MEMBER STORYTELLING The Nerdy Queer Farm Kid | TYLER Z. TOOLEY, MS, LPC, RPT™ I
grew up in a small, rural farm-town in southwest Missouri. When I was young, despite my family being non-religious, I chose to attend
our local Baptist church to be involved in the choir, play piano, and run the soundboard. When it was discovered that I was gay I was asked to leave the church. This was heartbreaking as it was the closest, and only, community I had. For the remainder of my schooling, I felt and discrimination in our community. Teachers would tell me that I would be going to hell for my sins, and my mother, who worked at the local healthcare clinic, would be pressed by patients about her poor parenting. Despite the disownment from my community, my family continued to love and support me, and we endured together.
alliance at my university. Establishing the alliance was met with a more inclusive environment and became a sanctuary for many students who felt isolated and unsupported. It provided a platform for education, advocacy, and community building, while fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity among its members. It was another 10
During graduate school it was my intention to work primarily with see adults. I reached out to dozens of organizations and providers, and only one person replied—Dr. Robert Jason Grant. He encouraged me to lean into my discomfort and expand my counseling skills to a wider population. I enrolled in additional courses and trainings to learn did as a child. Since then, I have found a passion in working people who are neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHD, OCD, gifted, SPD, etc.) and/ or identify as queer (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, etc.). I have also discovered the importance and impact that
technology and
video games have on children and teens (and even adults). I now specialize in incorporating technology, video games, and virtual reality as a facilitative tool within my sessions to improve client outcomes, process intra- and inter-personal issues, and address emotionally charged issues. Technology is becoming the language of the child, and it is our duty to meet the child where they are at.
30 | PLAYTHERAPY September 2024 |
www.a4pt.org
Through these experiences as the nerdy queer farm kid, I developed a deep appreciation of the importance of mental health support for marginalized communities. This fueled my passion for becoming a counselor who can offer empathetic, informed, and effective care to me a commitment to advocacy, education, and the continuous pursuit of knowledge to better serve my clients. In my practice I strive to create power of play therapy to transform lives and am dedicated to helping individuals navigate their unique challenges, build resilience, and rooted in my own experiences and the desire to make a positive impact
on the lives of others. ABOUT THE MEMBER
Tyler Z. Tooley MS, LPC, AutPlay® Supervisor, RPTTM
Therapy , graduated from Missouri
State University in 2020 and has since worked in private practice in St. Louis. Tyler specializes working with people who are neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHD, OCD, SPD, gifted, etc.) and/or queer.
TooleyTherapyServices@gmail.com
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