AAPT Certified Professionals

Directory

Directory of Professionals Fully Certified by the INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ANIMAL ASSISTED PLAY THERAPY®

The International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy® offers a full certification program for professionals who have met our stringent criteria for this credential. It is a full certification (different from a “certificate program”) because individuals must satisfactorily demonstrate their competencies in the understanding and effective, ethical practice of Animal Assisted Play Therapy®. The human professionals must attend at least 150 hours of online and in-person training programs, satisfactorily complete supervision that typically takes a year, and work extensively with their animals to ensure the positive, relationship-based approach that AAPT is built upon. The competencies cover the multidisciplinary fields that comprise AAPT, and these are listed in the AAPT Certification Manuals included in this website. The animals must be approved using several indices of their suitability and their therapists’ abilities to advocate for their needs and ensure their welfare at the highest levels. AAPT is fully described in the book by Risë VanFleet and Tracie Faa-Thompson (2017). Animal Assisted Play Therapy. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press.

The Directory is divided into the following sections:

Each entry includes a brief biography of the individual as well as contact information. If you have any questions at all about this listing, the training and certification programs, or AAPT in general, please send them to info@iiaapt.org. Certification Manuals for each of these credentials are found here.

Co-Founders of AAPT

AAPT was developed, at first separately as Canine Assisted Play Therapy® and Equine Assisted Play Therapy® by Dr. Risë VanFleet and Tracie Faa-Thompson, respectively. They began collaborating and then offering training workshops together in 2004. They have coauthored dozens of articles and chapters, and their widely acclaimed book, Animal Assisted Play Therapy, was released in 2017.

AAPT Certified Instructors

The AAPT Instructor Program was fully implemented in 2019. Individuals earning this certification are already certified at the therapist level. Candidates are selected by invitation only, although anyone may express interest. Recipients of this credential undergo extensive Instructor training that strengthens their skills at teaching other professionals in a positive, effective manner while learning how to deliver the highly demanding Level 1 AAPT Training Program. They then participate in a mentorship in which they help with and then co-lead Level 1 trainings. Once certified, they are qualified to offer the Level 1 AAPT Training Program independently in their own organizations, but they must coordinate this with IIAAPT and other Instructors and also obtain regular continuing education relevant to this work. The AAPT Instructor Certification Manual is available on this website.

AAPT Certified Supervisors

In 2017, IIAAPT rolled out its Supervisor Certification Program. Individuals who earn this certification are already certified in AAPT at the therapist level and have a recognized supervisor credential from their governmental licensing body and/or an accepted mental health organization. They then undergo additional supervisor training that focuses specifically on the complexities of supervising professionals and their animals in the conduct of AAPT. This, too, is a full certification based on demonstrated competence. All AAPT supervisors go through a mentorship experience (approximately one year) as well to ensure these competencies. The AAPT Supervision Certification Manual is also available on this website. (in order that CAAPT-S was awarded)

AAPT Certified Professionals/Therapists

Individuals listed below are fully certified by the IIAAPT either as Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapists (they have a master’s-level university degree and have attained both mental health and play therapy credentials, in addition to the AAPT competencies) or as Certified Professional Practitioners of AAPT (they have a master’s level university degree and have attained a mental health credential as well as some required training in play therapy, in addition to the AAPT competencies). They have demonstrated the competencies required and described in The AAPT Certification Manual.

Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC, CAEBC-I

Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC, CAEBC-I

Tracie Faa-Thompson, MA, AASW, PGdipNDPT, CAEBC-I

Tracie Faa-Thompson, MA, AASW, PGdipNDPT, CAEBC-I

Lucy Llewellyn, CAAPT -S-I, PG NDPT, AASW, NNEB

Lucy Llewellyn, CAAPT -S-I, PG NDPT, AASW, NNEB

Teri Holamon, LPC-S, RPT-S, CAAPT-S-I, CHST, CAEBS

Teri Holamon, LPC-S, RPT-S, CAAPT-S-I, CHST, CAEBS

Val Miraglia, LPA, RPT-S, CFT-I, Cert AutPlay Therapist, CAAPT-S

Val Miraglia, LPA, RPT-S, CFT-I, Cert AutPlay Therapist, CAAPT-S

Jacqueline George, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT-S-I

Jacqueline George, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT-S-I

Lisa Mink McGowan, LMFT, RPT-S, CAAPT-S

Lisa Mink McGowan, LMFT, RPT-S, CAAPT-S

Debora McManus, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Debora McManus, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Jodi Smith, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Jodi Smith, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Sara Tsuboi, JD, LMFT, RPT, CAAPT

Sara Tsuboi, JD, LMFT, RPT, CAAPT

Diane Dioguardi, LPC, RPT, CAAPT, CAEBS

Diane Dioguardi, LPC, RPT, CAAPT, CAEBS

Heather Payne, LMHC, RPT-S, CAAPT, CT

Heather Payne, LMHC, RPT-S, CAAPT, CT

Brooke Robillard, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Brooke Robillard, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Tracy Turner-Bumberry, LPC, RPT-S, CAAPT

Tracy Turner-Bumberry, LPC, RPT-S, CAAPT

Lauren Symmonds Aboussie, LCSW, RPT, CAAPT

Lauren Symmonds Aboussie, LCSW, RPT, CAAPT

Tori Beauclaire, LCPC, RPT-S, CAAPT

Tori Beauclaire, LCPC, RPT-S, CAAPT

Cyndie Kieffer, LCSW, CPP-AAPT-I

Cyndie Kieffer, LCSW, CPP-AAPT-I

Karla Hartlep, MS, LCMFT, RPT, CAAPT

Karla Hartlep, MS, LCMFT, RPT, CAAPT

Jill Robinson, LCSW, LSCSW, RPT™, CAS, CAAPT

Jill Robinson, LCSW, LSCSW, RPT™, CAS, CAAPT

Mary Rottier, Ed.D., LPC, RPT-S, CAAPT-S-I

Mary Rottier, Ed.D., LPC, RPT-S, CAAPT-S-I

Ana Dasilva, LCSW-C, RPT, CAAPT, CATP

Ana Dasilva, LCSW-C, RPT, CAAPT, CATP

Jennifer Celli, LPC, RPT, CAAPT

Jennifer Celli, LPC, RPT, CAAPT

Jamie Brett Moniak, MS, LPC, CPP-AAPT

Jamie Brett Moniak, MS, LPC, CPP-AAPT

Stephanie Bridgehouse, LPC, CPP-AAPT

Stephanie Bridgehouse, LPC, CPP-AAPT

Leah M. Corrigan, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, CPP-AAPT

Leah M. Corrigan, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, CPP-AAPT

Sarah LeBoon, MSW, LCSW, QCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Sarah LeBoon, MSW, LCSW, QCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Haley Moskella, LCSW, CPP-AAPT

Haley Moskella, LCSW, CPP-AAPT

Laura Tauzin, MS, MT-BC, NCC, LPC, RPT, CAAPT

Laura Tauzin, MS, MT-BC, NCC, LPC, RPT, CAAPT

Katharine Wenocur, DSW, LCSW, RPT, CAAPT

Katharine Wenocur, DSW, LCSW, RPT, CAAPT

Janelle Alford, LPC, RPT, CAAPT

Janelle Alford, LPC, RPT, CAAPT

Wendy Pringle, LMHC, RPT, CAAPT

Wendy Pringle, LMHC, RPT, CAAPT

Erin J. Olheiser, MA, LPC, CPP-AAPT

Erin J. Olheiser, MA, LPC, CPP-AAPT

Krystal Morier, Registered Occupational Therapist, CPP-AAPT

Krystal Morier, Registered Occupational Therapist, CPP-AAPT

Lisa Evans, RP, RPT-S, CAAPT

Lisa Evans, RP, RPT-S, CAAPT

Yvonne Leong, CPP-AAPT

Yvonne Leong, CPP-AAPT

Monique van Loggerenberg, PhD

Monique van Loggerenberg, PhD

Kamie Larson, LCSW-QS, RPT™, CAAPT

Kamie Larson, LCSW-QS, RPT™, CAAPT

Emily Boatwright, LPC-MHSP, ACS, RPT-S, CAAPT, C-DBT, CBCC-KA

Emily Boatwright, LPC-MHSP, ACS, RPT-S, CAAPT, C-DBT, CBCC-KA

Netta Gentry, LMHC, NCC, RPT™, CAAPT

Netta Gentry, LMHC, NCC, RPT™, CAAPT

Rebecca Dickinson, PhD, LISW, RPT-S, CAAPT-I

Rebecca Dickinson, PhD, LISW, RPT-S, CAAPT-I

Ann Elliot, CCPT-AAPT

Ann Elliot, CCPT-AAPT

Karen Boe, LMFT, RPT-S, CAAPT

Karen Boe, LMFT, RPT-S, CAAPT

Jennifer Lisa Ganz, MA, CAS, NCSP, CAIS, CPP-AAPT 

Jennifer Lisa Ganz, MA, CAS, NCSP, CAIS, CPP-AAPT 

AAPT Certified Animal Ethology and Behavior Specialists

The purpose of the Certified Animal Ethology and Behavior Specialist – Animal Assisted Play Therapy® (CAEBS-AAPT) program is to designate highly skilled animal professionals who are qualified to work with animals and their handlers in ways completely consistent with the Animal Assisted Play Therapy® values, principles, and methods. The CAEBS credential indicates specialized skill in training and assisting AAPT practitioners in the training, handling, and behavior interventions with their animals. Each person earning the CAEBS demonstrates proficiency with one or more designated species. Th CAEBS-AAPT certification is based upon demonstrated competencies in the same array of areas as required for the Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist credential, as well as in a number of additional areas that are animal-specific. Those holding the CAEBS are qualified to assist with supervision and training workshops with a focus on animal behavior within their scope of practice. The CAEBS Certification Manual is available on this website.

Kirrie Award Recipients

The Kirrie Award is given by the International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy® for “outstanding contributions and dedication to the field of Animal Assisted Play Therapy®.” Recipients are listed below in order of receipt.

2023
Sheli Brown
Cyndie Kieffer

 

2022
Yvonne Leong
Lisa Mink McGowan
Mary Rottier

 

2021
Chantal Cohen
Val Miraglia
Tori Beauclaire

 

2020
Katharine Wenocur
Marie-Jose Dhaese

 

2019
Sarah Gordon
Diane Dioguardi

 

2018
Christi Dudzik

 

2017
Jodi Smith
Tara Moser
Jacque George

 

2016
Lucy Llewellyn
Teri Holamon