I've dedicated my career to serving children and their families. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist™, Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist ®, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and parent of two teenagers, I can appreciate the challenges you're experiencing, and I possess the experience and expertise to assist you in addressing them.
My Licensure and Education:
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S)™ a Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist (CAAPT)®, an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and a Board Approved supervisor for residents in counseling in VA.
My licensing as an LPC means that I have the education, qualifications, and experience to practice professional mental health counseling, to assess for mental health disorders, to provide a clinical mental health diagnosis, to formulate treatment plans, and to perform counseling.
My national certification, NCC, means that I have met high standards in education and experience and passed a rigorous national exam. It also means I keep my skills current through continuing education, continually strive to improve my skill level, and adhere to a strict ethical code.
My certification as a CMHC indicates that I have demonstrated mastery & skill in the areas of assessment and diagnosis of mental health disorders, counseling & psychotherapy, and administration, consultation, and supervision. It means that I am competent in clinical problem-solving and in identifying, analyzing, diagnosing and treating clinical issues.
My Registered Play Therapist Supervisor credential™ means that, in addition to having completed specialized coursework, clinical experience, and training in utilizing play-based models and expressive techniques with children, adolescents, and families, I also train and supervise mental health professionals seeking to become Registered Play Therapists.
My certification as a Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist® means that I have demonstrated competency in the integration and involvement of animals in play therapy. Play interventions that include animals are aimed at improving the client’s psychosocial health, while simultaneously ensuring the animal’s well-being and voluntary engagement in the process. Play and playfulness are essential ingredients of the interactions and the relationship.” (VanFleet, 2013, 2015)
My Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) certification indicates that I have met national professional supervision standards for supervising those seeking licensure as mental health professionals.
My approval as a board approved supervisor for LPC’s means that I train and supervise residents who are seeking independent licensure as professional counselors.
I have a Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.) from Lindsey Wilson College. My degree program was Counseling and Human Development with a Mental Health Specialization. I had additional specialized course work and training in Marriage and Family Therapy, providing services to parents and children, and Play Therapy.
My formal education, experience, and training prepared me to counsel individuals, groups, couples, parents, families, and children.
I believe that it is critical to continue learning and improving as a professional. I attend ongoing training throughout the year to update and enhance my knowledge, skills, and effectiveness.
My Professional Experience:
I have over 24 years of experience in the fields of human services and counseling; 18 years (post-master’s degree) providing counseling services, 12 years’ providing play therapy services, and 6 years providing supervision for residents in counseling and mental health professionals.
I also have over 16 years of experience facilitating community workshops, trainings, & presentations. I served as an instructor of undergraduate college courses for 13 years, helping to prepare future human services professionals and counselors to enter the field.
Your family can get to a place where you're experiencing more good days and fewer stressful days! Please call me. We'll explore, together, options that are the best fit for your family. I look forward to speaking with you and meeting you!