MEMBER STORYTELLING Where Curiosity Led
| LISA REMEY, MED, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S™
T
hose were my thoughts in 1993 when my social work internship supervisor
insisted I attend a play therapy training. I initially
declined, overwhelmed by the busyness of life and preparing for an upcoming move to Colorado Springs. She gently persisted, offering to drive and assuring me that this was a training I needed to attend. Well, I said yes, and a new world opened before me.
Like many life journeys, my path to becoming a Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™) was anything but linear. It included unexpected detours, raising a family, military moves, long pauses, and opportunities I never imagined. Looking back over my journey, one theme stands out: curiosity.
The following summer I attended the University of North Texas, Center for Play Therapy Summer Institute, where I learned from pioneers in the found my calling. I had hoped to attend graduate school at the University of North Texas, but life led me in a different direction when I married Bob and embraced the adventures of military life.
Determined to continue pursuing my dream, I earned my master’s degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While there were no play therapy courses or faculty specializing in the projects. Although it didn't count toward my RPT™ credential, it became the foundation for my future clinical work.
Like many military families, ours experienced frequent moves, deployments, and the challenges of rebuilding professional connections in new communities. It took seven years to complete both my Licensed Professional Counselor and RPT™ credential, but the journey taught me perseverance and reinforced the importance of staying connected to the play therapy community.
Those connections became one of the greatest gifts. While living in Germany, I discovered many clinicians wanted to learn more about play therapy but had limited access to continuing education. That need inspired me to become an Approved Provider for APT and NBCC, allowing
me to offer play therapy training and continuing education while remaining connected to the profession. Along the way, I discovered that I loved teaching as much as I loved learning. Remaining connected to the play therapy community introduced me to colleagues
from around the world who became mentors, collaborators, and lifelong friends, all of which are relationships I continue to treasure each time we gather at the APT Annual Conference.
Looking back, I can see that every season, even the ones that felt like detours, was preparing me for the next. There were seasons when my journey looked very different from what I had envisioned, yet I never felt that I had to explain my journey or prove my place. Instead, I was welcomed, encouraged, and reminded that every season has value. That
If my journey has taught me anything, it's this: curiosity is worth following. Looking back, I'm grateful I asked, "Play therapy...what is that?" and kept lead.
ABOUT THE MEMBER
Lisa Remey, MEd, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S™, is a play therapist, supervisor, trainer, and co- editor of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice. A Past President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy, she enjoys supporting children and families while mentoring clinicians through writing, training, and supervision.
lisaremey@gmail.com
30 | PLAYTHERAPY | September 2026 |
www.a4pt.org
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