About Us
We are empathic and highly skilled clinicians, engaging our clients with compassion and total acceptance. We recognize the abundance of challenges facing families today and we help children and their caregivers find calm, connection and confidence in their capacity to handle life’s struggles.
Our approach is more holistic and comprehensive than simple “behavior management” because it is informed by neuroscience research, which emphasizes the importance of relationships, the perception of safety and the growth of neural connections for resilience and regulation. We know that behavior tends to be adaptive and communicate an underlying need. By viewing each client through this lens, we are able to look through the behavioral manifestation of nervous system activation to address the root issue.
At the Champlain Center, we believe that you are the expert on your family and your life. We know that all parents are biologically driven toward nurturance and connection with their children. We are committed to helping parents connect with their own innate wisdom, while providing effective skills to cope with challenging behaviors and to promote healthy development. We are grateful for the enormous trust you are sharing with us. It is an honor to walk beside you on this journey of healing and growth.
Our Clinicians
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Katie is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) and a child psychotherapist. Katie received a Bachelor of Science degree in speech pathology from Miami University and a Master of Social Work from University of Cincinnati.
Katie values the uniqueness of each child and believes all children are deserving of unconditional love and respect. Katie uses child-centered play therapy to empower children to express their feelings, make good choices, and solve problems in healthy ways.She has over a decade of experience in social work case management and mental health for children, teens, and young adults, in advocacy centers, hospitals, and the school setting. The only thing that is constant is change… so after three years working as a school-based clinician, she partnered with her dear friend and colleague to open Champlain Center for Play Therapy and Family Counseling.
To date, Katie’s most rewarding–and challenging!–gig has been parenting her two school-aged children. Over the years she has discovered the transformative, connective power of play in her own family. Her favorite ways to play are making fairy houses in the garden, building sand castles on the beach, and treasure hunting in second-hand shops with her family.
Testimonials
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The list is too long, literally the ability to clone her would be ideal. I can’t imagine a more supportive and caring person in this position. So much so that my child felt safe enough to talk to her about feelings that needed more support than the school could provide.
-Caregiver
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I have worked with many case workers over the years, all do their job well, but Katie is one of a kind. She is one of those people that will stand out in your mind years to come because she really touches your heart. I am forever grateful for all she has done for my son.
-Caregiver
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I felt that [my child] and I have had a great experience with Ms. Katie. She is kind, compassionate and always ready to find the best in a situation. I have praised her to other staff and parents at school and will recommend her to any family that is struggling.
-Caregiver
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I really like talking to her. She really nice to talk to and hangout with. I like going outside and playing games with her.
-Child
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She helps me feel comfortable about new things and helps me deal with my big emotions.
-Child
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She's amazing. She communicates very well with us parents, and our child's teachers and pediatrician. She always includes us in the connections she is making with our child, and what she is teaching and how she is supporting our child in every way. She also shares a lot of resources and tools with us to use outside of the school, to set our child up for success.
-Caregiver
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She is very knowledgeable about neurodivergence and always has been able to quickly respond with the perfect solutions to any issues my child and I may be having at home, and we work well together to make sure he feels supported across all settings. She’s also very good at explaining things in a way that don’t make you feel like you missed something as a parent, and offers supports with the offer for more if needed. She is irreplaceable.
-Caregiver
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She has been so attentive to my children’s needs. She has been so wonderful and helpful to our family.
-Caregiver
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She is so warm and empathetic, I feel like I can tell her anything. She never judges me and helps me feel supported. After our conversations, I feel energized and confident as a parent, like I can handle anything.
-Caregiver
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She is very helpful with questions we had for her and always great with resources! She is super knowledgeable and always points me towards exactly what I need.
-Caregiver
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She has expertise and is very skilled in therapeutic approaches with children presenting complex and diverse mental health considerations. She contributes expertise and guidance in team meetings. She has been a critical liaison for the school with many families which has helped to coordinate services and better meet the needs of students.
-School-based partner