We at Play Therapy Essentially, PLLC believe in each person’s ability to change and improve their situations through the power that comes from recognizing and identifying their positive character traits. We work collaboratively with each client to assist them in reaching their goals and to help them achieve positive outcomes. There are no “cookie-cutter” interventions because each person is different. We want to empower individuals to make choices in their progress and to enhance each person’s strengths and unique abilities that will promote success.
Mission
Utilizing a strength-based approach to incorporate evidenced-based practices such as play therapy across the life span to address such issues as relationship conflict, family stressors, mood disorders and trauma.
Meet The Clincians
Joanne Thomas, MA, LPC, NCC, RPT-S™
EMDR Certified Therapist
Perinatal Mental Health Counselor
Joanne Thomas is an EMDR Certified Therapist, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ (RPT-S™) and former Chair of the Fredericksburg Chapter of Virginia Association for Play Therapy. She utilizes her clinical expertise to train prospective pre-licensed individuals with interventions to provide play therapy services for children, adolescents and adults. As an Approved Clinical Supervisor in the State of Virginia she provides both clinical supervision and play therapy supervision. Her previous presentations to various professional associations include strategies and perspectives on working with people of color while developing cultural humility.
She has recently re-activated herself with Virginia Community Response Network to provide trauma focused treatment protocols to individuals that have been negatively impacted by a traumatic event in the state of Virginia. Joanne is an advocate in supporting crisis responders by providing behavioral healthcare services to improve their mental health and wellness.
Additionally, Joanne has completed all of the required training to obtain her Perinatal Mental Health Counseling certificate (PMH-C). In this capacity, she works with perinatal and postpartum clients to address Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) in clinical sessions. As she continues to receive advanced training in working with women with postpartum diagnoses, she hopes to bring attention to the disproportionate number of mental health providers that have clinical expertise to provide this type of service.
Education:
- B.A. Psychology- San Diego State University
- M.A. Counseling Psychology- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Professional Memberships:
- National Board for Certified Counselors
- EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
- Postpartum Support International
- Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color
- Virginia Counselors Association
- DC Metro Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative
- Association for Play Therapy
Professional Associations:
- National Volunteer Fire Council
- Virginia Community Response Network
- Postpartum Support Virginia
- Perinatal Mental Health Coalition of Virginia
Bryanda “Bry” Monge-Vega
Licensed Resident in Counseling
Bry is a first generation Mexican American and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She has provided translation and interpretation services for her family and for about ten years in a professional capacity.
Bry began her career in Colorado at the Adams County Sherriff’s Office where she spent two years as a Victim Service Advocate and four years as a Jail Detention Deputy. She made her transition to Virginia where she worked as a Child and Family Advocate and a Family Resource Specialist providing children and their families with support, resources, and connection to the community. She has a passion for working with children and their families enduring life’s challenges.
Bry has recently obtained her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University and is looking forward to working with adults and couples in addition to children and adolescents.
Education:
- B. S. Criminal Justice and Criminology – Metropolitan State University of Denver
- M. A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Liberty University
Professional Memberships:
- Association for Play Therapy (ACA)
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)
- Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) International Honor Society
- Virginia Counselors Association (VCA)
Kayla Troupe
Graduate Student
Kayla Troupe grew up as a military child living across the U.S. (Florida, Virginia, South Carolina) and Germany. Her experiences in living in a variety places has given her a broad understanding of the diverse cultures within our communities. She learned early in life that she wanted to assist others in working through the barriers in their life and achieve their own personal goals in a healthy mental lifestyle.
Through volunteering in different organizations both religious and non-religious, Kayla has been able to experience the need for compassion and positivity in the lives of children and adults alike. She was able to assist through missions to participate in rebuilding communities that were devasted by Katrina. This mission field allowed her to see the emotional and physical barriers that occur from situations out of one’s control and find pathways to overcome them.
Currently, she is a Clinical Mental Health Graduate Student at Liberty University.
Education:
- B. S. Biomedical Sciences – University of South Florida
- M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Graduate Student – Liberty University
Professional Memberships:
- American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)