Play Therapy Clinical Supervision
I imagine supervision in play therapy like a beautiful carousel …
Here in Colorado, there is a truly magical Carousel of Happiness in Nederland, a hand-carved wooden carousel lovingly built by a U.S. Marine veteran after surviving war trauma, as a living symbol of resilience, creativity, and joy restored. This is the carousel I picture…
The supervisee is on the ride… spinning with the real experiences of sessions: the dizzying speed of emotions, the ups and downs of clinical decisions, the blur of moments that are both thrilling and overwhelming.
As a supervisor, I run alongside, pushing the carousel… not riding it for them, but providing steady momentum, encouragement, and direction when it risks slowing down or wobbling off balance.
Sometimes, I gently slow the spin so that the supervisee can catch their breath and reflect.
Other times, I add just the right push at the right time, helping the supervisee trust their own rhythm and discover the joy of the ride.
Importantly, both share laughter, imagination, and a sense of safety. Play therapy supervision is a bounded, playful space where risks can be taken and new moves can be tried, knowing there is containment and support.
Rogers (1961) defined self-actualization as, “the curative force in psychotherapy – man’s tendency to actualize himself, to become his potentialities...to express and activate all the capacities of the organism” (p. 350).
I strongly believe that each individual possesses the innate drive towards self-actualization. In play therapy supervision, self-actualization emerges as strengthened self-and-other awareness and emotional attunement, improved confidence in your ability to provide the conditions for therapeutic growth, and expanded faith in your clinical intuition and judgment.
As an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Regis Center for Play Therapy, I currently teach Human Growth and Development, Introduction to Play Therapy, Advanced Play Therapy, Play Clinic A, and Play Clinic B. I practice child-centered play therapy and provide supervision through that theoretical lens, and I am also strongly grounded in polyvagal and attachment theory. I received my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision in 2017 from the University of Northern Colorado. I am a Registered Play Therapist with the Association for Play Therapy and Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado.
Here are a few really nice things my students and supervisees have said about me (that I saved in my email inbox because they were so nice!):
“I have learned so much from just watching you, and I am really really feeling so energized to work with kids in internship.”
“You, your way of being as a supervisor and a human, have made an impact on me and those around me. And I am so grateful.”
“Your mix of being super rigorous while still being incredibly kind is your magic power.”
Let’s work together.
Interested in beginning a supervisory relationship or scheduling a one-off supervision session with me? Fill out this form, and then schedule an introductory call with me here or just jump right into scheduling your session. I am looking forward to getting to know you and supporting your goals. My supervision fee is currently $100/50-minute session.