Board Members
It’s important to note that all board members and regional leadership are volunteer based. Each one of our board member dedicates their time to Missouri Association for Play Therapy.
If you would like to be involved on the board, as an area rep, or helping with other parts of the organization, please contact the board president.
Amber Schilb (Central)
President
Amber is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Amber earned both a Masters of Education in Counseling as well as a Masters in Marital and Family therapy at Stephens College and has been practicing since July of 2016. Amber practices using a client-centered approach and tailors her work to be unique and specific to each individual client. Amber has experience working with a variety of issues including substance abuse, domestic abuse, resistive violence and batterer intervention and has facilitated the MEND (Men Exploring Non-Violent Directions) program. Amber also has experience with children in play therapy, marriage and family issues, mood disorders, behavioral issues, transitional issues, grief, and trauma. Amber provides individual, family and group therapy as well as facilitates therapeutic supervised visitation.
' class='small-button smallblue'>Email Amber
Marie Bonner Horon
President-Elect
Marie Horon is a MA, LPC, RPT, NCC – I have been working in this field since 2013. I originally set out to work with teenagers, as time went on, I began expanding my scope. I now work with all ages of the family system: (children, school aged, parents and couples). I specialize in Play Therapy, trauma, depression and anxiety. Play Therapy is an awesome tool for communication that can be used in a multitude of areas. I truly enjoy what I do. I believe in the therapeutic relationship and how it can heal. I am an advocate of Mental Health for everyone. Mental Health is just as important as our Physical Health. Mental Health needs a spotlight in mainstream media and our everyday lives. Taking care of ourselves (mentally, physically, and spiritually) needs to be a top priority in our lives.
' class='small-button smallblue'>Email Marie
Tara Huber (North East MO)
Past President
Tara Huber received her Bachelor of the Arts in psychology and Bachelors of Music Education degree from Culver-Stockton College and her Masters of Education degree with emphasis in Community Counseling from Quincy University. She has 10 years experience as a music educator and has been a counselor with White Oak Counseling since 2007 where she works in the private practice setting. She also has 10 years past experience as a foster and adoptive parent and continues to receive continued education in play therapy, trauma, and marriage and family counseling. Tara is a Licensed Professional Counselor with the State of Missouri, is an Autplay Level II therapist and has specialized training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Alternatives for Families Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(AF-CBT. Tara is also an adjunct instructor at MACC Hannibal location where she teaches General Psychology, Lifespan Human Development, and Abnormal psychology. She specializes in working with all ages of individuals dealing with a variety issues ranging from anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, family problems, relationship problems, behavioral deregulation, LGBTQ community, among various other issues for children, teenagers, adult, couples, and families.
%20' class='small-button smallblue'>Email Tara
Valerie Owings
Member at Large
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, (MO) Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (KS) national certified counselor, and Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor. Those credentials let you know that I am licensed to practice counseling in the states of Missouri and Kansas, have met the standard to be certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors, and have extensive training and certification to practice play therapy. I am also a member of the American Counseling Association and The Association for Play Therapy.
I’ve been practicing therapy since 2012. I work with young children, teens, and adults. I specialize in working with young children and supporting parents to have mentally healthy and happy kids.
' class='small-button smallblue'>Email Valerie
Heather Ransom (Central)
Technology Officer
Heather is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing at Lawrence Oliver & Associates, a private practice, in Columbia, Mo. In the private practice setting, she enjoys interacting with families, children, adolescents and adults. She received her masters degree in 2014 from Brigham Young University. Heather has worked at the Utah State Prison providing individual counseling services, at Wasatch Mental Health working with families and individuals, and as an outreach therapist to the Nebo UT school district.
Brent Moore, PhD, MBA, LPC, RPT, SATP
Board Member
Brent Moore is a licensed professional counselor in Missouri and Kansas. He holds a PhD in health psychology, MA in clinical psychology, and MBA. Dr. Moore is director and associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University. He founded Neural Pathways Learning Center, a clinic (in Liberty, MO) that specializes in treating anxiety, attention, and focus issues, particularly in academic settings. Dr. Moore is a registered play therapist and specializes in assessments. 
Jessica Vogler, MS, MAC, LPC, RPT - (Central)
Treasurer
Jessica is a licensed professional counselor who earned her MA in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary and has been practicing since 2015. Jessica’s focus has always been to work with women and children. Currently, Jessica is registered play therapist, licensure supervisor with the state of Missouri, and nearly finished with EMDR certification. She owns her own practice where she partners with clinicians looking for supervision and a place to learn about private practice. Play therapy is integrated into all therapeutic approaches at her practice, 3 years of age through the end of the lifespan.
Jasmine Berger, MSW, LCSW, RPT
Board Member
Jasmine is a graduate of the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St Louis. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist that is a compassionate and fun clinician for children of all ages. Jasmine’s experience includes working in St Louis schools from early childhood through high school, as well as special education. These experiences make her a passionate advocate for children’s needs. She believes play can be healing and helpful for not only children, but across ages and communities. When she is not working she enjoys getting outdoors to hike and camp.
Teresa Paterson Bartch, LPC, LCPC, RPT-S
Board Member
Teresa is a licensed clinical professional counselor and a registered play therapist supervisor. She owns Embark Counseling Services, a group practice in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area, specializing in working with children and teens, from an attachment informed, family systems lens. She has extensive experience providing trauma competent clinical services, as well as a board approved clinical supervisor in Missouri and Kansas. She has completed specialized training in working with children and adolescents, complex trauma, developmental trauma, autism spectrum disorders and anxiety. She utilizes Play Therapy, Internal Family Systems, EMDR and Psychodynamic approaches in her clinical work. She is a certified EMDR therapist and an EMDRIA approved consultant-in-training, and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where she enjoys training and supervising emerging mental health professionals.
Dr. Janice Ward, PhD, NCC, ACS, RPT-S, LPC
Board Member
Jan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, a National Certified Counselor and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She is a Professor at Southeast Missouri State University and Director of the Approved Center for Play Therapy Education at Southeast. Jan is in private practice as a therapist with Great Oak Counseling in Cape Girardeau, where she sees clients of all ages with a wide variety of issues. She received her Master’s degree in Community Counseling from Southeast and her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois.
Jan enjoys spending time with her family and the family pets. She also enjoys reading and watching movies.
JOIN MAPT BOARD
For information about available positions, position descriptions and application process, click below:
MAPT Board Positions and ElectionsBoard-position-Descriptions
Committee Members
Tony Gillon, M.Ed, LPC, RPT
Katie Brammer, PhD, LPC, LPCC Wendy Velicer, LPC, RPT
Kristina Guarino, LCSW, RPT
MAPT Regional Leadership
Central:
Open
Northeast:
Jamie Crouch, LPC, RPT
Western (KC):
Valerie Owings, LPC, LCPC, NCC, RPT-S
Eastern (St. Louis):
Elizabeth Ernest, MSCFT, S-MFT, MSSW, LMSW
Southwest:
Tomi Taylor LPC, NCC
Jessica Lowery, LPC, RPT
NorthWest:
Sally Frede, LCSW, CCLS, RPT-S
MAPT is looking for Area Reps!
For more information click below:
AREA REPRESENTATIVES (1)
For information regarding OPEN Board and committee positions click below:
Bylaws
Here are the rules of governance for the not-for-profit corporation that operates in the State of Missouri as the Missouri Association for Play Therapy.
Join MAPT Today!
Interested in joining APT and Missouri Branch? We invite you to review a list of Member Benefits, then Join APT!
