About Me
Welcome to The Center for Play Therapy! My name is Jackie Wright, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist, who has been in practice in the mental health field for over a decade. My private practice focuses solely on Play Therapy as the primary method of treatment for a wide variety of mental and behavioral health issues for children, teens and families. My journey as a child psychotherapist began in 2001, as I entered DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois as an undergraduate with a focus in Clinical Psychology. After graduating in 2005, I entered a doctoral program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, also in Chicago, focusing on Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychology and Marriage & Family Therapist - with an added emphasis on Play Therapy. In 2011, I enrolled at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin and received my Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy.
In terms of my clinical experience, I began my journey through the child mental health in 2001, whereby I worked at a psychiatric hospital in Des Plaines, Illinois for children, adolescents, and young adults. I then went on to become certified as a substance abuse counselor in Illinois and began working as an Addictions Counselor at Community Counseling Centers of Chicago - Recovery Point. I received play therapy training and supervision from 2006-2010 throughout the various doctoral practicums that I was engaged in, which ultimately allowed for me to receive the initial training required to become a certified play therapist. In 2006, I began my doctoral program and subsequently began providing psychological testing for children, adolescents, and young adults in multiple therapeutic day schools throughout the Chicago-land area. In 2012, I began my clinical internship through Edgewood College at The Family Center located in Madison, Wisconsin focusing on all ages for individual therapy and a special interest in children and families.
I opened up my private practice, The Center for Play Therapy in Middleton, Wisconsin in 2013 and served the communities all around the greater Madison area. Although my roots are Wisconsin born, my family and I decided to say goodbye to the frozen tundra and head out to the mountains in 2017. We made our home here in Colorado Springs, CO and have enjoyed the change in temperature and scenery, however, we will always be bucky fans from wisco!
It has been quite a long journey, but it has been an incredible one. I welcome you and your family on this journey of growth, and with the therapeutic power of play, we will work together to help your children, teens and family heal. I am so excited you are here and can't wait to get started!
About Play Therapy
Play is a fun, enjoyable activity that elevates our spirits and brightens our outlook on life. It expands self-expression, self-knowledge, self-actualization and self-efficacy. Play relieves feelings of stress and boredom, connects us to people in a positive way, stimulates creative thinking and exploration, regulates our emotions, and boosts our ego (Landreth, 2002).
Play therapists utilize play therapy to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings (Gil, 1991). Specific toys are introduced in the playroom, including toys that are considering nurturing, aggressive, real life or creative. When a child chooses a certain toy from a certain category, the play therapist gains knowledge about what issues the child may be struggling with, and by utilizing these toys therapeutically, a child begins to process these issues through their play.
Play therapy helps children to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others. Play provides a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development. Play therapy can be used to address issues of anxiety, depression, anger, grief and loss, divorce and family dissolution, crisis or trauma, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, ADHD, autism, and behavioral issues.
About Creative Therapy
Creative therapy uses methods from the play therapy "tool-kit" such as painting and drawing, sand tray symbols, picture cards, and clay combined with more traditional "talk" therapy. Best suited for older children, adolescents, and adults, this style of therapy draws on aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), person-centered counseling, narrative therapy, family systems theory and play therapy as required. As with all services, the emphasis is on providing a safe space to explore a variety of issues ranging from emotional difficulties such as anxiety and depression, as well as life challenges such as family conflict, separation, school adjustment, bullying, and friendships.
Play Therapy Works!
Is a 7.5 Minute video introduction to play therapy and its value.
Video produced and property of Association for Play Therapy, Inc.
About Parent/Caregiver Support Sessions
Sometimes (or a lot of the time!) being a parent or caregiver is hard work. This service offers support to parents raising their own children (adopted, biological, foster, etc.) or for caregivers raising a grandchild, non-related child, or young person in foster care. Parent support sessions give a space to explore options and various parenting decisions and approaches in a way that supports the child or adolescent's social, emotional, and physical well-being. This intervention can vary in duration and frequency depending on your particular needs and may be accessed separately or to complement other services at The Center for Play Therapy.
