Before you join us on this awesome journey, you probably want to know a little about me so here ya go:

My name is Amy Flaherty Hood and I’m a Licensed Psychological Examiner-Independent (LPE-I.) You are probably like what is that?? I get that a lot.  It’s a unique to Arkansas thing. Arkansas licenses people at the masters level through the psychology board to do testing and counseling; with the “I,”I can practice independently (without supervision). There aren’t many of us so it’s likely you haven’t heard of it.

But the most important part you need to know is that I’ve been practicing therapy with kids and adults since 2005 and have been in private practice since 2007. 

I’m also a Registered Play Therapist (RPT).  I’ve been a RPT since 2012.  Becoming a RPT was really one of the smartest moves I’ve ever made with in professional life.  For more information about all things play therapy, hop over to the website for the Association for Play Therapy at www.a4pt.org.

While sandtray therapy is my passion, it’s not the only method of therapy I use with my clients. I view change through cognitive-behavioral therapeutic lens but utilize many experiential methods to access all parts of my client’s brain.

I’m a constant learner and a self-proclaimed nerd.  I have a passion for neuroscience and neuroplasticity, especially as it relates to sandtray therapy.

I blog fairly regularly and provide trainings both in my home state but others as needed and requested.  I am beyond blessed to get to do something for a living (talking and teaching about sandtray) that is my life work and calling.

Through my work in my private practice and trainings, I’ve been featured on local news stations and papers as well as national website and blogs, such as with the St. Louis Center for Play Therapy.  My work with Pam Dyson was even featured by APT for the National Play Therapy Week in 2014.

To conclude, I want to use my skills and passion to help other therapists gain the knowledge to use this powerful tool of sandtray therapy.  Through learning the brain-based, transformative power of sandtray therapy, therapists will leave my trainings renewed, refreshed, and ready to help clients through sandtray therapy.