Welcome to the Center for Play Therapy!
It is a privilege to serve as the Director of the Center for Play Therapy, where our mission is to advance the use of play therapy to support children and families. At CPT, we are dedicated to providing high-quality training and access to play therapy literature, as well as facilitating services that cater to the needs of children and families.
My journey with play therapy began in 1994, when I took my first course and started exploring how to best support children facing challenges. Through my extensive training and clinical experience, I have learned the value of building a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship with children, centered around the process of play therapy. Witnessing the positive impacts of play therapy on children has fueled my passion for training other clinicians in this developmentally appropriate treatment. I have been fortunate to pursue this passion as a clinician, counselor educator, and clinic director. It is an honor to continue this work in my role at the Center for Play Therapy.
We hope you find our resources valuable in your work with children.
Playfully,
Leslie
Meet Our Staff
The Center for Play Therapy is staffed by counseling department professors, doctoral students, a brilliant office manager, hardworking undergraduate students, and volunteers (who we are very grateful for!). Below are some of the people that keep CPT going strong:
Director
Leslie Jones, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, Certified CCPT-S/T, Certified CPRT-S/T, Certified CCGPT-S/T
Leslie Jones is a Clinical Professor at the University of North Texas. Leslie has over 20 years of play therapy experience including teaching university courses, supervising counselors in training, and working with families and children in both community agency and school settings. She currently teaches courses in play therapy, child appraisal, and expressive arts. Leslie is graduate of the Association for Play Therapy Leadership Academy. She served as President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy and served on the Florida Association for Play Therapy board. Dr. Jones has presented nationally on play therapy and expressive arts. She is actively involved in the international certification program for Child-Centered Play Therapy, Child-Parent Relationship Therapy, and Child-Centered Group Play Therapy.
Assistant Directors
Vinci Chong, M.S., LPC Associate, RP (Ontario), RPTTM
Hello! My name is Vinci Chong, and I am a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Program at the University of North Texas. I received my master's degree from City University of Hong Kong. I worked as a registered psychotherapist in Canada. My clinical and research interests are Child-Centered Play Therapy and Child-Parent Relationship Therapy for children with developmental delay and special educational needs. I am so excited to be a part of the CPT team!
Ashley Hembrock, M.S., LPC
Hi! My name is Ashley Hembrock, and I am a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Program here at the University of North Texas, specializing in play therapy. I received my master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UNT. I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas. My clinical research interests include Child-Centered Play Therapy and Child-Parent Relationship Therapy with neurodiverse children.
I'm so excited to be back here pursuing my doctoral degree and to be a part of the CPT team!
Administrative Coordinator
Gabby Soto
Hi, my name is Gabby. I am happy to be working at the Center for Play Therapy and being involved in changing children's lives! In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband, kids, dogs, and friends.