Linda Klein, President
Linda Klein has been in private practice at A Children’s Counseling Center for 20 years and is a Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor as well as an APT Approved Provider and has presented many workshops. Linda sings in the Sunday Choir, trains Bolt ( her rescue dog), scrapbooks, makes jewelry and loves having fun!
Jamye Rico, President-elect
Jamye Rico is a Licensed Professional Counselor located at A Children’s Counseling Center in Colorado Springs. She is a graduate of University of Colorado – Colorado Springs with her BA in Psychology. She then continued her education at the University of Phoenix – Colorado Springs and completed her Masters degree in Community Counseling. Jamye specializes in working with children and families in both Play and Family Therapy settings. She has over 14 years of experience working with children and families and she is currently working toward a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor credential. Jamye believes that all parts of the family are important for the successful emotional and physical development of children and healthy families.
Nancy Siever, Secretary
Nancy Siever is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She has a private practice under Wings of Grace, a Christian Counseling Center. Nancy is currently serving as the Secretary for Colorado Association for Play Therapy.
Nancy previously worked for hospice, adult and pediatric, in Southern California. She was the Director for The Gathering Place, a bereavement center serving the South Bay Los Angeles area. During that time, she provided grief support groups for children, teens and adults. The Gathering Place provided support to local schools and the community.
Colorado Association for Play Therapy is an excellent statewide provision for play therapists to obtain additional training and find a community of therapists knowledgeable about children and their unique concerns.
Nancy McGeown, Treasurer
Nancy McGeown, MA, LPC, RPT, CSPT. Ms. McGeown is a Therapist for Family Tree’s Early Intervention and Prevention Project in Adams County. She graduated from Denver Seminary with a Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling. Ms. McGeown has worked extensively with homeless families and families in crisis for over twelve years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist experienced in working with parenting issues and intensive home-based services. Nancy has completed class work for Marriage and Family and combines play therapy into her family systems casework. She has experience presenting workshops on the local and state levels. Nancy will give practical suggestions to workshop participants in the areas of structure, limit setting, boundaries and chore charts. She will often write a metaphorical story or poem to help families understand their own family dynamics.
Jane L. Johnson, Conference Coordinator
Jane Johnson is one of the founders and a charter member of CAPT. She has served as Treasurer, President and returned to the CAPT Board as Conference Coordinator. Jane has enjoyed play therapy since 1974. Following work in hospitals, schools and mental health centers, she turned to private practice in 1989.
Suzanne E. Simon, Bylaw Consultant
Suzanne Simon has been working with children since 1987. She began as a first grade teacher, pre-kindergarten teacher and certified yoga instructor for children. After raising her four children she obtained her Masters degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her passion is helping preschool and school age children and their families, via directed and non-directed play therapy techniques. Suzanne is a board member for the Colorado Association for Play Therapy. In her free time she loves to practice yoga, mountain bike, swim, run and play with her family and three German Shepherds.
Lisa VanderGriend, Member-at-Large
Raised in sunny central Florida, I grew up loving all things warm and fun. Throughout my childhood and into my college years I had opportunities to travel and live around the globe and pursue a variety of interests that I love (languages, music, art, mountain biking, and hiking). After completing my undergraduate degree in North Carolina, I moved out to Denver, Colorado to pursue my masters in counseling. Trading the beach for the mountains, I also began to develop another interest and passion: play therapy. I quickly began to pursue a special focus and study in play therapy and have continued to find the work in this arena both an honor and a challenge. I’m continuing to pursue my passion for working with children and hope one day to continue my education to earn a PhD and teach at the graduate level. I have been working in both the private and public field for the past three years doing play therapy with traumatized and abuse children; I also have developed a keen interest in play therapy in international settings. Still loving all things warm and fun, I am pressing on in my journey as a play therapist.
Jennifer Shivey, Member-at-Large
I believe in choosing happiness! Sounds simple, right? It took me a long time to figure out that wanting to be happy and choosing to be happy were different things, and that distinction made a huge difference in my life.
I obtained my Masters of Community Counseling from Regis University. I completed additional studies in Play Therapy and am also obtaining a post- Graduate Certificate in Child and Adolescent Therapy from Regis University. As part of my training I completed an internship at Judi's House, which specializes in helping children who have lost a loved one by providing groups, play therapy and individual counseling services.
In the past I have worked at residential treatment facilities that serve children and adolescents. I also work with the courts and schools to provide support for truancy reduction programs. I am a National Certified Counselor and member of the American Counseling Association and the Association for Play Therapy.
Mary Ellen Hudson, Student Representative
Mary Ellen Hudson grew up in both rural and urban parts of Georgia. She developed a passion for children early in life. She has an enthusiasm for children and their development. Mary Ellen hopes to assist in building self-efficacy and empower children through play therapy. She is currently a student in the Counseling program at Denver Seminary. She plans to graduate with a master’s degree in August 2013. She has a vast amount of experience working with children and teens through her time working at Camp All American and Lost Valley Ranch. She completed her undergraduate degree in recreation and leisure studies at The University of Georgia in 2010. She also has experience teaching equine studies and hopes to one day apply her knowledge through equine assisted play therapy. Mary Ellen lives in Denver and hopes to establish herself as a licensed play therapist.
