Professional and Educational Background
Victoria has been in the field of mental health for forty years. She has a Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs (1985) in Education and Counseling. Victoria has over 2,000 hours of continuing education which is on-going. In 2014 Victoria became a “Certified Parent Educator”-in 2020 received certification as a Trauma Specialist and in 2021 obtained training in IFS (Internal Family Systems).
Prior to working with young children and their families, Victoria worked for eleven years in a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program with El Paso County Health Department in Colorado. During that time, Victoria worked primarily with women recovering from addictions, sexual abuse and other developmental trauma in groups and on an individual basis. In 1993, Victoria discovered experiential play therapy and set up a playroom in the then new Family Center. Victoria co-directed the Family Center, (working with teen and adult women at risk of substance abuse during pregnancy) at the grassroots level of developing “The Mom’s Project” and worked with drug-affected babies. Victoria hired employees, scheduled activities, provided play therapy for the children of the clients, and cooked breakfast!
Victoria presented training at national conferences in experiential play therapy and methods for integrating EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) with play therapy for many years. During those years, she served as a Director-at-large for the Colorado Association for Play Therapy and supervised up to six clinicians at a time toward obtaining their Colorado Licensure and becoming a Registered Play Therapist. Victoria also co-trained the EAP division of the Sheriff’s department in substance abuse related issues.
Victoria has worked with people of all ages and all walks of life. She has played therapeutically with over 3,000 children, has worked with teens, social/emotional and physical disabilities in adults, the deaf, children with CP, Downs Syndrome and other medical challenges as well as more typical childhood issues including sexual abuse, abandonment, adoption, divorce, death, bullying, other typical childhood traumatic experiences and developmental challenges.
Currently, Victoria has limited her practice to adults only. Victoria is available for parenting education.
Victoria holds certification as a Parent Educator, a Trauma Specialist, Reiki II practitioner, EMDR Level II and IFS. Victoria is also published in her field in five text-books, promotional quotes on the therapeutic bop-bag and two self-published works about experiential play therapy and EMDR & Play.
Areas of Specialization
- Parenting and CRP-T (Child/Parent Relational Therapy-How to play therapeutically with your child)
- Grief and Loss/Death and Dying
- Trauma, abuse
- Anxiety/Depression
- Divorce/Adoption/Step-Families
- Reiki II
- EMDR
- Certified Trauma Specialist; IFS Trained