Hi Parents! 😊

As a former teacher with a master's degree in education, I understand how much you want your child to feel happy, confident, and successful at school.

Over 20 years ago, I was teaching first grade during the day and attending graduate classes in children's mental health at night. I found myself constantly asking, "How can we better support children's emotional well-being, not just their academic success?" That question has shaped my career ever since.

My search for answers led me to earn a second master's degree in Couples and Family Therapy, complete additional graduate coursework in School Counseling, pursue a graduate-level certificate in Play Therapy, and later specialize in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Each step helped me better understand children through the lens of development, relationships, and family systems.

I’m so thankful to have a team of providers here at Heart Play Institute where we all have one simple goal: We want children to enjoy being kids! We want them to feel safe at school, build meaningful friendships, believe in themselves, and have adults who understand what they need to thrive. We hope to be a helpful resource for both you and your child. 😊

In addition to my specialized work with children, I have recently started working with women via Telehealth. Many of the women I work with carry immense responsibilities within familial, relational, professional, and societal systems that often ask far more of them than they receive in return. My role is to be a dependable source of support- a space where women can have a protected hour each week to recover, recalibrate, and replenish their mental and emotional well-being.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist working with dads, I primarily help fathers build stronger relationships with their children by better understanding their children's emotional and developmental needs. I also help men strengthen communication and connection with their partners.

Let’s talk soon! - Tiffany

Masters Degrees, Graduate Certificates, Specializations, and Clinical Training:

• Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, California School of Professional Psychology- Los Angeles- https://www.alliant.edu/marital-and-family-therapy/ma with my 1 Year+ Clinical Practicum working in downtown Los Angeles on Skid Row and Surrounding Areas at https://paralosninos.org/wraparound-support/ receiving specialized training and consultation using Reflective Practice with Sherry Berg, Ph.D., Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist

• Masters in Education, University of Florida- Gainesville- https://education.ufl.edu/program-directory/#graduate, earning a Florida Child Care and Education Program Director’s Credential

• Specialist Graduate Certificate in Infant-Preschooler Mental Health, California School of Professional Psychology- Los Angeles, with an Endorsement as a Transdisciplinary Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Practitioner, California Center for IFEC-MH- https://cacenter-ecmh.org/professional-development/endorsees/#Outside%20of%20California

• Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy, University of Central Florida, Orlando- https://www.ucf.edu/degree/play-therapy-certificate/ and 1 Year+ of Graduate Level Courses within University of Central Florida’s Counselor Education & School Psychology Department- https://ccie.ucf.edu/cesp/academics/school-counseling-eds/

• Marriage and Family Therapist Internship from 2016-2020, https://www.kinderkonsulting.com

Multidisciplinary Training in Mental Health:

• Women's Mental Health Specialist Certificate- https://www.pesi.com/sales/bh_c_002060_womensmentalhealthspecialist_organic-937251

• Forensic Mental Health Evaluation Workshop, National Board of Forensic Evaluators- https://nbfe.net

• Exercise as Therapy: Evidence-Based Interventions for Enhancing Therapy through Physical Activity- https://www.pesi.com/item/exercise-therapy-evidencebased-interventions-enhancing-act-cbt-physical-activity-156546

• Bank Street's Safe and Sound Schools Conference, Bank Street College of Education in New York, Lesley Koplow, LCSW- https://graduate.bankstreet.edu/educator-resources/conferences-institutes/emotionally-responsive-schools-conference/

• Sand Tray Play Therapy Levels 1 & 2, The Institute of Playful Healing- http://www.instituteofplayfulhealing.com/Trainings.html

• Theraplay Level 1 and MIM- https://theraplay.org

Professional Background:

• Former Adjunct Instructor, Valencia College, Osceola Campus

• Former Teacher, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Florida