Board of Members
BOARD MEMBERS
Cary Hamilton, MA, MFT, LMHC, CMHS, RPT-S
President
Cary has been working with children since 1998 and specializes in the field of play therapy. She believes in investing time training and supporting the next generation of therapists. Cary is the owner and CEO of Olympia Therapy, LLC and the Director of Antioch Center for Play Therapy. She actively supervises new therapists and regularly presents play therapy workshops to train both students and clinicians. Cary’s experiences in event planning and coordination, combined with proven business acumen are an asset to the Washington state Association for Play Therapy. Cary looks forward to the opportunity to collaborate with fellow Board Members to propel the Association forward on a course of advancement and expansion.
Daisy Vergara, NCC, LMHC, RPT-S
Past-President
Daisy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She has a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has been working with children for over 17 years. She used to be a preschool teacher while in Hawaii, where she considers it home, and she has been working with children therapeutically since 2003. Daisy started private practice in 2010. She is the owner of Ohana Behavioral Health, a multi specialty group private practice in Issaquah. She really believes in the therapeutic power of play and is invested in it. She loves helping clients through the power of play, as well as in educating others in the community about play therapy as an effective method of intervention, even for adults. It is an honor for her to be serving in the board for Washington Play Therapy Association.
Sarah Moran, LMFT, RPT
President-Elect
Sarah is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. She earned her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch University Seattle in 2017. Sarah works at Olympia Therapy and specializes in working with children (ages 2+), families, and neurodivergent young adults. Sarah has particular interest in working with individuals with ADHD and sensory processing challenges. Sarah is a Certified AutPlay® Therapy provider. Sarah has co-authored two chapters that were published in play therapy textbooks in 2021, and is actively working on further publications. It is a pleasure to help spread the word about the power of play therapy through Washington state!
Heather Ramirez, LICSW, RPT, CMHS
Secretary
Heather is a Licensed Clinical Independent Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist and Child Mental Health Specialist in Richland, Washington. She earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University in 2010. After graduation, she worked in Child Protective Services and at Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 2016, she started providing therapy working with children, youth and their families. Heather is passionate about serving children, youth and families who have experienced abuse, neglect and other forms of trauma throughout their lives. She is a Certified AutPlay Therapist and is working on her TraumaPlay Certificate. She is excited to help support and teach those wanting to learn about Play Therapy and the amazing transformation that occurs through this process!
Lisa Burress, MSW, LICSW, RPT
Treasurer
Lisa is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist. She obtained her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of North Dakota in 2016 and currently works with clients in private practice. Prior to this, Lisa worked with children, youth, and families in a variety of settings including child care, afterschool programs, summer camps, foster care programs, juvenile hall, a youth shelter, a school-based mentor program, community mental health, and other community-based programs. I am a firm believer in the power of play in working with kids and families and am excited to spread awareness of this to families and other providers as well as to work toward empowering and encouraging providers who may be experiencing burnout.
Taryn Brown, LMHC
Eastern Washington Outreach Director
Taryn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Spokane, Washington. She has completed the Foundational Certification in Theraplay, as well as full certification in Yoga Calm and Compassion Fatigue. Taryn has advanced training in CBT Plus, Motivational Interviewing, Gottman Method, and is currently working towards her RPT credential. Taryn obtained her Masters in Counselor Education from Eastern Washington University in 2016. She has worked with children in many different capacities for 16 years, working in child care, group foster homes, community mental health and is currently working as a Multi-Tier Support Specialist in Spokane Public Schools, while seeing a small amount of clients in private practice. Taryn’s area of focus is attachment and working on creating attachment bonds with children, caregivers, teachers, and really anyone who is imperative in children’s lives. Play is Taryn’s favorite language to speak! She loves helping others understand why play is so important, and recognizes that amazing progress can happen when children and families have the tools they need.
Christina Vazquez, LMFTA
Social Media Director
Cristina Vázquez (she/they) holds the position of Social Media Director for the WAAPT board. She is an LMFTA that works out of the Seattle area. Cristina is a transplant from San Antonio, TX that pursued her masters at Antioch University Seattle where she also completed the play therapy certification program. Cristina LOVES her corgi, Arlo, and for all things corgi related. She also enjoys celebrating and sharing her Latinx heritage. Her favorite toy in the playroom is the Bobo doll. Her people are kids that are looking to find different ways to talk and communicate. What better way to communicate than play! She looks forward and is grateful for the opportunity to grow and play a part in the advancement of WAAPT.
Lisa Dean, LMFT, RPT
Membership Director
Lisa is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. She graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from Western Washington University and M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University in 2009. She has worked with kids and families in several different settings including summer camps, group home, foster care, schools, clinic and now in private practice. When she is not helping individuals and families, you will find her supporting the local sports teams Sounders, Seahawks, and OL Reign. Lisa also enjoys reading and traveling.
Christa Adams, LMHC, RPT
Conference Chair
Christa Adams is a Licenced Mental Health Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist. She received her Masters in Community Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family from University of Northern Colorado in 2005. Early in her career she worked with children and families in various clinical settings, both in Colorado and Washington. She has since transitioned into serving clients in a private practice setting serving children and families in the Woodinville area. Christa loves to provide a safe place for kids of all ages, using the tools of Play and Sand therapy. She is passionate about her work with families and helping to create better relationships between parents and children. She is looking forward to being part of the WAAPT board and participating in some great conferences this year.
Fondra Magee, M.Ed., SB-RPT
Eastern Washington Networking Director (Spokane)
Fondra Magee obtained her B.S. in Elementary Education from Union University in Jackson, TN and her M.Ed in School Counseling from Southeastern Louisiana University located in Hammond, LA. Fondra has taught in classrooms and been an elementary school counselor in public schools in four states. She is currently a school counselor at Stevens Elementary in Spokane Public Schools. Fondra’s love and passion for the art of Play Therapy began when her school district in TN sent her to the tenth annual International Play Therapy Conference in Atlanta, GA in 1993. The very next year, she and her colleagues were thrilled to spend a weekend with Dr. Garry Landreth and by the next year, she found herself on the TN Association for Play Therapy board of directors. Fondra’s passion for play therapy in the school setting has led to hundreds upon hundreds of hours filled with unforgettable relationships with the children she has served. She will obtain her SB-RPT this summer.
Celia Courser, LMFTA
Newsletter
Celia Courser is an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Sports Psychology from Western Washington University, and a Master’s Degree in Couples and Family Therapy with a Play Therapy Certificate from Antioch University Seattle. Throughout her life, Celia has volunteered and worked with children, adults, and families in a variety of environments, some of which include: church camps, nursing homes, hospitals, and foster care. Now Celia works with children, individuals, and families in a group practice. When not supporting children and families, Celia finds herself hiking with her wife and dog, watching grey’s anatomy, and singing along to Disney.
Members at Large
Carrie Pipkin, LMHC-S
Carrie Pipkin is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from Abilene Christian University and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from George Fox University. She’s been working with youth for over 14 years in various capacities such as; Residential Counselor, Special Education Para Professional, Kindergarten Teacher, School Counselor, and Child and Family Therapist. Carrie currently works as a school counselor. She is passionate about the power of play and excited to be part of an organization that embodies this healing practice!
Brynn Fitzer
Brynn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and is hoping to be a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) by July 2022. She graduated with her B.A. from the University of Evansville in Evansville IN in 2006 and her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology in 2018. Brynn enjoys working with families to decrease meltdowns and alleviate the tension caused by these big emotions. Brynn has been working with children and teens for almost twenty years in settings such as camps, swim and lifeguard instruction, homeless shelters, homeless outreach and skill development centers, community mental health, and private practice. Brynn loves rock climbing, hiking, and talking to the plants in her garden.