Speaker Bios
Sophia Ansari, LPCC, RPT™
Sophia Ansari is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Registered Play Therapist™, international speaker, author, educator, and owner of the Let’s Play Therapy Institute.
She is a dedicated activist who is committed to driving positive change and making a difference in the world. Sophia coordinates wellness programs for displaced refugees and immigrants in Chicago, IL and is a Positive Education coordinator where she works with schools and organizations around the world to build safe, inclusive, and strengths-based educational environments.
Sophia is also known for her work incorporating pop culture and video games in therapy through her numerous publications, Comic-Con panels, media appearances, and play therapy workshops.
She co-hosts Hero Nation, a podcast on the Geek Therapy Network, which celebrates diversity in the media and explores how to use geek culture in therapy.
Sophia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Wright State University and her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Cincinnati.
For more information on Let’s Play Therapy Institute, visit:
Jessica Stone, Ph.D., RPT-S
Jessica Stone, Ph.D., RPT-S, is a licensed psychologist working in a private practice setting. She has been a practitioner, professor, presenter, mentor, and author for more than 30 years. Dr. Stone’s interest in therapeutic digital tools, specifically using virtual reality, tablets, and consoles, has culminated in clinical mental health use and research for mental health, medical, and crisis settings. She is the co-creator of the Virtual Sandtray App for iPad (VSA) and the Virtual Sandtray for Virtual Reality (VSA-VR). Dr. Stone is the Chief Psychology Officer for AscendantVR, is a member of various boards, and serves as an affiliate of the East Carolina University College of Education Neurocognition Science Laboratory.
Robert Jason Grant, Ed.D., LPC
Dr. Grant is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy. He is a supervisor, consultant, and life coach and utilizes several years of advanced training and his own lived neurodivergent experience to provide affirming services to children and their families. He is an international trainer and keynote presenter and multi-published author of several articles and books. He is currently serving as past chair on the board of directors for the Association for Play Therapy.
Erika Walker, LSCSW, LCSW, LICSW, RPT
Erika Walker is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (licensed in Kansas, Missouri and Massachusetts), as well as a Registered Play Therapist. She received her master’s degree in Social Work from Newman University in 2013 and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Religious Studies from The University of Kansas in 2006. Erika received her play therapy training from KC Play in 2015, and then obtained her Registered Play Therapist credential in 2016. She provides psychotherapy to families and individuals. Erika specializes in the areas of developmental delays, Autism, trauma, grief and loss, attachment and play therapy for ages 0 to 6, and 18 and up. She also has training on utilizing Dungeons and Dragons in therapy to work on treatment goals. Within her work, Erika utilizes Brainspotting, EMDR®, directive and non-directive play therapy, and AutPlay Therapy®. She also utilizes Theraplay® techniques.
Jacob "JD" Dreiling, APC, NCC, MS
Jacob "JD" Dreiling is an Associate Professional Counselor (soon to be fully licensed!) in the state of Georgia, a Play Therapist, and a Certified AutPlay Therapist. He works with children, teens, families, couples, adults, and seniors utilizing experiential techniques to help clients gain insight and become agents of change in their own lives and the world at large. He is a part of the Geek Therapy community, soon to be teaching faculty for the League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists, serves on committees for the Georgia Association for Play Therapy and the National Society for Adlerian Psychology, and is a trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. He and his husband have been playing D&D for sixteen years and he has been facilitating therapeutic D&D for the past year and a half.
Nidhi Kirpalani, M.Sc., M.Sc., ICST-P #006
Nidhi Kirpalani is an ICST-P(#006), owner and founder of Caribbean Sandtray Institute.
She is a Clinical & Counseling Psychologist based in Trinidad and Tobago working in a child protection agency with kids, adults, families, foster care, adoption and doing forensic interviews. Nidhi’s private practice is primarily adults with symptoms of depression or anxiety, but over 90% reveal a history of trauma or abuse, especially sexual abuse. Nidhi studied Clinical Psychology at the University of the West Indies and Counseling Psychology at the University of the Southern Caribbean. Nidhi loves seeing clients journey in the sandtray after becoming trained in Sandtray Therapy.
Alisha Denham, LCSW, RPT-S
I'm an artist by nature, and a mental health therapist by trade! I drew my first art piece at the tender age of 6 years old--to somewhat mediocre reviews (side note-my mom is a realist who loves me beyond measure-- but she did not want me to have an inflated sense of my ability, and for that I am eternally grateful). The artist/creator inside of me has never been a choice--it is as natural to me as the air I breathe. And while my 6 year old feelings were hurt for a little while, I was still determined to fulfill my destiny. Over the years I "dabbled" in the arts--drawing, sketching, painting--but never calling myself an artist. To me I "doodled." Just as I knew in my soul that art was a piece of me, I also knew that helping others was another part of who I am. I’ve been in the helping profession for the past 15 years, and a therapist for the past 8. As a mental health therapist working at a non-profit agency I learned quickly how to blend my art skills with my creation skills to make sand tray figures that I needed—not just for me, but for those I was serving. My first creation was a homemade guillotine out of a coat hanger. I’m happy to report that my skills have improved since then!
Catherine Denham, LCSW, RPT-S
Catherine is an Arizona native who transplanted to the panhandle of Florida in 2009. She has been a social worker for the past 20 years, and a licensed clinical social worker for the past 10. She is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor who specializes in working with the birth-5 population, adoptive families, and the LGBTQIA community. In 2012 she met the love of her life, and married her in 2013 in New York City. In 2014 they adopted their daughter (Baby Owl) who is the biological sister of Alisha’s youngest sister who was adopted by Alisha’s parents in 2011. As a production owl, she is the brains of Momma Owl while Alisha is the heart. Together they make a dynamic duo! Catherine is responsible for shipping orders, following up on customer’s questions and requests, managing production, and most importantly keeping Alisha on track. She is most comfortable behind the scenes, and finds that organizing products and keeping track of inventory is very relaxing. She likes to think of herself as a creative problem solver whose contribution to Momma Owls Minis helps make it successful.
Patrice Karst
Patrice is the author of the bestselling, contemporary classic children’s (and adults’!) book The Invisible String, which is a USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon bestseller that has sold over 1.5 million copies and been translated into twenty languages. It is the story of the String (made out of love!) that connects us all. The Invisible String book series offers children a tangible understanding of love and teaches the world about the String that “even though you can’t see it with your eyes, you can feel it in your heart and know that you are always connected to everyone you love.”
Dana Wyss, PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC, RPT
Dana is a licensed marriage and family therapist, board certified clinical art therapist, registered play therapist and is coauthor ofThe Invisible String Workbook. Her doctorate in expressive therapies has led her to create programs integrating art, music, poetry, dance and animal assisted therapy in the healing process for clients and the self-care of staff. For the last 25 years, Dr. Wyss has worked in psychiatric hospitals, group homes, and nonpublic school settings to manage crisis, conduct training, coach staff, and support children and families. Dr. Wyss is currently a Corporate Clinical Training Specialist and Clinical/Art therapy supervisor at Stars Behavioral Health Group is a company specializing in the treatment of complex developmental trauma. She also owns a small private practice. Dr. Wyss uses her creativity for her own healing as well as to support others.