Denise is the Director and Founder of KC Play Therapy Training Institute. She has been practicing play therapy for over 12 years. She has served on the KS APT board as President, Past President and Secretary as well as the national  APT Membership Committee Chair and member of the APT Key Awards Committee.  She is a 2007 graduate of the APT Leadership Academy and graduate of the Leadership 2000 program in Kansas.                                                                                                         

She has worked in private practice, schools, community mental health centers, residential treatment, runaway shelters, hospitals and churches. She has spoken to groups all the over the United States,  Canada, and the Caribbean as well as appearing on television, radio and in newspaper interviews. She has a Master’s degree in Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and was granted Registered Play Therapist status in 1999 through 2005.  Denise is currently finishing up her certification work in Theraplay® in which she has extensive experience & training.

 In 2005, Denise started the Play Therapy Certificate Program through KC Play Therapy. In 2004, she started the Play Therapy Training Cruises (Play N Cruise) through the KC Play Therapy Institute. She currently  has several publications in the field of play therapy. She has also been honored with several awards in the field of play therapy, including the APT membership campaign winner award for five years and the 2nd place award for 2 years.

                                                 Guest Instructors:

 Diana currently works in private practice in KCMO. She has been working with play therapy for over ten years and is a RPT-Supervisor.  Diana has spoken to groups all over the Midwest on topics related to mental health and play therapy. She has worked in private practice, schools, community mental health centers, university settings and hospitals. Diana got her Master’s degree from University of Missouri in Columbia  and has her LPC and AAMFT certifications. She has also been featured on local radio shows.   Diana has been extensively trained in Theraplay® and is currently completing her supervision work for certification in it.  Diana has taught previously for KC Play Therapy as well as providing teaching in our certificate program.

     Brijin currently works as a part time school social worker in the Platte City School District as well as starting up a private practice. Brijin has worked full time in the Edwardsville School District and Platte City School Districts for over five years as a school social worker. During this time, she received several grants from organizations for her excellent work in implementing play therapy into the schools setting. Brijin has  fresh and creative approach for using play therapy and Theraplay® into both individual and group work in the schools. Brijin received her Registered Play Therapist status in 2005 and is also currently pursuing her certification in Theraplay®.  She recently presented at the 2007 International Theraplay conference in Chicago, IL,  and will also be presenting at the 2007 APT Annual conference in Hollywood, CA.