About Us
Founded in 1987 in Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT) began as a grassroots network of clinicians who believed Canada needed a home for play therapy. Today, we’re a national, member-driven not-for-profit advancing the practice, training, and ethics of play therapy across the country.
Who We Are
Guided by respect, ethics, and community, we:
- support professional development and certification;
 - uphold rigorous standards of practice and ethics; and
 - build a connected community of therapists serving children, youth, and families.
 

CAPT Overview
Vision
CAPT’s vision is to connect children, youth, adults, families, and communities with play therapy education and certification.
Mission
To strengthen voices, health, and well being with individuals, families, and communities by providing support, connection, education, and certification to assist play therapists in promoting the healing therapeutic powers of play and play therapy.
Strategic Priorities (2024)
- Strengthen communities
 - Increase membership
 - Increase awareness and reach of play therapy
 - Support training
 

Board of Directors
What does the Board do?
CAPT’s Board provides governance and strategic direction, ensures fiduciary oversight, and protects the Association’s mission and values. Directors steward long-term priorities, risk management, and policy—always with members and the public interest in mind.
Responsibilities include:
- Setting strategy and annual priorities
 - Approving budgets and overseeing financial health
 - Upholding ethics, standards, and bylaws
 - Supporting the Executive Director and evaluating organizational performance
 - Ensuring compliance as a Canadian not-for-profit
 
Current Board
The Board is elected from the membership and reflects diverse professional backgrounds and geographies. Directors serve staggered terms to provide continuity and fresh perspective.
- Noelle BowlesBoard DirectorWinnipeg, MBView Bio

Noelle Bowles
Board Director

 - Liz ChristieTreasurerPort Colborne, ONView Bio

Liz Christie
Treasurer
Liz is registered Psychotherapist and a certified Play Therapist in the Niagara region. Liz is also a certified EMDR therapist and she is training to become an EMDR consultant. Liz’s career centres on working in children’s mental health to help children, adolescents, teens and their families recover from trauma. Liz joined the board as of 2023. Liz eagerly looks forward to helping with the exciting future developments through the Canadian Association for Play Therapy as a director of the board.

 - Lindsay CroweMembership ChairBradford, ONView Bio

Lindsay Crowe
Membership Chair
Lindsay is a Registered Social Worker and a Certified Play Therapist. She has currently begun working toward her certification as a Play Therapy Supervisor. Lindsay joined the Canadian Association of Play Therapists Board in 2021, and is excited to be actively involved as the Chair of the Membership Committee. Lindsay is excited to be part of the CAPT Board and is enthusiastic about contributing.
Lindsay is registered with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and holds memberships with: Ontario Association of Social Workers, EMDR Canada, Theraplay® Canada, and Canadian Association of Play Therapist. She completed her Masters of Social Work from the University of Windsor in 2016. Lindsay has completed her EMDR Basic Training and is pursuing full certification in EMDR. Lindsay has appreciated the opportunity to continue her education and growth, and has completed training in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and is a Foundational Theraplay® Practitioner.

 - Caileigh FlanniganMarketing Committee Co ChairCobourg, ONView Bio

Caileigh Flannigan
Marketing Committee Co Chair
Caileigh supports children’s mental health and development through her role as a Certified Play Therapist and Registered Social Worker in Ontario, Canada. Caileigh is also a Certified Trauma and Resiliency Practitioner and Certified AutPlay® Therapist. Outside of her career, Caileigh is a published outdoor play and loose parts researcher. She advocates for play opportunities in early childhood settings, and has helped to develop natural outdoor play spaces, natural playgrounds, and child friendly gardens within city spaces. She facilitates professional workshops across Canada and is an online author for multiple internet blogs and websites.

 - Greg LubimivExecutive DirectorToronto, ONView Bio

Greg Lubimiv
Executive Director
Greg Lubimiv recently retired after 42 years as Executive Director of the Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, a children’s mental health centre in southeastern Ontario.
Previous experiences include working as a Supervisor for Child and Family Services in Timiskaming and as a social worker in the Northwest Territories.
Greg graduated with his Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto. He is a certified play therapist and supervisor with the Canadian Association of Child and Play Therapy and was presented with the Monica Hebert Award for contributions to the field of Play Therapy and in 2007. In 2006 he was recipient of the Liz Manson Award for contributions to the field of children’s mental health from Children’s Mental Health Ontario Association. In 2007 he received the Base Commander’s Commendation for services to military families and in 2012 the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for contributions to the mental health treatment of military children and families.
Greg has authored several book, including Wings for Our Children: Essentials of Becoming a Play Therapist, My Sister is an Angeline and With All My Love (children’s book encouraging writing letters). He is also author of numerous articles and presentations on various media platforms.
Greg has dedicated his professional life to improving mental health and wellbeing of children and families everywhere.
Currently Greg provides case consultation/supervision and a presents on a wide range of training topics in person and virtually. Greg is well known as a passionate, creative and playful presenter who makes learning practical, interesting and fun. He can be contacted at glubimiv@hotmail.com

 - Krystelli NeedhamCertification ChairOttawa, OnView Bio

Krystelli Needham
Certification Chair

 - Taylor NelsonDirectors-at-LargeQuinte West, OnView Bio

Taylor Nelson
Directors-at-Large
Taylor has been working with children & families for almost 20 years. She is a Certified Play Therapist and supervisor-in-training with CAPT. Taylor is the founder of a small (but mighty) therapy clinic in Bay of Quinte, Ontario that provides child-centered mental health support. She also provides training and workshops across the province to foster parents, teaching staff and child welfare agencies.

 - Nicole PerrymanVice PresidentAjax ONView Bio

Nicole Perryman
Vice President
Nicole Perryman, is a Registered Social Worker, Play Therapist, and Psychotherapist practicing in Durham Region. Nicole started her career supporting children, youth, and families in child welfare, social services and has worked within children’s mental health, parental contact and parenting time assessments, youth involved in the criminal justice system, trauma centers, and education. Nicole is the CEO and co-founder of Ifarada Centre for Excellence and Kujenga Family Wellness organizations that provide culturally-informed and trauma-focused approaches for children, youth, adults, and families. She is an occasional professor, and field supervisor for students in social work, child and youth, and counseling psychology. She is also a principal equity consultant supporting organizations across Canada and Internationally on their equity journeys.

 - Donna StarlingDiversity and Inclusion ChairFergus, OnView Bio

Donna Starling
Diversity and Inclusion Chair
I am a CPT-S and Social Worker in private practice in Fergus, Ontario. I live with my husband and our two wonderful young adult children who come and go depending on university demands. We have a wacky boxer named Wallace. We are lucky to live on the river in Fergus in our very old house surrounded by wildlife. I like hiking, yoga/pilates, knitting, cooking and gardening (which almost all gets eaten by the wildlife). I am trying to learn the flute – it’s not going well.

 - Kevin St. LouisPresidentOmemee, OnView Bio

Kevin St. Louis
President
Kevin began his journey in the Mental Health Field over 25 years ago. Kevin works with clients across the lifespan and is particularly successful working with children, youth, and their families. Kevin uses elements of Play Therapy, Art Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Therapy, Nature Therapy, Technology and traditional talk-based approaches to helping. Kevin combines Indigenous approaches to healing with Western theories to create a synergy of approaches that allows him to truly meet clients where they are and to walk with them in their life’s journey.
Kevin’s own life journey has taken him to a deeper understanding of his Indigenous heritage. With each day he continues to explore what it means to be Algonquin. Kevin has worked as a teacher and professor in local and cross-cultural educational settings with children and in post-secondary education systems.

 
Executive
President
Governance leadership and Board liaison
Kevin St. Louis
Omemee, ON
Vice-President
Strategic support and committee coordination
Nicole Perryman
Ajax, ON
Secretary
Governance records, minutes, and policy updates
TBA
Treasurer
Financial stewardship and reporting
Liz Christie
Port Colborne, ON
Executive Director (staff)
Day-to-day management, partnerships, and member services
Greg Lubimiv
Toronto, ON

Committees
CAPT committees are where members co-create programs, standards, and community. They advise the Board, lead initiatives, and help deliver member value. Joining a committee is one of the best ways to contribute your expertise and grow professionally.
- Approved Provider Committee: Krysteli Needham
 - Certification Committee: Krysteli Needham
 - Conference Committee: TBD
 - Diversity & Equity Committee: Donna Starling
 - Education Committee: Barbara Warrick
 - Ethics Committee: TBD
 - Fundraising Committee: TBD
 - IPTW Committee: TBD
 - Marketing Committee: Caileigh Falnnigan and Nicole Perryman
 - Membership Committee: Lindsay Crowe
 - Publications Committee: TBD
 - Research Committee: TBD
 

Get Involved — Members Make Us Stronger
CAPT is member-powered. Your ideas, energy, and leadership shape our direction and impact. Here’s how you can help us grow:
- Become a member and help spread awareness about Play Therapy
 - Join a committee and lend your expertise
 - Pursue certification and mentorship opportunities
 - Attend the Annual General Meeting and add your voice to key decisions
 - Share resources and research with the community
 

