ALBERTA PLAY THERAPY ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2009 - 2010
Co-chairs: Rhonda Kent and Nicole Martin.
Treasurer: Vacant
Newsletter Coordinator: Larissa Wankel
Conference Coordinators: Pol Ngeth, Allan Rosales, Tasha Breau, Nathalie Scott, Sharon Fair, Robin Metcalfe, Diana Florea, and Paula Jones
Board Members at Large: Travis Colley
Distant Board Member (Edmonton): Vacant
Distant Board Member (Lethbridge): Shannon Littke, Cyndi Starzyk-Frey
Rhonda has over 14 years experience working in the areas of domestic violence, suicide and grief and loss. Rhonda is trained in EMDR and trauma work with children. She has worked extensively with children, teens and adults experiencing grief and loss and was instrumental in implementing a counselling program for children bereaved by parental suicide. Close to her heart has been counselling children and teens who are struggling with suicidal issues. Rhonda has considerable experience in facilitating groups for men, women, teens and children who have been impacted by domestic violence. She has used play-therapy while working individually with children who have witnessed or experienced family violence. She has specialized in both individual and group work with teens. Rhonda has worked with families and was a community parenting group facilitator for over 10 years. Currently, Rhonda works as the Manager of Child and Family Services for the YWCA of Calgary and oversees all the domestic violence programming for children, adolescents and families. Rhonda also has a private practice called Regeneration Counselling and Consulting. Rhonda developed and facilitated a one day workshop for APTA called “Grief and Loss in Children” in 2004 and has facilitated other one day workshops privately called “Parenting Your Teen in Trying Times.” She was also part of a team who presented a 5 day Domestic Violence Conference in Varazdin, Croatia. Rhonda is a volunteer for both the Calgary Fire Department and Calgary EMS on their Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Teams.
Nicole Martin, B.A. (Psych.)
Nicole has traveled all the way from her home town of Yellowknife, NT to live and work in Calgary with her husband Ryan. Nicole completed a BA in Psychology in 2006 and has just begun a Master’s degree program in Counselling Psychology. Nicole is working full time at the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter (CWES) while attending school and is happy to reap the benefits of combining the two. Nicole provides support to children and families through her position as Children’s Outreach Counsellor. Last year, Nicole joined APTA as their Membership Coordinator and enjoyed being a part of the team so much she changed roles to the Co-chair this year. With everything that Nicole has taken on, she still tries to be active and spends her free time going to the gym, practicing yoga, and snowboarding in the winter.Jenne has an extensive background working with children, adolescents and young adults. It was Jenne’s interest in Fine arts and Psychology that led to her Master’s of Creative Arts Therapy and registration as a Canadian Certified Counsellor.
Robin Metcalfe
Robin recently finished her studies in Community Development having researched and participated in the formation of a network of landless urban-dwellers, called “The Peoples’ Communities Network” in the Eastern urban areas of Vanua Levu, Fiji. While living in Fiji Robin facilitated weekend group activities and started a weeknight tutoring program for the young residents of a state-run youth shelter for girls who experienced abuse in the family setting and whose cases were being heard in the court system. Currently Robin works as the Children’s Program Assistant with Child and Family Services for the YWCA. She recently also worked as a youth worker in Calgary for an organization supporting the engagement and resilience of Aboriginal young women through mentorship and artistic expression. Robin is a volunteer ski instructor with deaf learners through the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing in Calgary, and a volunteer teacher’s assistant in a grade three classroom. Robin loves to finger-paint, learn languages, make sidewalk murals and sandcastles, and jump in leaf piles.
Jenne Newman, M.A., C.C.C.
Jenne combines her passion for the arts and her clinical experience as she follows the needs of her clients. Jenne is trained in EMDR and trauma work with children and youth. Over the past 10 years, Jenne has worked with populations that include clients facing developmental delays, depression, eating disorders, grief, loss and trauma, suicidality, dating and domestic violence, spirituality and identity development. In recent years, Jenne has developed workshops on Art Therapy, adolescent identity formation, and grief, for audiences ranging from Preschool students to the Medical community. Jenne’s dynamic approach in supporting her clients fosters empowerment, encourages the client to take an active role in their treatment and instills hope throughout the healing process.
Sharon Fair, B.A. (Hons), Masters in Counselling
Sharon brings 18 years of experience in consulting and counseling. She has worked extensively with families; most recently as the Children’s Domestic Violence Counsellor at YWCA Sheriff King Home. Sharon has considerable experience in supervising and facilitating groups for parents and children who have been impacted by domestic violence. She currently uses play-therapy and art therapy while working individually with children who have witnessed or experienced family violence. She also has experience in career counseling. She is has a special interest in practicing from an eclectic perspective, with special interest in narrative therapy. Sharon is in the process of beginning her provisional status year as a psychologist.
Kyla completed her Bachelor of Social Work degree through the University of British Columbia and began her social work career as a child welfare worker in the urban Aboriginal community of Vancouver, BC. Wanting to travel abroad, Kyla later accepted a contract in the United Kingdom to work with children who have severe and multiple disabilities. In 2006, Kyla moved to Calgary, AB to complete her Masters of Social Work degree through the University of Calgary. She currently divides her time between Alberta Health Services working as a counsellor in the area of women’s reproductive health, and as a play-based therapist for Evenstart, a specialized school program for at-risk children. Kyla’s initial interest in play therapy developed while working closely with child therapists in the area of child welfare as a means to address children’s experiences of abuse and disrupted attachment. As a social worker, Kyla has worked with adults, children and families facing a myriad of issues including domestic violence, addictions, developmental delays, reproductive decision-making and grief and loss. Kyla is pleased to join the APTA Board of Directors as a Secretary.
Larissa Wankel, M.S.W., R.S.W.
Larissa completed her BSW and MSW through the University of Calgary and has been practicing social work in Calgary for over eleven years, with both Alberta Health Services and the YWCA Sheriff King Home. Larissa works in Women’s Health providing counseling to women, couples, and other family members about sexual and reproductive health concerns and pregnancy and perinatal loss. Her additional work with Sheriff King as a children’s counselor and children’s and parenting group facilitator has lead to a strong interest in play therapy. Larissa continually seeks ways to link her two practice areas, integrating creative play-based techniques in her work with grieving families and incorporating grief work, when appropriate, with children and parents who experience domestic violence and other stressors. Larissa has recently started a private practice, providing counseling to children, adolescents, and adults. She looks forward to continuing to put together APTA’s newsletters and to working with the new board!
Pol Ngeth holds a B.A. in Education from Bulgaria and a B.S.W. from the University of Calgary. He speaks four languages: Bulgarian, Khmer, French, and English. Pol is a Multi-Cultural Family and Child Training Project Counsellor and a Men's Program Counsellor at the Calgary Immigrant Aid Society (CIAS). He also coordinates the Men’s Program and provides outreach support for CIAS clients. In addition, Pol has been providing supportive counselling to immigrant and refugee men for over 5 years in the area of cross-cultural family violence prevention. As well, he provides liaison services on behalf of CIAS and works with many different agencies in Calgary, including Region 3, Calgary and Area Child and Family Services, Faith Link, the Calgary Coalition on Family Violence, the Family Conflict and Integration Program of the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association, the Khmer-Canadian Buddist Cutural Centre, and the Calgary Coalition for Equal Access to Education. Recently, Pol was chosen as a “2006 Ambassador of the Way” for the United Way of Calgary and Area and was the co-winner of the Fourth Annual “Pulse of Social Work Interdisciplinary Group Award, 2006.” Pol is pleased to have joined the APTA Board as a Co-coordinator of our conferences and workshops. Pol's most recent honors include the Selinger Award in 2007, and the ACSW Award for Excellence in Social Work Practice in 2008.
Cyndi is a Child and Family Therapist in Private Practice in Lethbridge. She also teaches part-time at the Lethbridge Community College. Her favorite classes to teach are The Sociology Of Sexuality and The Psychology of Everyday Life. Although Cyndi does work with some adults, her preferred clientele are children from 2 to 12 years of age. Cyndi’s area of specialty is trauma, including abuse, high conflict divorce, and family violence. Play and other expressive arts’ therapies are Cyndi’s passion. In her spare time she is a member of Playgoers Community Theatre group and has written for, directed, and acted in the local One Act Festivals. Currently, Cyndi is training for her first half-marathon at the end of May. She shares a home with a spirited 8 year-old daughter, a supportive and oft-traveling husband, and three eclectic cats. Cyndi looks forward to serving the membership as a distant APTA Board Member-at-Large.
Travis initially worked as a youth worker with teens in the residential care setting, providing outdoor leadership through a wilderness-based program. He has facilitated children’s groups in the area of family violence for the past 12 years. Travis completed his Masters degree in Environmental Design, and wears a different hat through the week as a product design consultant. His Master’s degree project involved the design of “emotional” products for teens with specific attachment problems. He sees the design process as valuable for anyone, and has offered a 2-week summer product design camp for teens in care.
Tasha completed her arts degree with a double major in Sociology and Gender Equality and Social Justice at Nipissing University. After her studies, she ventured to Alberta where she now calls home. Clinically Tasha has worked with varied populations including children with autism, psychosis, depression, suicidal ideation and domestic violence. Tasha also has experience facilitating both children’s and filial therapy groups. Currently, Tasha is a dedicated Children’s Outreach Counsellor for the YWCA Sheriff King Home. There she utilizes play therapy techniques while working individually with children who have witnessed or experienced family violence. Tasha continues her work with Autistic children and spends some time at the Alberta Children’s hospital working in the mental health program. In her spare time she volunteers as a mentor for the Big Brothers and Sister’s organization. She looks forward to contributing to the Alberta Play Therapy Association as a conference coordinator.