About Leigh Ellen
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the only Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) in Athens. I graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Social Work in 2004 and 2005, respectively. I was a program coordinator and crisis counselor to child victims of crime at a local non-profit for seven years before opening my private practice, Growth Therapy. I have extensive training in the areas of play therapy, child development, and child sexual abuse, and have worked with hundreds of families to understand their children’s behaviors. I believe that therapy should be fun! In addition to working with kids, I also work with parents needing support surrounding parenting.
In addition to attending local and national conferences I have been asked to present trainings for local agencies regarding child development issues, and have been requested as an expert witness/consultant in child mental health and child sexual abuse at the local, state, and federal level. I also provide training to other licensed therapists who are interested in becoming registered play therapists. I have been a contributor to Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens Magazine, Athens Deals, The Mighty, and Play Therapy Magazine. I am a member of the Association for Play Therapy and Athens Area Licensed Mental Health Professionals Network. I am the co-founder of Athens Center for Counseling and Play Therapy and Athens Therapy Co-op, and the founder of Little Athens Children's Museum. I also provide parent coaching as The Inherent Parent Coach.
What is Play Therapy?
We don’t expect children to sit and talk using traditional talk therapy like adults do. Play Therapy is the strategic use of play in counseling to help children express themselves and learn healthy ways to cope with their feelings. It could be anything from creating an art project expressing anger to a puppet show about studying to a board game about following directions. Play therapy caters to the child’s needs, so it involves incorporating different activities based on the child's developmental level and interests. Depending on the age of the child and the presenting issue, often traditional talk therapy is used in combination with hands-on activities. To earn a play therapy certification, counselors must complete more than 150 hours of play therapy training in the classroom, 500 hours of play therapy practice, and 50 hours of play therapy supervision. For more information about play therapy visit The Association of Play Therapy’s website at www.a4pt.org.
For more information on what I do (and don't do) please see the What Do I Need page.
In addition to attending local and national conferences I have been asked to present trainings for local agencies regarding child development issues, and have been requested as an expert witness/consultant in child mental health and child sexual abuse at the local, state, and federal level. I also provide training to other licensed therapists who are interested in becoming registered play therapists. I have been a contributor to Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens Magazine, Athens Deals, The Mighty, and Play Therapy Magazine. I am a member of the Association for Play Therapy and Athens Area Licensed Mental Health Professionals Network. I am the co-founder of Athens Center for Counseling and Play Therapy and Athens Therapy Co-op, and the founder of Little Athens Children's Museum. I also provide parent coaching as The Inherent Parent Coach.
What is Play Therapy?
We don’t expect children to sit and talk using traditional talk therapy like adults do. Play Therapy is the strategic use of play in counseling to help children express themselves and learn healthy ways to cope with their feelings. It could be anything from creating an art project expressing anger to a puppet show about studying to a board game about following directions. Play therapy caters to the child’s needs, so it involves incorporating different activities based on the child's developmental level and interests. Depending on the age of the child and the presenting issue, often traditional talk therapy is used in combination with hands-on activities. To earn a play therapy certification, counselors must complete more than 150 hours of play therapy training in the classroom, 500 hours of play therapy practice, and 50 hours of play therapy supervision. For more information about play therapy visit The Association of Play Therapy’s website at www.a4pt.org.
For more information on what I do (and don't do) please see the What Do I Need page.
