Danielle White - Owner, LPC, RPT-S
Hi, my name is Danielle White. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. I believe in a holistic approach, meaning that I want to help you heal in all areas of your life, not just pieces of it. I specialize in early childhood play therapy (ages 18 months-5) but also work with individuals 5-18 and at times adults.
What is play therapy you ask? It is a therapeutic approach for ages 2-12 that offers children a way to grow and heal through their natural language of play. It is widely known that children understand and process things much differently than adults. So why then should we expect to treat children in a therapeutic setting with a traditional talk therapy approach, as if they were adults? Children are not ready to process difficulties merely through verbal processing. Children practice and learn the most through playing, and play therapists use that strength to help children overcome adverse situations and everyday difficulties.
The goal of a play therapist is to bring about understanding and help develop a variety of skills in children through playing. Everything in the playroom is there for the purpose of facilitating understanding. When children are struggling with something, they will enter the playroom and naturally gravitate towards something that provides an outlet to process that struggle. For example, a child struggling with the death of a loved one might use dolls or animal miniatures to act out a family member being with the family and then suddenly disappearing. A play therapist’s role is to take confusing, scary, negative experiences, and communicate them in a way the child understands, or help the child process in a way that is age appropriate.
Hi, my name is Danielle White. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. I believe in a holistic approach, meaning that I want to help you heal in all areas of your life, not just pieces of it. I specialize in early childhood play therapy (ages 18 months-5) but also work with individuals 5-18 and at times adults.
What is play therapy you ask? It is a therapeutic approach for ages 2-12 that offers children a way to grow and heal through their natural language of play. It is widely known that children understand and process things much differently than adults. So why then should we expect to treat children in a therapeutic setting with a traditional talk therapy approach, as if they were adults? Children are not ready to process difficulties merely through verbal processing. Children practice and learn the most through playing, and play therapists use that strength to help children overcome adverse situations and everyday difficulties.
The goal of a play therapist is to bring about understanding and help develop a variety of skills in children through playing. Everything in the playroom is there for the purpose of facilitating understanding. When children are struggling with something, they will enter the playroom and naturally gravitate towards something that provides an outlet to process that struggle. For example, a child struggling with the death of a loved one might use dolls or animal miniatures to act out a family member being with the family and then suddenly disappearing. A play therapist’s role is to take confusing, scary, negative experiences, and communicate them in a way the child understands, or help the child process in a way that is age appropriate.
Taylor Ottwell, PLPC, Play Therapist in Training
Hi! My name is Taylor Ottwell. I am a Counselor In Training and soon to be a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor. I have a Master's in Counseling from Missouri Baptist University. I am also currently seeking my Play Therapy Certification at Missouri Baptist University. I have experience working with kids, teens, and young adults.
I have a passion for helping people and walking with them through trials. I believe that all people, kids included, are able to reach their full potential and I will be there to walk through life with them as they need it. I also have a heart for kids and helping them and their parents navigate trials and challenges. I will work with parents to teach them skills and techniques, and understand how to best help their children.
Hi! My name is Taylor Ottwell. I am a Counselor In Training and soon to be a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor. I have a Master's in Counseling from Missouri Baptist University. I am also currently seeking my Play Therapy Certification at Missouri Baptist University. I have experience working with kids, teens, and young adults.
I have a passion for helping people and walking with them through trials. I believe that all people, kids included, are able to reach their full potential and I will be there to walk through life with them as they need it. I also have a heart for kids and helping them and their parents navigate trials and challenges. I will work with parents to teach them skills and techniques, and understand how to best help their children.
Tami Daigle, PLPC, Play Therapist in Training
I am a Provisionally Licensed Counselor who has a passion for partnering with individuals and their families in their search for solace. I have over 19 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings; however, most recently in my role as a school counselor.
I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Missouri- St. Louis in 2004 with an emphasis in children with developmental and psychological disorders. I received my Master of Science In Education-Counselor Education from Missouri Baptist University in 2007. My approach to therapy is to incorporate techniques from solution focused therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy into my sessions with an emphasis on play, movement, and the expressive arts.
I enjoy helping my clients find their inner strengths as we focus together on reducing stress, embracing empathy, building better communication skills, growing resilience, and forming a positive growth mindset for the future. I have earned my Trauma Studies Certification, am currently working towards my Yoga Calm Certification, and am also available for IEP and 504 consultation. I specialize in working with children and adolescents; however, I also enjoy providing support to parents and teachers. Please feel free to make an inquiry call to see if I would be a good fit for your needs!
I am a Provisionally Licensed Counselor who has a passion for partnering with individuals and their families in their search for solace. I have over 19 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings; however, most recently in my role as a school counselor.
I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Missouri- St. Louis in 2004 with an emphasis in children with developmental and psychological disorders. I received my Master of Science In Education-Counselor Education from Missouri Baptist University in 2007. My approach to therapy is to incorporate techniques from solution focused therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy into my sessions with an emphasis on play, movement, and the expressive arts.
I enjoy helping my clients find their inner strengths as we focus together on reducing stress, embracing empathy, building better communication skills, growing resilience, and forming a positive growth mindset for the future. I have earned my Trauma Studies Certification, am currently working towards my Yoga Calm Certification, and am also available for IEP and 504 consultation. I specialize in working with children and adolescents; however, I also enjoy providing support to parents and teachers. Please feel free to make an inquiry call to see if I would be a good fit for your needs!
Shannon Gruzeski, PLPC, Play Therapist in Training
Being a kid is hard work. So is parenting. As a child and adolescent mental health specialist with a background in education and school counseling, I’ve worked closely
with families, school teams, and other professionals to guide children through a range of emotional and behavioral issues.
My approach is warm, empathic, and playful. I'm all about tapping into each child's strengths, empowering them to increase self-awareness, human connection, and decision-making skills. Utilizing play therapy techniques and other evidence-based practices, I create a safe and nurturing environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves. Please reach out to determine if I may be a good fit for your child’s needs.
Being a kid is hard work. So is parenting. As a child and adolescent mental health specialist with a background in education and school counseling, I’ve worked closely
with families, school teams, and other professionals to guide children through a range of emotional and behavioral issues.
My approach is warm, empathic, and playful. I'm all about tapping into each child's strengths, empowering them to increase self-awareness, human connection, and decision-making skills. Utilizing play therapy techniques and other evidence-based practices, I create a safe and nurturing environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves. Please reach out to determine if I may be a good fit for your child’s needs.
Madison Crowell, Counselor in Training, Play Therapist in Training
Hi! My name is Madison Crowell, and I am a graduate student at Lindenwood University getting my master's in clinical mental health counseling. I have over four years of experience working with children on the autism spectrum and have a passion for working with children of all different backgrounds and uniqueI lean toward a person-centered and family systems approach, emphasizing holistic modalities and trauma-informed care.
I think it's crucial to understand the complex processes and relationships that shape an individual's identity in order to truly comprehend them. I work to establish a strong therapeutic relationship in order to encourage clients to explore their ideas, feelings, and experiences in a way that is both encouraging and validating. My goal is to assist children in overcoming obstacles and coming up with coping mechanisms that make sense for their stage of development.
Hi! My name is Madison Crowell, and I am a graduate student at Lindenwood University getting my master's in clinical mental health counseling. I have over four years of experience working with children on the autism spectrum and have a passion for working with children of all different backgrounds and uniqueI lean toward a person-centered and family systems approach, emphasizing holistic modalities and trauma-informed care.
I think it's crucial to understand the complex processes and relationships that shape an individual's identity in order to truly comprehend them. I work to establish a strong therapeutic relationship in order to encourage clients to explore their ideas, feelings, and experiences in a way that is both encouraging and validating. My goal is to assist children in overcoming obstacles and coming up with coping mechanisms that make sense for their stage of development.
Maria Lansa, Counselor in Training, Play Therapist in Training
Hello! I'm Maria Lanasa, a passionate counselor intern with nine years of experience working with young children under 10. I am incredibly excited about my journey here. My love for working with children extends to teens as well, and I find great fulfillment in supporting them through their unique challenges.
Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with young children and teens who face a variety of issues, including Autism, Anxiety, OCD, Depression, ADHD, and Learning disabilities. My approach is rooted in empathy and understanding, creating a safe space where they can express themselves and grow!
Hello! I'm Maria Lanasa, a passionate counselor intern with nine years of experience working with young children under 10. I am incredibly excited about my journey here. My love for working with children extends to teens as well, and I find great fulfillment in supporting them through their unique challenges.
Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with young children and teens who face a variety of issues, including Autism, Anxiety, OCD, Depression, ADHD, and Learning disabilities. My approach is rooted in empathy and understanding, creating a safe space where they can express themselves and grow!