their own sand scenes. And, to extend therapists’ capacity to resonate with client representations, clinicians apply a rigorous study of the layers of meaning for symbols in sand.

Charlotte Reznick

Charlotte Reznick, PhD, is author of The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success and contributing author of the chapter "Imagery as a Therapeutic Tool with Children" in Transformative Imagery: Cultivating Imagination for Healing, Change and Growth. She is a child educational psychologist and a former UCLA assoc. psychology professor. Charlotte has a 30-year meditation practice, and is the creator of Imagery For Kids: Breakthrough for Learning, Creativity, and Empowerment. She creates therapeutic meditation CDs, blogs for Psychology Today and Huffington Post, and teaches workshops on the healing power of children's imagination.

Virginia Rivera

Virginia Rivera, MEd, LCPC, LPC, RPT, CCTP, is a bilingual, licensed professional counselor, registered play therapist, and certified clinical trauma professional, with over 26 years of treating children, teens, adults and families in private and public settings. Her experience includes working with individuals and families who experience complex trauma, and personal histories of neglect and/or abuse. Virginia's work also focuses on addressing family systems, including parent/child relational issues, family reunification and ineffective/inadequate parenting skills, and attachment. She has training in evidence-based practices including Theraplay, TF-CBT, DBT, clinical sand tray, and neuroscience/mindfulness interventions.

Pamela Robertson

Pamela C. Robertson, PsyD, LCSW, has been helping people achieve their potential for over 21 years. She specializes in the treatment and supervision of substance abuse and dependence, Functional Family Therapy, art therapy, and spiritual/existential issues both in managed care and private practice. Pamela has spent the last 18 years providing leadership, supervision, and training at Stars Behavioral Health Group to support the needs of children and families who have experienced complex developmental trauma.

Amy Romero

Amy Romero, LPC, is a registered play therapist, registered Circle of Security facilitator, a Level 2 Theraplay practitioner, and has over 18 years combined in working with children, adolescents, and families as an educator and nationally certified school counselor. She has a private practice, specializing in the treatment of childhood anxiety with focus on the parent-child relationship. Amy has experience with training professionals on a local level and at Louisiana state conferences with topics including childhood anxiety and original play therapy techniques.

Deborah Ross

Deborah Ross, LPC, CJT, is a certified journal therapist and licensed professional counselor who teaches in Northern Virginia. Co-author with Kathleen Adams of Your Brain on Ink, she has a particular interest in the intersection of journal therapy, mindfulness meditation practices, and neuroscience. Deborah teaches in health care systems working with cancer patients, and those who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. She also offers general workshops, writing groups, and individual instruction in the community. As a faculty member for the Therapeutic Writing Institute, Deborah teaches core courses and supervises and consults with trainees.

Y. Mimi Ryans

Y. Mimi Ryans, LCSW-C, RPT-S, CCTP, is the owner/therapist at Lighthouse Center for Therapy and Play. For the past decade, she has made it her lifework to provide quality mental health services to children and families either experiencing mental health crises or those with specific mental health needs. In the last few years, it has become more evident to her that the focus on trauma when addressing children’s mental health needs is imperative to their healing and completing their treatment.

Nancy Scherlong

Nancy S. Scherlong, MS, PTR, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, a registered poetry/biblio therapist, and a mentor supervisor credentialed by the Int'l Federation of Biblio-Poetry Therapy. A health/wellness coach and holistic psychotherapist, she specializes in stress management, trauma, and addictions. Nancy has studied and used psychodrama since 1992, and has worked in the field of therapeutic writing for over 20 years, using both journal and poetry. She serves on the faculty of Adelphi University and the Therapeutic Writing Institute.

Althea Simpson

Althea Simpson, LCSW, RPT-S, is the founder and director of Brighter Day Therapeutic Solutions and Unicorn Life Training Institute. She is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and a licensed clinical social worker. Althea has a bachelor's in business management, an MBA in marketing, and an MSW in organizational leadership. Her passion for helping individuals and families go from “Hurt to Healed” aided in her decision to return to George Mason University to complete requirements to become a clinical social worker and specialize in trauma recovery. Althea’s experience in the field of mental health spans 15 years. She is pursuing her PhD in business psychology consulting at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology to enhance her skills as a speaker, trainer, professional coach, and group facilitator.

Quinn Smelser

Quinn K. Smelser, MA, NCC, RPT, LPC, is a doctoral candidate in counseling at GWU and licensed counselor in Texas, DC, and Virginia. She earned her master’s in counseling from Texas State Univ. and her bachelor's in psychology from UT-Austin. Quinn has worked with children and families who experienced trauma, grief, and loss. She is a therapist at The Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education, supervises master’s level clinicians, and is an instructor at GWU. Past work experience includes working in residential treatment, hospice, and home-based therapy in rural Texas. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Association for Play Therapy.

Sabra Starnes

Sabra Starnes, MEd, LICSW, LCSW-C, RPT-S, is a play therapist with 18 years' experience in the DMV area. Owner of Next Place Therapy Services, she specializes in adoption and attachment play-based therapies. As a Maryland board supervisor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, she provides clinical and play therapy supervision. An approved provider for the Association of Play Therapy, she provides play therapy webinars and workshops for mental health clinicians. Sabra received her master’s in social work form Catholic University and her master’s in education from American University. Certified in sandtray therapy, Daring Way, EMDR, TBRI, DDP, and TST, Sabra is the coauthor of Increasing Your Play Therapy Tool Box.

Anne Stewart

Anne Stewart, PhD, RPT-S, is a professor, author, supervisor, and presenter. She practices family and play therapy with clients across the lifespan. Anne works to promote secure attachment and resilience for children, families, and communities around the world. She is the founder of the Virginia Association for Play Therapy, past chair of the Foundation for Play Therapy, and chair-elect for the Association for Play Therapy Board of Directors.

Jessica Stone

Jessica Stone, PhD, RPT-S, is a psychologist, international speaker, sought after clinical supervisor, and renowned registered play therapist. She is the CEO and co-creator of the Virtual Sandtray®©, bestselling author, and developer of Digital Play Therapy. Dr. Stone has been featured for her work throughout the virtual world as an innovator, ambassador of play, and stalwart advocate for the use of digital technology in the field of psychology.

Sharon Strouse

Sharon Strouse, MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT,

is a board-certified and licensed art therapist. She is Associate Director with the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition: Art-Assisted Grief Therapy. Her art therapy private practice and national presentations focus on grief, suicide bereavement, and military families suffering traumatic loss. Sharon’s experiential workshops for survivors and professionals involve creative processes that highlight meaning reconstruction and continuing bonds work with the deceased. She is author of Artful Grief: A Diary of Healing and co-founder of the Kristin Rita Strouse Foundation for Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention.

Susan Taylor

Susan Taylor, CMA, LCSW-C, RPT-S, implements mindfulness and movement approaches in trauma-informed, body-based, and talk therapies at PACT’s Therapeutic Nursery and The Center for Resilience and Connection. She has taught parent-child attunement, attachment, and education, using multiple modalities across a wide variety of populations and settings. A certified movement analyst, Susan has taught clients, clinicians, actors, elders, families, scholars, individuals, dyads, and groups across the nation, using music, movement, rhythm, and humor. With specialized expertise in LGBTQ issues and undoing racism, she has published on subjects including parent-child attachment, mindfulness, and the use of movement with adolescents.

Tracy Turner-Bumberry

Tracy Turner-Bumberry, LPC, RPT-S, CAS provides private practice therapy in Milledgeville, GA. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified AutPlay Therapy Provider, and Certified Autism Specialist. Tracy is a national speaker on play therapy, and has published on mandala techniques in play therapy, play therapy techniques to reduce emotional dysregulation, and AutPlay Therapy social skills groups.

Tammi Van Hollander

Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S, is a licensed clinical social worker and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. She is the owner of Main Line Play Therapy, and consults with local schools and community members. Tammi is an Advanced Nurtured Heart Approach® Trainer, a certified FirstPlay® practitioner, and trained in level one Theraplay® and EMDR. She is the author of an attachment-based multi-sensory story, Casey’s Greatness Wings: Teaching Mindfulness, Connection and Courage to Children. Tammi specializes in attachment, sand tray play therapy, and sensory integration working with infants, children, families, and adults of all ages. www.mainlineplaytherapy.com

Dan Walsh

Dan Walsh, MS, MT-BC, is a board-certified music therapist working with incarcerated youth who reside in a limited secure placement facility. He also works with adolescents and adults in inpatient psychiatric settings. Dan has presented at the Mid-Atlantic Region Conference of the American Music Therapy Association and at the Expressive Therapies Summit in Los Angeles. He recently completed his training at Molloy College. As a music therapist, he is able to utilize his prior experience as a performer, producer, and educator in order to meet the diverse needs of his clients.

Dana Wyss

Dana Wyss, ATR-BC, MFT, is a board-certified art therapist, a marriage and family therapist, holds a doctorate in expressive therapies from Lesley University, and is the co-author of The Invisible String Workbook. As director of training at Star View Adolescent Center, she specializes in clinical supervision, training, and treatment of complex developmental trauma. Dana is a national trainer for ARC (attachment, regulation, competency) with the Center for Trauma Training and statewide trainer to raise awareness of commercial sexual exploitation. Her current research focuses on using art-based research to build empathy and understanding for self-injurious behaviors, the use of exotic animal assisted therapy in residential treatment, and the impact and effect of non-traditional materials in art therapy sessions and group therapy.

Ana Gomez

LaKaavia Taylor

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Business
conference 2020

Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego | California

Speakers

Business conference 2020

Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego | California

Speakers

Business
conference 2020