2019-2020 President's Letter of Intention

By Andrea Kunwald, MA, LMFT

From the Play Therapy Office of the WAAPT president:

I started my Play Therapy journey in my internship at a local community mental health agency. I will never forget how intimidated I was by the daunting idea of doing therapy with a five-year-old child who was described as a defiant little person. I was terrified. The only resource I had been given three weeks prior was a book called, Dibs: In Search of Self by Virginia M. Axline (1985). Reading it had made my heart pound with fascination and I had devoured this small book in a day and half. It quickly became my bible and theoretical guide in providing therapy to children.

However, books alone are not the only inspiration that have guided me in my journey. I could have not been as successful without the support of my RPT-Supervisor and a community of Play Therapists that stretches a great distance. I have greatly benefited from APT and our state branch here in Washington.

My goal is to build on the strong foundation my predecessors have laid:

• ·       To make Play Therapy more visible in Washington State.
• ·       To offer quality trainings.
• ·       To strengthen the existing Play Therapy community by bringing Play Therapists together for consultation and network meetings.

I am looking forward to working with a board that consists of a very talented group of Play Therapists, who are passionate about children and the work they do. I would like to express my gratitude to my current board members for dedicating their time and efforts. Thanks to their work and our existing members, our branch is one of the fastest growing branches in the country.

I invite you to join and work together with us to promote Play Therapy in Washington. Please, feel free to connect with me or any board member to let us know if we can provide you the tools you need to do this.

I wish you Inspired Playing!

Andrea Kunwald