The Therapeutic Powers of PLAY!

Josephine Olson, MA is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor and Registered Play Therapist (Association for Play Therapy).  Josephine (Josie) received her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from Liberty University and her MA in Community and School Counseling from Regent University.   She has conducted play therapy sessions in her work as a clinician in an agency setting, in-home setting, and residential treatment facility as well as during her time as a school counselor.  She also enjoys incorporating play therapy in a group setting and has conducted anger management, ADHD, divorce, and deployment groups.  She has also facilitated grief and loss groups in her volunteer work with Kid’s Haven as well as Filial Therapy groups at Miriam’s House and YWCA.  She has found play therapy to be effective with children struggling with a variety of social, developmental and trauma-related issues.  She has specifically worked ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­with children diagnosed with ADHD, Asperger Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Trauma Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder and children struggling with grief and loss, suicidal ideation, and children in the foster system.  She has most recently authored “The Therapeutic Powers of Play: Promoting Healing and Resilience in Children” for Christian Counseling Today and had the privilege of presenting her work at AACC’s 2013 World Conference.  She also teaches on a part-time basis in Liberty University’s MA School Counseling program as an instructor practitioner.  She is an active member in good standing of the American Association of Christian Counselors, Association for Play Therapy, Virginia Counselor’s Association, Virginia Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development, and Virginia Association for Specialists in Group Work.   She is currently practicing at Light Counseling in Lynchburg, VA.