MEMBER STORYTELLING


The Road Traveled from Graduate School to RPT-S


| LAURA FAZIO-GRIFFITH, PHD, LPC-S, LMFT, RPT-S M


           Louisiana to attend the University of New Orleans to obtain


my Master’s degree in Counselor Education and my doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision. I was fortunate to begin  Registered Play Therapist-SupervisorTM


and brought her love for play


therapy from Idaho to New Orleans. I worked very closely with her as a teaching assistant for play therapy courses, and was also involved in the development of play therapy workshops and presentations. I fell in love with play therapy and never looked back! These experiences in graduate school prompted me to pursue the Registered Play TherapistTM


power of a relationship, how to engage and communicate without having to talk, and that play therapy is a facilitative process that works with all ages and populations. These were the foundations of where I am now.


I became a Registered Play Therapist-SupervisorTM because I saw


 play therapy, and I wanted to share the power of play therapy with students and clinicians. I believe in the power of play for clients who feel powerless or have little to no autonomy. Additionally, I utilize play during the supervision process in order to assist students and clinicians.


One of the main challenges that I face as a play therapist is the lack of understanding and knowledge from other helping professions about play therapy. Some may incorrectly use the term play therapy, when in fact they are incorporating play or playfulness in an entirely different model and not using a systematic theory of play therapy. As our profession continues to grow both in number and advocacy,  of play therapy and its effectiveness with a variety of populations led me to become involved in leadership positions for my state play therapy organization and our national Association for Play Therapy.


            and change when they feel heard. Autonomy, choice, and sense of self create the lens with which I view interactions with all individuals in my life. My career has enriched my view of human nature and will continue to enhance my future growth and development in all


34 | PLAYTHERAPY December 2023 | www.a4pt.org





aspects of my life. I am forever grateful that play therapy found me as 


as I continue to promote the power of play. ABOUT THE MEMBER


 PhD, LPC-S, LMFT, RPT-S is an Associate Professor of Counseling at Southeastern Louisiana University and has developed the play therapy curriculum, inclusive of two play therapy courses, at this approved provider for play therapy and an approved play  as Chair of the Ethics & Practice Committee at the Association for Play Therapy. 


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