We are dedicated to enriching the lives of children through providing quality training to play therapists, conducting rigorous research on the process and effectiveness of play therapy, disseminating play therapy literature from across the world, and facilitating play therapy services for children, parents, and systemic partners. I am honored to serve as director of the Center for Play Therapy and believe wholeheartedly in our mission to advocate for the needs of children through play therapy.
In 1996, I walked into my first play therapy session feeling well-trained but unsure about my ability to facilitate healing or build a therapeutic relationship with a child without the culturally-sanctioned tools of structured teaching activities and ready-to-give directions. In that first play therapy relationship, I learned to trust the child, trust myself, and trust the relationship in our journey toward healing and functioning. And that has been my experience ever since. Through my clinical experiences, I grew in my desire to provide evidence of play therapy outcomes and process which led to a career focus on research and the dissemination of literature that supports the work of play therapists. Quality education for play therapists is of particular importance to me and I am committed to provision of educational opportunities to improve the work of play therapists from all areas of the world. Serving as director of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas is a privilege and responsibility for which I am immensely appreciative. I am allowed to serve children and those who serve children every day and I cannot think of a better way to live my life than doing what I love best.
So, welcome again to the Center for Play Therapy and please use our resources to enhance your work with children.
Play well,
Dee
Dee Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S, Certified CCPT-S, Certified CPRT-S is Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Counseling Program and Director of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas. Dr. Ray has published over 100 articles, chapters, and books in the field of play therapy, specializing in research specifically examining the process and effects of Child Centered Play Therapy. Dr. Ray is author of A Therapist’s Guide to Development: The Extraordinarily Normal Years, Advanced Play Therapy: Essential Conditions, Knowledge, and Skills for Child Practice, Child Centered Play Therapy Treatment Manual, and co-author of Group Play Therapy and Child Centered Play Therapy Research.
She is a founding board member and past president of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling. She is current editor of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling and recipient of the American Counseling Association Don Dinkmeyer Social Interest Award, Association for Humanistic Counseling Educator Award, Association for Play Therapy Outstanding Research Award, Top 25 Women Professors in Texas Award, and many others. Dr. Ray supervises counseling services to community clients at her university clinic and leads a school outreach program providing play therapy to hundreds of children each year.
The Center for Play Therapy is staffed by counseling department professors, doctoral students, a brilliant office manager, hardworking undergraduate students, and volunteers (who we are very grateful for!). Below are some of the people that keep CPT going strong:
Hello! My name is Damian McClintock and I am a third year doctoral student in the Counseling program at the University of North Texas. I was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and my Master’s degree in Counseling at East Tennessee State University. During my Master’s program, I completed a year-long internship at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County. My clinical and research interests include: Play therapy with children who have been abused or neglected, filial therapy, and couple therapy. I am ecstatic to be working here at the Center for Play Therapy where I have the opportunity to learn and to advance the field of counseling with children and families.
Hi! My name is Kirsten. I am currently a third year Counseling doctoral student at the University of North Texas. I am from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, but I have been a North Texas resident for the past decade. I received my bachelors in Psychology from the University of North Texas and my master’s degree in Counseling and Development from Texas Woman’s University. My current clinical and research interests include play therapy with children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, working with the domestic violence population across the lifespan, and utilizing expressive arts with clients from across the lifespan. I am so grateful to be a member of the Center for Play Therapy team and working with all of the children and families we serve!
Hi, my name is Hannah Robinson and I am a first year doctoral student in the Counseling program at the University of North Texas. I was born in Wisconsin, and grew up in Florida. I received my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and my Master’s degree in Counseling from Southern Methodist University. Prior to entering into the doctoral program, I worked as a play therapist in two private practices in the DFW Metroplex. My clinical and research interests include: play therapy, filial therapy, and adolescent counseling. I am thrilled to be working at the Center for Play Therapy!
Hello! My name is Denise and I am the Office Manager at the Center for Play Therapy. I moved to the North Texas area last year from the Chattanooga Tennessee area. With over 20 years of experience in office management I consider it a privilege to work in this department. Center for Play Therapy does the most amazing work and I consider myself honored to be a part of the wonderful staff here at CPT.