The Louisiana Association for Play Therapy

History

History of the Development of LAPT

In 1995, several mental health professionals met for an informal meeting at the office of Danny and Marcie Yeager in Lafayette, LA to discuss forming a branch of the International Association for Play Therapy (IAPT). Unfortunately, a list of those who attended this meeting is not available. Deborah Brown, PhD, from Shreveport with several others had researched the requirements for affiliating and she was selected to head the committee to work with IAPT to get the necessary documentation to become an affiliate of that organization.

After the initial meeting in Lafayette, Dr. Brown called a meeting for those interested in forming a branch to meet in Alexandria, LA at the Bentley Hotel. Eventually, the By-laws were written and submitted to IAPT. On March 7, 1996, the Louisiana Association for Play Therapy was incorporated with the State of Louisiana with Juliana Fort, MD listed as the Registered Agent. LAPT wants to recognize Dr. Deborah Brown for her determination to establish a branch of IAPT in Louisiana and Dr. Juliana Fort for contributing the initial financial monies to establish the incorporation of the Louisiana Association for Play Therapy.

Original Board of Directors

The first Board of Directors as listed in the Articles of Incorporation:

• Deborah Brown, PhD (Shreveport, LA)
• Marcia Cox, BCSW (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Juliana Fort, MD (Shreveport, LA)
• Danna Halpin, MSW (Lafayette, LA)
• Meri Kay Ringer, PhD (Shreveport, LA
• Rose Marie Robertson, MA (Shreveport, LA)
• Butch Robicheaux, BCSW (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Zoe Tanner, PhD - (Thibodaux, LA)
• Daniel Yeager, BCSW (Lafayette, LA)
• Marcie Yeager, BCSW (Lafayette, LA)

The First Officers for LAPT

The original Board of Directors selected the first Officers for LAPT:

• President: Deborah Brown, PhD (Shreveport)
• President-Elect: Danny Yeager, BCSW (Lafayette)
• Secretary: Danna Halpin, BCSW (Lafayette)
• Treasurer: Julianna Fort, MD (Shreveport)

The first LAPT Newsletter was published on June 8, 1996. Marcie Yeager and Juliana Fort were the first editors.

According to the By-laws, the president, secretary, and treasurer are elected by the organization's membership and are to serve 2-year rotating terms with the president being elected one year and the secretary and treasurer to be elected the following year to provide continuity on the board. Other positions are appointed by the President with the Board's Approval.

Subsequent Boards of Directors

Select from this list to see those who have served in the past.

1997-1999 | 2000-2001 | 2001-2003 | 2003-2005 | 2005-2007 | 2007-2009 | 2009-2011 | 2011-2013 | 2013-2015 | 2015-2017 | 2017-2019 | 2019-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2023-2024

1997-1999

• President: Danny Yeager, BCSW, RPT-S** (Lafayette)
• President-Elect: Zoe Tanner, PhD (Thibodeaux)
• Past President: Deborah Brown, PhD (Shreveport)
• Secretary: Marcia Cox, BCSW, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)
• Treasurer: Bobby Stephenson, PhD (Monroe)
• Membership Chairperson: Angie Ruiz, BCSW (Alexandria)
• Workshop Chairperson: Butch Robicheaux, BCSW (Baton Rouge)
• Nominations & Election Chairperson: Della Wills, BCSW (Shreveport)
• Publicity & Promotion Chairperson:
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: Deborah Brown, PhD (Shreveport)
• Newsletter: Michelle Kelly (Metairie)

2000-2001

(Because President-Elect Zoe Tanner,PhD, could not serve her 2-year term as president, Danny Yeager extended his service as president for one year at which time Carolyn Ellender served the second year in order to fill Dr. Tanner's term as president.)

• President: Carolyn Ellender, BCSW, LPC (Baton Rouge)
• President-Elect: Scott Riviere, LPC, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• Past-President: Danny Yeager, BCSW,RPT-S** (Lafayette)
• Secretary: Marcia Cox, BCSW, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)
• Treasurer: Lynn Thomas, BCSW, RPT-S** (Monroe)
• Membership Chairperson: Scott Riviere, LPC, RPT-S**(Lake Charles)
• Nominations & Election Chairperson: Phyllis Taylor, LPC, RPT-S** (Monroe)
• Workshop Chairperson: Dana Davidson, BCSW (Baton Rouge)
• Publicity & Promotion Chairperson:
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: Bobby Stephenson, PhD (Monroe)
• Debbie Merlan, BCSW (Alexandria)
• Newsletter: Melanie Aycock, LPC (Monroe)
• Aileen Black, LPC (Monroe)

2001-2003

• President: Scott Riviere, LPC, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
  
• President-Elect: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC (Baton Rouge)
• Past President: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC (Baton Rouge)
• Secretary: Marcia Cox, LCSW, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)
• Treasurer: Judy Crow, EdD, LPC, RPT-S** (Ruston)
• Membership Chairperson: Ann Landry, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• Nominations & Election Chairperson: Phyllis Taylor, LPC, RPT-S** (Monroe)
• Workshop Chairperson: Dana Davidson, LCSW (Baton Rouge)
• Publicity & Promotion Chairperson:
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: K. Scott LeJeune, LPC (Oakdale)
• Newsletter: Ray Melerine, LPC RPT-S** (Lake Charles)

2003-2005

• President: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC (Baton Rouge)
• President-Elect: Marcia Cox, LCSW, RPT-S ** (Baton Rouge)
• Past President: Scott Riviere, LPC, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• Secretary: Dana Davidson, LCSW (Baton Rouge)
• Treasurer: Judy Crow, EdD, LPC, RPT-S** (Ruston)
• Membership Chairperson: Ann Landry, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• Nominations & Election Chairperson: Phyllis Taylor, LPC, RPT-S** (Monroe)
• Workshop Chairperson:
• Publicity & Promotions Chairperson: Pat Cox McDowell, LCSW (Baton Rouge)
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: K. Scott LeJeune, LPC (Oakdale)
• Newsletter: Ray Melerine, LPC, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)

2005-2007

• President: Marcia Cox, LCSW, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)
• President-Elect: Ann Landry, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• Past President: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC (Baton Rouge)
• Secretary: Dana Davidson, LCSW (Baton Rouge)
• Treasurer: Judy Crow, EdD, LPC, RPT-S** (Ruston) &
  K. Scott LeJeune, LPC (Oakdale)
• Membership Chairperson(s): Ann Landry, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lake Charles) &
  LeAnne Steen, PhD, LPC, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Nominations & Elections Chairperson: Esther Townsend, MEd, (West Monroe)
• Workshop Chairperson: Marcie Yeager, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lafayette)
• Publicity & Promotions Chairperson: Erin Martin, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: K. Scott LeJeune, MA, LPC
• Newsletter: Ray Melerine, LPC, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)

2007-2009

• President: Ann Landry, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• President-Elect: Ray Melerine, LPC, RPT-S **(Lake Charles)
• Past President: Marcia Cox, LCSW, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)
• Secretary: Dana Planchard, LCSW (Baton Rouge)
• Treasurer: K. Scott LeJeune, LPC (Oakdale)
• Membership Chairperson: LeAnne Steen, PhD, LPC, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Nominations & Elections Chairperson: Esther Townsend, MEd, RPT* (West Monroe)
• Workshop Chairperson: Marcie Yeager, LCSW, LPT-S** (Lafayette)
• Publicity & Promotions Chairperson: Erin Martin Dugan, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC (Baton Rouge)
• Newsletter: Kristy A. Brumfield, PhD, LPC, RPT-S** (New Orleans)

2009-2011

• President: Ray Melerine, LPC, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• President-Elect: Erin Martin Dugan, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Past President: Ann Landry, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• Secretary: Dana Planchard, LCSW (Baton Rouge)
• Treasurer: K. Scott LeJeune, LPC (Oakdale) 2009
• Laura Fazio-Griffith, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge) 2010
• Membership: LeAnne Steen, PhD, LPC, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Nominations & Elections Chairperson: Esther Townsend, MEd, RPT* (West Monroe) 2009
• Sandy Allen, LPC, RPT* (Ruston) 2010
• Workshop Chairperson: Marcie Yeager, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lafayette) 2009
• Michelle Niemeier, P.D, RPT-S** (New Orleans) 2009-2010
• Adrianne Lolan, MHS, CRC, LPC, RPT* (New Orleans) 2010
• Publicity & Promotions Chairperson: Erin Martin Dugan, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S** (New Orleans) 2009
  Gerra Perkins, PhD, LPC, RPT-S** - North Louisiana (Natchitoches) 2009-2010 &
  Nicole Bartlett, LPC-S, LMFT (Metairie) 2009-2010
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC (Baton Rouge)
• Newsletter: Kristy A. Brumfield, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S **(New Orleans)
• Gold Branch Chairperson: Marcia Cox, LCSW, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)

2011-2013

• President: Erin Dugan, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• President-Elect: LeAnne Steen, PhD, LPC, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Past President: Ray Melerine, LPC, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)
• Secretary: Nicole Bartlett, LPC-S, LMFT (Metairie)
• Treasurer: Laura Fazio-Griffith, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT, NCC, RPT-S ** (Baton Rouge)
• Membership Chairperson: Sheila Gold, LCSW, RPT* (New Orleans)
• Nominations & Elections Chairperson: Sandy Allen, LPC, RPT* (Ruston) 2011
  & Ann Landry, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lake Charles) 2012
• Workshop Chairperson: Michelle Niemeier, PhD, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Publicity & Promotions Chairperson: North: Gerra Perkins, PhD, RPT-S** (Natchitoches) 2011 &
  South: Adrianne Lolan Frischhertz, PhD, LPC-S, RPT* (New Orleans) 2012
• Newsletter: Kristy A. Brumfield, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S (New Orleans)
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)
• Gold Branch Chairperson: Marcia Cox, LCSW, RPT-S** ( Baton Rouge)
• Historian: Dana Planchard, LCSW (Baton Rouge)

2013-2015

• President: LeAnne Steen, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S**, (New Orleans)
• President-Elect: Adrianne Lolan /Frischhertz, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Past-President: Erin Martin Dugan, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Secretary: Nicole Bartlett, LPC-S (New Orleans)
• Treasurer: Laura Fazio-Griffith, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge / Hammond)
• Membership Chairperson: Sheila Gold, LCSW, RPT* (New Orleans)
• Nominations & Elections Chairperson: Ann Landry, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lake Charles) 2013 & Wendy Romero, LCSW, RPT** (New Orleans) 2014-2015
• Workshop Chairperson: Michelle Niemeier, PhD, RPT-S** (New Orleans)
• Publicity & Promotions Chairperson: North: Emily Wicker, LCSW, RPT* (Shreveport) &
  South: Danny Yeager, LCSW, RPT-S** (Lafayette)
• Newsletter: Kristy A. Brumfield, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S** ( New Orleans)
• By-Laws & Legislative Chairperson: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW- LPC, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)
• Gold Branch Chairperson: Marcia Cox, LCSW, RPT-S** (Baton Rouge)
• Historian: Dana Blanchard, LCSW, (Baton Rouge)
• Webmaster: Ray Melerine, LPC, RPT-S** (Lake Charles)

  * Registered Play Therapist
** Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor

2015-2017

• President: Adrianne L. Frischhertz, PhD, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• President-Elect: Laura Fazio-Griffith, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT-S, Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor
• Past President: LeAnne Steen, PhD, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Secretary: Nicole Barlett, LPC-S
• Treasurer: Amanda Chapoton, LPC-S, LMFT, Registered Play Therapist
• Membership Co-Chairs: Kenneth Schmitt, LPC, Registered Play Therapist & Kati Hill LPC, Registered Play Therapist
• Workshop Co-Chairs: Wendy. Q. Durant, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor & Michele Niemier, PhD, Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor
• Promotions Co-Chairs: Emily Vincent, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist (North) & Mandy Barrett, LPC (South)
• Legislative, Ethics & By-Laws Chair: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW-BACS, LPC, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Gold Branch Chair/Historian : Marcia Cox, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Webmaster: Ray Melerine, LPC, Registered Play Therapist

2017-2019

• President: Laura Fazio-Griffith, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• President Elect: Krystal Vaughn, PhD , LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Past President: Adrienne Frischertz, PhD., LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Secretary: Nicole Bartlett, LPC-S
• Treasurer: Amanda H. Chapoton, LPC-S, LMFT, Registered Play Therapist
• Workshop Chair: Wendy Q. Durant, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Workshop Loyola Site Coordinator: LeAnne Steen, PhD, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Communications Chair: Heather M. Zinna, LCSW-BACS, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Membership Co-Chairs: Kenneth Schmitt, LPC, Registered Play Therapist & Kati Hill, LPC, Registered Play Therapist
• Promotions Co-Chairs: Emily Vincent, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist (North) & Mandy Barrett, LPC (South)
• Legislative, Ethics & By-Laws Chair: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW-BACS , LPC,Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Gold Branch Chair/Historian: Marcia Cox, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor

2019-2021

• President: Krystal Vaughn, Ph.D., NCC. LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor
• President: Elect, Kenneth Schmitt, NCC. LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Past-President: Laura Fazio-Griffith, Ph.D., NCC. LPC-S., LMFT., Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor
• Secretary: Nicole Bartlett, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist
• Treasurer, Amanda Chapoton, LPC-S., LMFT, Registered Play Therapist
• Communications Committee: Megan Long, LPC, CRC, NCC and Emily Prevot, LPC
• Speaker Coordinator Committee: Laura Fazio-Griffith, Ph.D., NCC, LPC-S., LMFT, Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor
• Gold Branch / Historian: Marcia Cox, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor
• Legislative, Ethics & By-laws Committee: Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC 
Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor
• Membership Committee: Kathryn Hill LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor & Adrianne Frischhertz, Ph.D., LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Promotions & Publicity South Committee: Nicole Snyder, NCC, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Promotions & Publicity North Committee: Emily Vincent, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist
• Workshops & Conferences Committee: Wendy Q. Durant, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor & Deatrice Green, NCC, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist

2021-2022

• President - Kenneth Schmitt, NCC. LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• President Elect - Deatrice Green, Ph.D., NCC, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Past-President - Krystal Vaughn, Ph.D., NCC. LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Secretary - Nicole Bartlett, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist
• Treasurer - Amanda Chapoton, LPC-S., LMFT, Registered Play Therapist
• Communications Committee - Emily Prevot, LPC, NCC, RPT
• Speaker Coordinator Committee - Laura Fazio-Griffith, Ph.D., NCC, LPC-S., LMFT, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Gold Branch / Historian - Marcia Cox, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Legislative, Ethics & Bylaws Committee - Carolyn Ellender, LCSW, LPC, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Membership Committee - Kathryn Hill LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and Adrianne Frischhertz, Ph.D., LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Promotions & Publicity South Committee - Nicole Snyder, NCC, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
• Promotions & Publicity North Committee - open
• Workshops & Conferences Committee - Wendy Q. Durant, LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor

[Note: In February 2015 the Board contracted with Avery Sloan, a professional web designer in Baton Rouge, with Carolyn Ellender serving as temporary liaison to update our website. ]

This history was compiled by Marcia Cox.   She should be contacted if there are any changes or revisions.

[Note: The By-Laws were rewritten and adopted on 6/3/01 to correlate with the national Association For Play Therapy (APT, a name change from IAPT) to integrate APT's requirements that one must be a member of the national organization to be a member of the affiliate state's organization.

The By-Laws have been amended and revised on the following dates: 6/13/03, 2/27/10 and 3/2/12. In December 2017, the executive board worked very hard to revise the by-laws. The by-laws were revised and put to a membership vote that closed in December 2017.

In November 2023, the by-laws were revised again in order to comply with new directives from the APT. See our new By-Laws adopted in November 2023.

Copyright© 2021 - Louisiana Association for Play Therapy