July 22, 2022
Presenter Bio
Quinn K. Smelser, PhD, NCC, LPC, RPT-S, graduated with her doctorate in Counseling and Human Development from The George Washington University and is a licensed counselor in Texas, Virginia and Maryland. She has specialized supervision training, play therapy and trauma training, and is also a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and National Certified Counselor.
She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She then earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Texas State University. Clinically, Quinn’s primary background consists of work with military families in a residential treatment center for children and adolescents who experienced trauma. She also worked as a counselor for at-risk youth in rural Texas and in hospice care where she counseled youth and families who were experiencing traumatic grief and loss as well as clients in care of hospice. She has had the honor of being supervised by Dr. Eliana Gil, Dr. Linda Homeyer, Dr. Mary Morrison-Bennett, and Dr. Elizabeth Kjellstrand-Hartwig.
Quinn is a Lecturer at The George Washington University where she teaches school counseling students and mental health counseling courses. She has published book chapters and articles on play therapy, family therapy, ethical practice, animal-assisted counseling, and spirituality. Quinn presents at conferences nationally on issues relating to ethical practice, child-centered play therapy, trauma informed care for children, LGBT and gender identity, grief and loss, and spirituality.
She lives in Maryland and is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Play Therapy, Chi Sigma Iota, and a volunteer with the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project.
Clinically, Quinn’s primary background consists of working in a residential treatment center for children and adolescents. She was the lead counselor and play therapist for the treatment center’s unit of girls, ages 7-13, who had experienced severe trauma. She also worked as a counselor for at-risk youth in rural Texas, as an Admissions Counselor for a traumatic brain injury and substance abuse center, and as a part-time community college counselor. She completed her year-long graduate internship working in a hospice setting where she counseled youth and families who were experiencing traumatic grief and loss.
Program Description
This program will focus on the intersection of play therapy with gender and sexual identity development. The training will highlight how play therapy inherently encourages gender and sexuality exploration. Little research has focused on best practices to allow children to safely explore their sexual and gender identity in therapy. The DSM-V has removed Gender Identity Disorder and replaced it with Gender Dysphoria for children, adolescents and adults. As part of the growing emphasis on social justice and diversity within counseling and play therapy, attention to best practices with gender diverse adults has increased, but little of this attention has focused specifically on working with children in play therapy. Techniques to assess and treat for traumatic experiences this population has experienced will be shown, practiced, and discussed. Presenter will facilitate a conversation about this emerging area of need and discuss ideas for play therapists to better advocate for these children. The presenter will provide opportunities for participants to reflect on their worries, biases, and awareness around sexual and gender identity issues with children.
- Date: July 22nd, 2022
- Location: Live via Zoom
- Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST (3 Contact Hours)
- Cost: $65.00
- Cancellation Policy can be viewed here.
- Continuing Education:
- APT Approved Provider # 20-599
- Brighter Futures Counseling, PLLC has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7035. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Brighter Futures Counseling, PLLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
- Brighter Futures Counseling, PLLC is an approved continuing education sponsor by the Kentucky Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (Approved 02/17/2022)
