Waldo Winborn is a professional counselor at Winborn Wellness & Counseling and is independently licensed to practice in the state of New Mexico.  He has decades worth of behavioral health experience and specializes in working with children and families who have suffered trauma.  He is a Registered Play Therapist™ and certified in EMDR. Waldo is a recognized supervisor by the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board as well as the Board of Social Work Examiners.   In 2009 Waldo and Renee Winborn, LCSW founded Winborn Wellness & Counseling, a group practice in Southern New Mexico.  Together they built an agency that supports over 20 mental health clinicians and provides direct services in Grant, Hidalgo, Catron, and Luna counties. Today he continues as its clinical director and facilitates an environment of collaboration and support. For more information about Waldo or his work go to WinbornWC.com.

Sarah is a professional clinical counselor and Registered Play Therapist™ serving the Albuquerque community through her private practice. She received a MA in Counseling from UNM in 2018 and has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings with children and their families. Sarah was born and grew up
in a rural part of New Mexico, close to Lamy. She was drawn to play therapy as a result of
experiences growing up in an underserved part of the state and wanting to give back
and support her community, as well as ensure every child can access play therapy.

She is grounded in Child-Centered Play Therapy and has seen the power of CCPT in
helping children become their most authentic selves. She also utilize Adlerian Play
Therapy and Sandtray Play Therapy in her practice. In the playroom, one of her favorite
toys is a rainbow pop-it fidget because of the many ways it helps with self-regulation.
Her other favorite toy is the Mysterious Purple Enchantress Fairy sandtray figure and
seeing the different ways she appears in sandtray work.

Sarah is honored to be a part of the NMAPT Board and bringing play therapy to New
Mexico.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Social Work degree from New Mexico
Highlands University. I currently serve children in PreK through 5th grade within the Roswell
Independent School District. In my work within the school setting, I support students in
developing social skills, identifying and managing their emotions, and improving behavior
through a combination of individual support, group activities, and collaboration with teachers
and families. In addition to serving the school district, I also support adults seeking support for mental
health, substance use, and other life-controlling struggles.

My approach is deeply grounded in Person-Centered theory, inspired by Carl Rogers’ belief in
unconditional positive regard and the healing power of authentic connection. I practice with a
strengths-based lens, always seeking to meet clients where they are and build on what is already
strong and resilient within them.

I incorporate modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused
Therapy, mindfulness, and I am trained in Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) a
gentle and non-invasive intervention for treating PTSD and trauma-related symptoms. I have
completed the requirements and recently applied to be a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). I am
currently awaiting approval and am excited to continue growing in my work with children and
adults through play therapy.

I’m passionate about creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel seen, heard, valued,
and empowered. Whether I'm using sand, art supplies, Play-Doh, or dinosaurs in session, I believe
that play is a powerful language for healing and growth. I am honored to walk alongside my
clients as they heal, grow, and rediscover who they are.

Elva Burillo is a trauma-informed mental health therapist in Roswell, NM; serving children, adolescents, and young adults through a nonprofit agency. She was drawn to play therapy after witnessing how traditional talk therapy often failed to meet the needs of many clients, particularly children and those impacted by trauma. In contrast, play therapy offered a developmentally appropriate, relational, and embodied way for clients to process and express their experiences

She is trained in a variety of approaches, including Child-Centered Play Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Sand Tray Therapy, creative arts, EMDR, and sound healing. As she pursues her Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential, she is witnessing the transformative potential of play and incorporating it into these modalities to support connection, expression, and growth. Rather than adhering to a single theory, she prefers an integrative approach that allows her to tailor treatment to each client’s individual needs and strengths.

Her favorite playroom tools include sensory fidgets, slime, and sand tray miniatures—each offering powerful opportunities for grounding, symbolism, and self-expression.

My name is Megan Delaney and I am a Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist™ located in Roswell, NM. I recently pursued and became an RPT™ to help support the needs of the children whom I work with in my community. I have worked as a special education social worker within my community’s social district for the past 10 years and previously I did outpatient therapy with children and adolescents at our community mental health agency. I am a native New Mexican and completed both my undergraduate and graduate education at NMSU. I am passionate about bringing play therapy to my community and the state as we respond to increasing mental health needs of our children and families!

Katie Bassiri MA, LPCC RPT-S™ is a multiply neurdivergent business owner and mental health therapist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her work is focused on helping humans live authentic and connected lives by sharing her expertise in play therapy, autism, and universal design considerations. She provides supervision and training around the US and in 2024 was recognized as an Outstanding Leader by the New Mexico Association of Play Therapy, a Diversity Champion in New Mexico, and a Woman of Influence in Albuquerque Business.

Risa Lehrer relocated to Taos in 1995 after serving as special education in the New York City public schools. For the past five years, she has served as a special education teacher and school counselor at Anansi Charter School. Along with running her own established  private practice in Taos since 2008. In her private practice she has worked to support children and families using Play Therapy. 

In 2010, she earned her Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™) certification and then had achieved RPT-S™ (Supervisor) certification. Along with holding her level II Theraplay certification Risa has pursued further education in the areas of play therapy through the years. She has been an active leader in the New Mexico Play Therapy Association, serving as President, President-Elect, and Past President, during her two terms. During her tenure, she presented numerous training sessions across the state, including at the association’s annual conference.

A passionate advocate for mental health, Risa currently serves on the New Mexico Counseling Association's Legislative Committee, where she works to secure increased funding for mental health services in schools and for private practitioners. Her commitment to supporting families and advocating for systemic change in New Mexico has made her a powerful voice for the communities she serves.

As a dedicated member of the play therapy community, Risa is eager to expand awareness of the practice and educate the public about its profound benefits and effectiveness in helping children and families navigate life’s challenges. Risa looks forward to be able to serve as board member again.

Hi! I'm April!  I am the owner and clinical director of A Bird's Nest. I got my bachelor's from the University of New Mexico in Sociology and then went on to pursue my M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Southwest. I enjoy using a wide range of approaches including Experiential, Client-Centered, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, CBT, and mindfulness and have a passion for Play therapy.

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I am a Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™) and Supervisor working towards my EMDR Certification. I love to work side by side with other clinicians to empower each other to progress further in our work. I am a 2023 graduate of the Association for Play Therapy Leadership Academy. I am also a board member and the Past President of the New Mexico Association for Play Therapy.

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I have presented for several training topics I enjoy speaking about: Aggression, Trauma, Anxiety, Theories, and Techniques.

Children speak/work through trauma and anxieties through play. Play can help children process in a way they need with a safe environment. I can help provide that “safe place”. I can also provide parent support and education along the way.

I am trained in many modalities including Eye-Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing which is commonly used to treat and relieve PTSD, acute stress, and anxiety symptoms resulting from traumatic and other life experiences. EMDR can produce elevated emotional and somatic reactions during and after treatment. A typical client experiences a 60-90% reduction in stress symptoms as a result of treatment. With children, I tend to use a more playful EMDR approach to stay trauma-informed in my therapeutic process and meet individuals at their own needs.

In my spare time, I choose to spend with my family at home. I am a mother of two amazing little boys who keep my heart full. We take trips to the park, love doing art projects, and visit local places including many local restaurants in town and the zoo. We look forward to more traveling as a family in the upcoming years to continue to create meaningful memories. Other hobbies include my self-care time going running, setting fitness goals, going to CrossFit, and looking forward to finishing writing a book in the next year.

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I strive to make an impact on the community of New Mexico and help individuals with their mental health needs for many generations to come.