Our Team
Our Team
Lisa Dion
Founder, President, Lead Teacher, Co-Founder of Synergetic Education Institute
Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is an international teacher, creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, founder and President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, co-founder of the Synergetic Education Institute, creator of the Business of Therapy and host of the Lessons from the Playroom podcast. She is the author of Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity and is the 2015 recipient of the Association for Play Therapy’s Professional Education and Training Award of Excellence.
Judith Norman
Co-Teacher/Trainer, Co-Founder & Lead Teacher of the Synergetic Education Institute
Judy, co-founder and lead trainer of the Synergetic Education Institute®, is a RPT-S, Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor, Parent Educator, and EMDR Therapy practitioner trained in Mindfulness in Education. With over a decade of experience applying Synergetic Play Therapy in schools, she has developed trauma-informed, social-emotional programs to support students and educators.
Kylie O'Brien
Program Director
Kylie, Program Director at the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, oversees programs, courses, and communications while fostering authentic connections within the SPT community. Based in Chicago, she brings expertise in student success, project management, and professional development. Kylie is also the Operations Director at Synergetic Education Institute, dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming space for all.
Lindsay Ishman
Marketing Director, SPT Consultant
Lindsay wears a couple of hats at the Institute, serving as both Marketing Director and Consultant. She is inspired by connecting with the global community and sharing the transformative message of Synergetic Play Therapy. As an LCSW and RPT-S, Lindsay also runs a private practice in Colorado, where she works with children and families. As a clinical supervisor, she finds inspiration in supporting fellow professionals and empowering them to build confidence in themselves and their therapeutic abilities.
Caryl Monahan
Marketing Associate
Caryl is a dedicated marketer with a passion for promoting SPTI’s courses and events to a global audience. With a background in Business Marketing, Digital Marketing, and Website Development, she utilizes her skills in copywriting, graphic design, and website usability to reach clients worldwide. As a dual citizen of the US and Australia, Caryl takes special care to cater to the international play therapy community, ensuring that SPTI’s message resonates with audiences from all corners of the globe.
Martin Tabañag
Video Editor
As a resident of the Philippines, Martin is passionate about photography and videography. He is inspired to create and edit videos that highlight the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute’s message and aims to impact people’s lives through his creativity and passion.
Florence Connally
Programming Assistant
Florence is the Programming Assistant at the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and supports the Program Director. With a background in project management, research, writing, and user experience, Florence is dedicated to ensuring that the whole student experience runs smoothly so students can spend their time becoming more successful and authentic as synergetic play therapists.
Liliana Baylon
Cultural Ambassador
Liliana is a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist Consultant, EMDR Certified, EMDRIA Consultant-in-Training, and AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Liliana is a bilingual and bicultural therapist and the owner of Healing Relationships Counseling Services, PLLC, in Colorado where she provides therapy and supervision.
Corinne Elms
Program Consultant Coordinator
Corinne serves as the Program Consultant Coordinator for the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor, and Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, she brings extensive experience to her role. Founder of Elm Tree Counseling in Redmond, OR, Corinne has been a play therapist since 2006 and is dedicated to helping SPTI and its consultants thrive globally.
Mili Sarmiento-Shoemaker
Supervisor Trainer
Mili, born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a bilingual, cross-cultural therapist and supervisor. With extensive experience working with the Latino community in Colorado, she integrates Synergetic Play Therapy with Gestalt Therapy, Family Constellations, EMDR, and systemic approaches. In private practice since 2013, Mili offers RPT-S supervision and is deeply inspired from a systemic and phenomenological lens to support supervisees’ growth and transformation. She is an LPC, RPT-S, LSW (Argentina), EMDR-trained, and is certified in both Gestalt Therapy and Family Constellations.
Khristine Turner Rolfe
Supervisor Trainer
Khris, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina, has a private practice and provides play therapy consultation and supervision as a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Practicing SPT since 2010, she integrates its principles into her work and life. Khris is passionate about supporting clinicians’ journeys, fostering intuitive wisdom and authenticity. She values the healing power of nature, incorporating its grounding elements into her daily life and practice. Khris also is a SPT Certification Consultant.
Polly Douglass
SPT Consultant
Polly is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Supervisor, Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, and trained in EMDR and Internal Family Systems. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she has a private practice and a parent coaching business. Since 2013, Polly has been an Associate with the Institute, passionate about guiding clinicians through professional and personal transformation using SPT, Relational Neuroscience, and Internal Family Systems Theory.
Katherine Eastlake
SPT Consultant
Katherine has a private practice in Corvallis, Oregon, offering counseling for children and families, parent coaching, supervision for play therapists, and community classes. Her services are deeply influenced by Synergetic Play Therapy, focusing on fostering authenticity and growth for children and families.
Kim Buller
SPT Consultant
Kim is a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Supervisor with a private practice near Salem, Oregon, serving children, teens, and families. Since 2018, she has enjoyed her role as an SPT Intro Consultant, fostering meaningful connections. Nature is her guide, and she thrives in deep, meaningful relationships. Kim is excited to support SPT’s growing community as the new Student Engagement Liaison.
Kathryn Mathis
SPT Consultant
Katie is a LPC, RPT, and Demartini Facilitator. She is the founder of Inspire Coaching & Counseling in Littleton, CO, serving families worldwide. Katie guides children, teens, and adults as they explore their authentic selves and build new neural pathways for brain health. As a supervisor, she supports therapists in discovering their voice, intuition, and inner wisdom both in and out of the playroom.
Lauren Forsythe
SPT Consultant
Lauren is a LPC, RPT-S, and Certified SPT and Consultant with a private practice in Longmont, CO. Lauren provides Synergetic Play Therapy to Children ages 3-12, works with teens and young adults, and supervises new therapists. Her style is highly relational, down to earth, and experiential–working to guide clients towards wholeness.
Helen Ritchie
SPT Consultant
Helen is a Certified SPT Supervisor in private practice in Vancouver, Canada, working with children, teens, adults, and parents using SPT, play therapy, Sandtray therapy, and EMDR. With over 25 years of experience in school counselling and science teaching, she is passionate about guiding play therapists to discover their authentic selves. Helen also teaches the neuroscience of behaviour through an SPT lens and trains school counsellors in play therapy and SPT principles. She is the President of the BC Play Therapy Association.
Mary Margaret Hagen
SPT Consultant
Mary Margaret Hagen serves as the Counseling Coordinator at a supportive housing facility in Denver, CO, where she supervises interns, manages the counseling program, and uses SPT with her young clients. With a background as a teacher in low-income schools, she is passionate about supporting children who have experienced trauma, poverty, abuse, and neglect. Becoming certified in Synergetic Play Therapy has been transformative, and she enjoys mentoring others on their journey toward authenticity and healing.
Sarah Harwood
SPT Consultant
Sarah is a play therapist and counsellor in Brisbane who works with children, families, and caregivers through a Synergetic Play Therapy lens. Alongside her private practice, she runs a play therapy training institute where she teaches and supervises play therapists. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her family, enjoying her border collie pup, reading, and treating herself to anything spa-related.
Kati Hill
SPT Consultant
Kati is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and Certified Synergetic Play Therapist Supervisor. She owns Bloom In Nola, a child-centered counseling practice in New Orleans, where she works as a psychotherapist, supervisor, consultant, and parent coach. Kati is passionate about helping young children and caregivers through Synergetic Play Therapy, bringing warmth and curiosity to every connection.
Grace Icaoune
SPT Consultant
Grace is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Certified SPT Therapist & Supervisor, RPT Supervisor, and DeMartini Trained Facilitator based in San Antonio, Texas. She provides therapy, supervision, and coaching services through her private practice. Grace teaches play therapy for The Ukraine Institute for Education in Psychology and is studying rest coaching. She is dedicated to creating spaces for people to connect to their authentic selves and live inspiring lives.
Gemma Taylor
SPT Consultant
Gemma is a MSSW, MPH, LCSW, RPT who earned dual-master’s degrees in Clinical Social Work and Public Health from Columbia University in 2007. She has since provided bilingual mental health services as a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist-Supervisor. Gemma is the owner of Summit Play Therapy LLC in Frisco, Colorado, specializing in trauma treatment for children and families. She works with her therapy dog, Nugget, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Kristin Spiegel
SPT Consultant
Kristin is a LCSW and RPT-S with a private practice in Durango, CO, where she supports children and families through clinical supervision and consultation. She also works part-time in schools, focusing on early childhood education and collaborating with teachers and families. As a mentor in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics™ (NMT) and trained in the Neurosequential Model of Education™ (NME), Kristin’s journey with Synergetic Play Therapy™ has profoundly influenced her practice and personal growth. She is passionate about guiding others in discovering their inner wisdom and fostering meaningful connections.
Lora Schultz
SPT Consultant
Lora a LCSW and RPT-S has been a counselor in K-12 schools and private practice in Crescent City, CA, for nearly 30 years. She completed Level 1 training in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics and Education (NMT/NME) and is a Certified SPT supervisor and Yoga Calm instructor. Lora is passionate about teaching the neuroscience of behavior and SPT-based counseling interventions to children and adults.
Bethany Tubbs
SPT Consultant
Beth is an LMFT, RPT, and Certified SPT Supervisor with a private practice in the Pacific Northwest. She works with children, teens, couples, and families, and offers consultation for clinicians integrating SPT into their work. SPT is foundational to Beth’s personal growth and professional development, and she is dedicated to supporting clients in tuning into their own innate wisdom and authenticity as they navigate life's challenges.
Michelle Wayman
SPT Consultant
Michelle Wayman is a LPC, Demartini Facilitator, and EMDR trained. She is the founder of MW Counseling in Colorado Springs serving both children and parents. Michelle brings a playfulness, sense of humor, and embodied approach to both her therapeutic work and parenting style. She loves to empower others to step into their own genius as their authentic selves. hammocks for nervous system regulation.
Rachel Hardies
SPT Consultant
Rachel is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington state, a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Supervisor, and Intro to SPT Consultant. Practicing SPT since 2015, she regularly brings it into her work and daily life. She currently works as a Behavior Support Specialist for her local Boys & Girls Clubs which gives her the opportunity to bring SPT principles to the staff, the parents, and the hundreds of club kids they serve. She also created Head In The Game Consulting where she offers consultations, trainings, and mental strength coaching. Rachel lives on Washington's North Olympic Peninsula where she enjoys connecting with nature on the local mountain trails and in the nearby lakes.
Jane Parkinson
SPT Consultant
Jane is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) & SPT Supervisor® and Consultant who balances her time between private practice, providing supervision and consultation to play therapists and counsellors, and now in supporting students embarking on their learning journey with the SPTI. Jane is also a Counsellor & EMDR Practitioner with extensive experience in working with complex trauma and supporting families in the adoption, foster and kinship space. Jane holds a strong commitment to promoting best practices, ethical standards, and encouraging ongoing professional development within the Australian Play Therapy community. Outside of the playroom, Jane is based in Melbourne, Australia, and enjoys all the amazingly regulating benefits of living only 10 minutes from the beach!
Gianella Larreategui Garcia
SPT Consultant
Known for her open minded presence, sensitivity, and the spacious permission for authentic expression, Gianella facilitates environments where regulation and genuine expression can emerge. She has more than 12 years committed to ongoing personal growth, offering therapy and education that facilitates integration, growth and attunement.