LEADERSHIP Editorial
As I look back on the past year, one word comes to mind: momentum.
Kristi Perryman, PhD, LPC, RPT-S™, Chair, APT Board of Directors
Our Association for Play Therapy family has grown to more than 8,000 members, the largest in our 44- year history. Even more encouraging, credentialing
professionals are discovering the power of play therapy, expanding its impact on children and families around the world.
Growth also brings responsibility. This year, your Board has been intentional about listening. We introduced member focus groups to create meaningful conversations about the future of APT. We met with Leadership Academy participants, branch presidents. Those discussions will continue during the 2026 Annual Conference. Every conversation helps us better understand what matters most to you and informs the policies that guide our work. We also hosted a virtual Q&A for members interested in Board service. Beginning in 2027, these sessions will become an annual opportunity.
This year, we'll introduce a new annual report that includes a Board linkage report highlighting how member feedback informed Board decisions.
Thank you for your passion, trust, and commitment to advancing play therapy. It is an honor to serve alongside you, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together.
ENDS POLICIES
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) exists to advance play therapy and provide a professional and diverse community to support those engaged in play therapy practice, instruction, and supervision. POSITIVE IMAGE
5.01
Play therapy will have a positive, professional image such that the public and a broad range of health,
5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALING STANDARDS
The public can trust that credentialed play therapists are trained to provide safe and continuously improving care to children and families.
ETHICAL, SKILLED MEMBERS
APT members are ethical, knowledgeable, skilled, and continuously improving across all stages of their professional careers.
RESEARCH
Research supporting the evidence base of play therapy will be shared and opportunities for further research will be promoted.
VIBRANT COMMUNITY
Mental collaborative play therapy professional community.
APT observes the Policy Governance© Model. The board scans the mental health environment and then
determines which Ends (outcomes) will best advance play therapy and assist play therapists. It then holds the CEO accountable for collaborating with members to produce the programs that accomplish those Ends.
401 Clovis Ave, Suite 107 Clovis, CA 93612 USA Tel (559) 298-3400 Fax (559) 298-3410
GLOBAL ENDS POLICY 5.00 The Association for Play Therapy (APT) exists to advance play therapy and provide a professional and diverse community to support those engaged in play therapy practice, instruction, and supervision.
Kathryn Lebby, MS, CAE, CMP APT President/CEO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Kristi Perryman, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S™ (AR) Chair-Elect Edward Franc Hudspeth, PhD, LPC, RPT-S™ (MS) Secretary Mandi Meléndez, LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-S™ (TX) Past Chair Rebeca Chow, PhD, LCPC, RPT-S™ (KS) Director Parie Faridnia, PsyD, RPT-S™ (CA) Director Elizabeth Hartwig, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT, RPT-S™ (TX) Director Sueann Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S™ (NM) Director Julie Nash, PhD, RPT-S™ (CT) Director Kim Vander Dussen, PsyD, RPT-S™ (CA) President & CEO Kathryn Lebby, CAE, CMP (CA)
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Awards of Excellence Claudia Ocampo, MS, LPC-S, RPT-S™ (TX) Conference Program Dana Holtz, EDS, LPC, RPT-S™ (AL) Ethics & Practices Lisa Anderson Mangan, MEd, LCPC, RPT-S™ (MT) International Journal®
Kimberly M. Jayne, PhD, LPC (OR)
Leadership Academy Alicia Donovan, MA, LPC, NCC, RPT-S™ (AZ) Nominations Rebeca Chow, PhD, LCPC, RPT-S™ (KS) Play Therapy™ Jared Andes, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S™ (UT) Registration & Continuing Educ Mary M. Bennett, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S™ (TX) Research Yi-Ju Cheng, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT™ (NJ) University Education Maggie Parker, PhD, LPC, RPT-S™ (VA)
FOUNDATION FOR PLAY THERAPY Chair Mary Anne Peabody, EdD, LCSW, RPT-S™ (ME) Vice-Chair Johnnie Jenkins III, LPC, RPT-S™ (GA) Secretary Rachel Altvater, PsyD, RPT-S™ (MD) Treasurer Tara Moser, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S™ (FL) APT Chair & CGO Kristi Perryman, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S™ (AR) President & CEO Kathryn Lebby, CAE, CMP (CA)
STAFF President & CEO Kathryn Lebby, MS, CAE, CMP Vice President & COO Diane Leon, CMP Operations Manager Melissa Villegas, MPA Clinical Coordinator Megan Curtis, MA, LPCC, NCC Member Services Erica Godinez Education & Training Coordinator Rosalinda Mendez Program Assistant Lacey Battenburg Credentialing Services Kira Moore Credentialing Services Andrea Perez-Esquivel Samantha Stotts
Publisher & Editor Kathryn Lebby, MS, CAE, CMP Clinical Editor Jared Andes, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S™ Assistant Editor Melissa Villegas, MPA Art Director Keith Cappelluti,
www.keithcappelluti.com
PLAYTHERAPY ™ Publication Policies: Play TherapyTM is published by the Association for Play Therapy on behalf of
its member psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and other mental health professionals and subscribers who apply the therapeutic power of play to effec- tively communicate with and help clients, especially children, achieve optimal mental health. It is produced and distributed quarterly via 3rd class mail each March, June, September, and Decem- ber. Its $50.00 annual subscription fee is included in membership dues. Publication of articles and advertisements is not an endorsement of authors, advertisers, or their opinions and products. staff. APT reserves the right to reject, omit, or cancel advertising for any reason, edit for clarity and spatial purposes, and refuse discriminatory content. Advertisers contact (559) 298-3400, or visit
www.a4pt.org. Copyright 2017 Association for Play Therapy, ISSN 1934-9785.
2 | PLAYTHERAPY | September 2026 |
www.a4pt.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
