Anne Stewart Award Recipients

Stephanie was a charter member when Anne began the Virginia branch of APT. She was the first RPT-S™ in Southwestern Virginia, and she started the local group of children’s mental health professionals, which continues 30+ years later. She believed that children’s mental health professionals needed specialized trainings, support and social opportunities, which would benefit the professionals and therefore the families they served. Stephanie is an idea person, who also takes action. She sought grants and created substantial learning opportunities to spread the importance of play while strengthening our play therapy community. Stephanie has always had a heart for sharing the serious work of play, whether in interdisciplinary hospital staff meetings, local news reports or even her annual July 4th neighborhood parade for kids. She’s the one who often starts the Congo line at conferences, hosts a drum circle to honor someone or creates a sandtray group to respond to local needs. Stephanie shared her enthusiasm, wisdom and magic during supervision, consultation and trainings over several decades. A few years ago, she closed her private practice to check off a bucket list goal of training and supervising child psychiatry fellows–the next generations of doctors who now have experience with the power of play with their young clients. When her RPT-S was recently about to expire, she decided not let that part of her identity go, as she wanted to continue to offer sand tray trainings. Stephanie currently provides consultation to Roanoke’s Center for Grief and Healing and leads SoulCollage groups, which could be described as a version of expressive play.  Recently, Stephanie enthusiastically participated in the APT mentoring program in which she was matched with and enjoyed regular connection with a play therapist, who is new in the field. She continues to engage and inspire!