PRESIDENT

Katie Brammer (She, Her, Hers), PhD, LPC, RPT™ is a Counselor Educator with a background in Mental Health Counseling, Play Therapy, and School Counseling. She tailors transformational approaches into her work with the anticipation that the needs of each student and client are met. She is intentional about advocating for systemic change and providing trauma-informed spaces focused on cultural humility—valuing and affirming those who have been historically marginalized, traumatized, and impacted by ecological systems and cultural hegemony. Katie aims to facilitate culturally responsive learning spaces that create future counselors who are change agents able to effectively advocate for clients and support making improvements to the counseling field on local, national, and global levels. As a white cisgender woman, she continues to critically evaluate her privilege and unlearn her own socialized biases, unknown objectives, and stereotypical beliefs. Specifically, Katie’s work with Transgender and Gender Expansive Folx and those whose affectional orientation or romantic attraction defy heteronormativity continues to influence her own personal and professional development as an antiracist, culturally responsive counselor educator, scholar, counselor, play therapist, and supervisor.

VICE-PRESIDENT

TREASURER

Elizabeth Ernest, LMFT, LCSW is a child and family therapist at the Center for Mindfulness and CBT. Elizabeth works with children and families struggling with anxiety and anxiety related disorders, OCD, trauma, and behavioral concerns. She also specializes in working with young athletes.

TREASURER-IN-TRAINING & BOARD MEMBER

SECRETARY

BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Emily Brown is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, and a National Certified Counselor. She is an Associate Professor at University of Missouri - St. Louis and Director of the Play Therapy Institute @ UMSL, which is an Approved Center for Play Therapy Education by the Association for Play Therapy as well as an Approved Provider of Continuing Education. Her scholarship focuses on counselor training and response for children and adolescents with loss, crisis, and trauma. She received her Master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her PhD in Counselor Education from the University Tennessee, Knoxville. Emily enjoys travel, reading, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

BOARD MEMBER

Lee Ann Roberts, LCSW, RPT, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience providing trauma-informed care to children, adolescents, and families. Lee has delivered play-therapy-informed treatment to hundreds of clients, addressing emotional regulation, anxiety, trauma, self-harm, and family-system challenges.

Lee Ann integrates evidence-based play therapy, using CBT- and DBT-informed interventions to improve engagement, safety, and emotional functioning in youth. In addition to direct clinical work, Lee Ann has led structured clinical programming and provided formal supervision to LMSW clinicians, supporting ethical practice, documentation excellence, and licensure readiness.

Lee brings a systems-focused perspective to professional governance, emphasizing ethical oversight, clinical integrity, and advancing play therapy standards through education, clarity, and accountability.

BOARD MEMBER

BOARD MEMBER

Technology Committee Chair

Tyler is a licensed professional counselor and supervisor (LPC-S), Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™), and a certified AutPlay® Therapist and approved supervisor for AutPlay Therapy. He is currently working on his PhD in Counseling Education at University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL).

Tyler specializes working with individuals who are neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHD, OCD, gifted, etc.) and integrates AutPlay® Therapy by utilizing technology, including video and computer games, iPads, and virtual reality (VR) into sessions. Tyler conducts research offers several trainings internationally.

Tyler serves as an Advisory Board Member for AutPlay® Therapy, where he provides strategic advice and assistance regarding management, operations, marketing, and the overall direction of programs. Tyler serves on the Committee for Continuing Education at the international Association for Play Therapy (APT).