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 Trained Clinician
Perinatal Mental Health Counselor
Joanne Thomas currently is an American Counseling Association (ACA) Blogger who has documented her journey from a Resident in Counseling to a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia. She was lead presenter at ACA Conference in 2016 to discuss Multicultural Perspectives of Career Choices and Masters Level Students.
Joanne has an expansive resume within the field of mental health which includes work at a State Mental Health Hospital, Acute Care Psychiatric Facility and providing counseling services at a Juvenile Detention Center, Alternative School for adolescents and Community-Based Counseling agencies.
She is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and Chair of the Fredericksburg Chapter of Virginia Association for Play Therapy. As Chair, she promotes the fact that play therapy interventions can be utilized across the lifespan. She also uses trauma-informed interventions as an EMDR Trained Clinician working towards EMDR Certification.
Upon recognizing the disparities of misdiagnoses for women of color with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD), Joanne has taken training to obtain her Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) to address this dilemma. 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 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
- Virginia Counselors Association
- Association for Play Therapy
- Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color
- DC Metro Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative
- American Psychological Association (APA)
Professional Associations:
- Central VA EMDR Regional Network
- Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors (NVLPC)
- Virginia Association for Play Therapy
- Perinatal Mental Health Coalition of Virginia
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Postpartum Support Virginia