Greater Houston Chapter
The Greater Houston Chapter has three dedicated volunteers assisting with chapter operations under the oversight of the board.
Kelley Payton
Sarah Tanner
Maribel Hernandez
Maribel Hernandez is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (under the supervision of Robyn Reyna, LPC-S, RPT-S™), National Certified Counselor, and holds a certificate in bilingual counseling with an emphasis in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has received level 1 training in Synergetic Play Therapy® and is currently working towards her Registered Play Therapist credential. Maribel has a strong interest in neuroscience and dysregulation. Through the power of play, she finds joy in helping her clients understand their mind-body connection, highlighting the nervous system.
Maribel chose to join the chapter’s leadership to help contribute to the play therapy community. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, going to coffee shops, being out in nature, and playing her Nintendo Switch!
email: greaterhoustonsocialmedia@txapt.org
Kelly is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). Kelly has thousands of hours of training focused on working specifically with teenagers and children using some of the latest research and clinical data.
Some of her specialized training includes certification in play therapy, certification as a trauma specialist, training in Theraplay, complete EMDR training, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Certification in DBT, and a brain-based approach called the Neurosequential Model of therapeutics. She is also a LENS Neurofeedback practitioner and trained in the Safe Sound Protocol for acoustic vagus nerve stimulation. Her years of experience working with children, teenagers, and adults allow her to provide services to the whole family.
She is the clinical director at Katy Counseling serving the greater Katy area and helping to train and equip the next generation of child, adolescent, and adult counselors.
email: greaterhoustonchair@txapt.org
Sara Tanner, M.A., LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of a private practice in Richmond, Texas, serving children, adolescents, adults, and families. She leads a team of clinicians who are passionate about providing developmentally appropriate, trauma informed care to children and teens.
Sara specializes in working with children and adults who have experienced trauma, attachment wounds, anxiety, and life transitions. She has extensive training in play therapy, including Child-Centered Play Therapy, Adlerian Play Therapy, Theraplay, Sand Tray Therapy, and Brainspotting. She is currently completing the requirements to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT).
Sara is passionate about the healing power of play and enjoys supporting children and their families through evidence-based, relationship-focused interventions. She is honored to serve as Treasurer for the Greater Houston Branch of the Texas Association for Play Therapy and is committed to advancing the field of play therapy through professional collaboration, education, and advocacy.
email: greaterhoustonfinance@txapt.org