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
Amber-Lea Martinez, M.S., LPC Associate
Hi there! My name is Amber-Lea Martinez, and I’m a fourth-year doctoral student in the Counseling Program at the University of North Texas. I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling here at UNT and am so excited to continue specializing in child-centered play therapy. This year, I am completing my dissertation exploring the impacts of CCPT with children who have experienced displacement from their primary caregivers. I'm also passionate about providing support for the adults in these children's lives, including foster parents, biological parents working toward/post- reunification, and teachers. I’m so happy to be at the Center for Play Therapy, doing my favorite things with my favorite people!
Stephanie Carr, MA, LPC, LCMHC, NCC
Hi! I’m Stephanie Carr, and I am a third-year doctoral student in the Counseling Program at the University of North Texas. Most of my childhood was spent in California where I was born. I’ve also lived in Texas and North Carolina since then. I received my bachelors degree in Psychology and Child Development from the University of Texas at Dallas and my masters degree in Counseling from Dallas Seminary. My clinical and research interests are focused on play therapy and filial interventions with minority children from adoptive and foster care backgrounds. I’m so excited to be a part of the CPT team this year!
Yung-Yu Lee, M.Ed./Ed.S.
Hi, my name is Yung-Yu Lee, and I go by Lee. I am a third-year doctoral student at the University of North Texas. I was raised in Taiwan and received my master's in School Counseling from the University of Georgia. My clinical and research interests focus on school counseling and play therapy. I am so excited to join the CPT team, contributing to the field while expanding my skills and understanding.
Nekiya Jackson, M.S., LPC Associate, NCC
Hello! My name is Nekiya Jackson, and I am a second-year doctoral student in the Counseling Program here at the University of North Texas, specializing in play therapy. I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UNT, and I am incredibly grateful to be back pursuing my doctoral degree. My clinical and research interests focus on the experiences of marginalized populations in play therapy, as well as in adult therapy, Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (Filial), and Child-Teacher Relationship Therapy. I am thrilled to be part of the team at the Center for Play Therapy and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to work alongside like-minded individuals dedicated to advancing the field of play therapy.
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, kid, sheep, dogs, and friends.