is a certified Theraplay Practitioner and trainer and an associate supervisor. Ali specialises in providing child and family Theraplay interventions with children 10 years old and under. Ali has completed an MA module in Attachment and Learning with Bath Spa University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Wellbeing with Tavistock and Portman where she completed a dissertation on thinking psychoanalytically and systemically on a Theraplay intervention with an adoptive family. Ali is currently studying Infant Observation and Psychoanalytic Studies with the Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy. Ali has over 20 years of experience of working with children and families in a variety of capacities including child minding, respite care for disabled children, emergency foster care, home education for children on the autism spectrum, Flying Start practitioner and Theraplay practitioner. Currently Ali is employed by Bright Start Children’s Centres providing Theraplay interventions for children in their pre-school year who are at risk of not successfully managing the transition to school due to emotional and behavioural difficulties, attachment disruptions or experience of early trauma. Her role also includes running Peer Support Sessions and supervision to Theraplay-informed and Foundational Level practitioners. Ali works within schools and Early Years settings modeling Group Theraplay and Sunshine Circles as well as promoting the role of a Key Adult in supporting children who have experienced disrupted attachments and trauma. Ali can be contacted for peer support and supervision at [email protected]
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is a certified Theraplay Practitioner and Trainer and a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor with almost three decades of experience working with children, adolescents, and their families. As well, she is a site reviewer for Children’s Mental Health Ontario. She has a B.A. in Psychology with Distinction from York University, and an M.Ed in Counseling Psychology from the University of Toronto. Joan has trained extensively in dyadic developmental psychotherapy with Daniel Hughes. In her private practice and as a team leader with a children’s mental health agency, Joan focuses her efforts on attachment and trauma work using Theraplay and DDP. Play therapy, expressive arts, narrative, and brief solution-focused modalities add to the range of services she offers to children and families.
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Lorie Walton, M.Ed. RP is the Executive Director of Theraplay Canada. Lorie is a Certified Theraplay Practitioner, Trainer and Supervisor and Certified Child Psychotherapist Play Therapist Supervisor. Lorie is also the owner of Family First Play Therapy Centre Inc, in Bradford, Ontario Canada, a center focused on assisting children and families dealing with attachment, trauma and emotional and developmental issues. She has extensive training in working with adopted and foster care children who experience attachment related issues and trauma. She provides internship opportunities as well as clinical consultation, play therapy and Theraplay supervision to practitioners across Canada.
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is a certified Theraplay Practitioner and Trainer. She is currently a Ph.D. student and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Kansas, a faculty member and clinical supervisor in MidAmerica Nazarene University’s Play Therapy Program, and is the CEO of Enriching Families, LLC. Marlo has served in a clinical capacity with birth, foster, and adoptive families who have experienced trauma and loss, individuals suffering from eating disorders, adults with severe and persistent mental illness, Head Start violence prevention programs, and urban youth. Marlo is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and has extensive training in various therapeutic modalities. Including Non-Directive and Directive Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, Theraplay, Sandtray, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Circle of Security, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Narrative Therapy. She has been working with children, adolescents and families in a range of settings and environments for more than a decade.
In addition to research and direct practice Marlo provides supervision for clinicians around the world seeking professional and personal growth. Some supervisees are working toward licensure, others obtaining their RPT or Theraplay Certification, and professionals focused on increasing the efficacy of their practice. Marlo is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers; she served on the National Child Welfare Committee for two terms. She is a member of The Theraplay Association and The Association for Play Therapy. Marlo is a graduate of APT’s Leadership Academy, served as chair of the Leadership Committee (2010-2011), and has been a member of the Registration and Continuing Education Committee for almost five years. Marlo is currently serving a three year term as a member of the The International Journal of Play Therapy Editorial Board. Marlo currently resides in Tallahassee, FL and can be reached at [email protected].
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MAMFC, MARE, LPC-S, LMFT-S, RPT-S
is a Certified Theraplay Practitioner and Trainer. She received a B.S. in Special Ed. with Emotionally Disturbed Children from University of Houston in 1973. She taught school for various ages and grade levels during 1976 to 1981, before earning her Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling. Mary worked as a marriage and family therapist with the Union Baptist Association for 7 years and since 1999, has worked as a Marriage and Family counselor for The Juliana Poor Memorial Counseling Center at Houston’s First Baptist Church. She is clinical coordinator of the family team and guides 8 therapists through the process of a structured family treatment program developed over the last 10 years. The work of the team has expanded to include hosting family camps (both biological and foster/adoptive). This has extended into a ministry of providing training for those going on mission from Houston’s First Baptist Church to support orphan care all over the world. Mary is trained in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and took training under Drs. Karyn Purvis and David Cross in Trust-Based Relational Intervention. Mary has led workshops for parents and therapists using Theraplay, Play Therapy and Play Parenting materials here in the United States as well as overseas in Latvia, United Kingdom and South Africa. She will soon complete the certification of Theraplay Supervisor. Mary has completed Basic EMDR training and is now in the process of being certified. She is in the certification program for Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics. Most important of all, she and her husband Earl, married for forty-three years, have three grown children, two of whom are married. They thoroughly enjoy the times they get to spend with their six grandchildren.
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is a retired school teacher, administrator and counselor of 32 years. She is a certified Theraplay Practitioner, certified Theraplay Trainer and a certified Theraplay Supervisor. She has been in Private psychotherapy practice since 1997. She specializes in Attachment and Trauma issues, school and learning issues, parenting, behaviors and SSP groups. Cindy works with all ages using Theraplay, DDP, Music, OT activities, Zentangle, Safe and Sound Protocol and Smovey Rings in her practice. She trained at Lesley College in Clinical Psychology.
FMI: www.cindymitchellperkins.com
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Dianne Nicholas, MS, LMFT, is a licensed marriage family therapist and a Certified Theraplay Practitioner and trainer. She holds a master’s of science degree in counseling from California State University, Northridge and a BA in psychology with a minor in developmental psychology. She has worked extensively with children and families in the child-welfare system and specializes in attachment focused treatment for childhood trauma and abuse. Dianne has completed intensive training in Dyadic Development Psychotherapy with Daniel Hughes, PhD, trained in Trauma Focused-CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization (EMDR). Dianne held the position of Clinical Director and Supervisor at a non-profit Agency until recently taking on a position as a Consultant to Children & Family Services with the objective of promoting Trauma- Informed Best Practice within the Agency. Dianne resides in Ventura, CA where she has a private practice. She views Theraplay as an integral component toward developing the relationship bond between the children and caregivers she sees in therapy. Dianne can be reached at [email protected].
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is a Certified Theraplay Practitioner, Trainer and Supervisor with a private practice in the Buffalo, New York area. Dave has been involved in Theraplay from its beginnings, from his days as a college student to after he became a psychologist. He was supervised by Ann Jernberg and many of the other pioneers, including Phyllis Booth. Dave has worked in private practice since 1983. He and his wife, Susan Bundy-Myrow, have done training both in the U.S. and internationally. Dave’s special interest is in working in an outpatient setting with school-age children and young teens. For more information: www.theraplace.com
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Lori A. Losen, LPC, RPT-S is a certified Theraplay Therapist, Trainer, and Supervisor in Training. She has been using Theraplay in her practice since 2015. Lori is the owner of a small group practice in Mountain Top, PA that specializes in working with children and their families. Additionally, she is the Mental Health Consultant for her county’s Head Start Program and provides training and support at Brandon’s Forever Home which aids parents that have provided foster care or have adopted children. She has a special interest in working with families with children with chronic illness. Lori received her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and proceeded to work as a kindergarten teacher in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras. Upon returning to the United States and while raising her three children Lori returned to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Scranton. She began her counseling career working in a community nonprofit with children and adolescents who had experienced trauma. Lori is also the Luzerne County Head Start Mental Health Consultant. She provides trainings on trauma informed care to teachers and staff. She also works with parents/guardians to provide parenting classes and support. When not working Lori can be found traveling and hiking with her husband and dog. Lori can be reached at [email protected]
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