Bios

Liz Tomko, Owner

"I created Artplay to give kids an opportunity to lower their stressors, so they can thrive!"

Liz saw that there was a gap in expressive art services for kids in Phoenix, Arizona. So, in 2010, she decided to change that by opening Artplay, a safe place for kids to explore their feelings through art-making and sensory play in a non-clinical setting. Liz found inspiration for her calling while growing up in the outback of Australia. Her local high school art teacher told Liz to one day become an Art Therapist, as she was naturally helping fellow students process their emotions through their art. Liz moved back to the U.S. and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at Texas Tech in 1997. She then moved to Arizona, where she worked as a graphic designer for 10 years. At that point, Liz took the wise advice of her outback art teacher and received her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling (MAPC) with a Specialty in Expressive Arts Therapy at Ottawa University in Phoenix. Then, Liz asserted her independence and founded Artplay. She continually grows Artplay in order to help as many kids in the community as possible.

Becky Goudy

"There is nothing more hopeful than a genuinely happy and empowered child."

Becky has been empowering the lives of her clients for 20 years. Becky enjoys advocating for the needs of Artplay clients, often becoming a liaison with teachers and schools. She believes in helping kids with self-regulation and stability, always encouraging genuineness. At Artplay, Becky is incorporating her love for art with her exceptional therapeutic knowledge. She connects with parents easily, making sure that they know what they can be doing to support the emotional development of their child.

Becky spent her childhood in Australia and California, before moving to Arizona in order to raise her family. She completed her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, plus her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling at Ottawa University, in Phoenix. With her extensive education and experience, Becky is an asset to the children that attend Artplay.

Allison "Allie" Gray

"I see magic when a client is connecting with their feelings so that they are able to be their true selves."

Allie's youth was spent in Phoenix, before moving to Los Angeles to attend The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She graduated with a degree in Fashion Design and for 13 years, Allie worked for major manufacturers and retailers, creating clothing lines for Target, Disney and others. It was a growing experience that, in turn, led her to wanting to be in a more helping-related profession. So, Allie decided to move back to Arizona in order to help under-served children in our community, using art. From there, Allie took the valuable tools that she had gained, plus her Support Specialist Certification, in order to work as a Behavior Coach and Mentor to kids in the foster system. Now, at Artplay, Allie is focused on helping kids, 6-18 years old, to lower their anxiety and build strong self-identities using her playful, gentle guidance. Being a lover of animals, she always has a therapy pet in her space.

Whitney Eilders

"I love being an Artplay helper because I see the awesomeness in every kid."

Whitney was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Upon completion of her BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Stony Brook University, she moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy. Whitney holds the value of self expression in high regard, as her mother was also an art therapist.

After completing grad school, and yearning for a new environment, Whitney moved to San Francisco, where she sang and wrote lyrics in a band, played soccer and painted. Then, with her husband and two small children, Whitney came to Phoenix in 2018. While being a mom-close-to-home, she has led kids camps, as well as using her fine arts skills as a muralist for local Arizona businesses. Now, with her own children being older and more self-sufficient, Whitney has joined Artplay in order to help kids feel empowered by the knowledge of themselves and the world around them.

Katy Ziemer

"Creating a safe space for children to overcome obstacles, connect with others and connect with themselves, is such a special experience."

Katy worked as an Early Childhood Assessor before joining the Artplay team. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Educational Studies with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. She is currently, happily, working on her Master's Degree in Science for Clinical Mental Health from Grand Canyon University.

As well as being a helper in the educational realm, Katy has also spent time as a foster care and adoption case manager. She has extensive experience promoting positive social and emotional development in children, supporting children who have experienced anxiety on many levels. Her main focus has been to help children gain confidence. Katy looks forward to connecting with Artplay parents, while working to empower kid clients to express themselves in the healthiest ways possible.

Joy Li

"When kids befriend themselves, they are empowered to approach their feelings with a compassionate curiosity."

Joy believes in the powerful connection between emotional wellness and acts of creativity. She sees her role as a helper to actively listen, empathize, and provide a safe space for kids to explore their inner world. By modeling how to tune into their emotional experiences, Joy helps children become more resilient, teaching them to recognize, investigate, and nurture their feelings.

After graduating from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Joy’s passion for emotional healing through artistic expression and play was confirmed when she had the opportunity to work at Artplay. She began her Master’s degree in Art Therapy and Counseling at George Washington University and is continuing her education at Pennsylvania Western University. Joy loves studying the brain’s ability to achieve a “flow state” through creativity and play, boosting happiness and increasing self-confidence.

Orren Reeves

"They say it takes a village and I find joy in playing my part in the lives of my kid clients."

Orren moved to Arizona from Illinois, specifically to expand her career choices. She has a passion for helping children build confidence so they can advocate for themselves. In Illinois, Orren worked for seven years helping kids at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, where she learned a lot about how to treat kids with care. Another job Orren had was as a mobile crisis worker, making use of her Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (CTI) training. She has experience in trauma, foster care, adoption, anxiety, plus grief and loss.

Orren earned her Master's Degree in Family Consumer & Sciences at Eastern Illinios University, followed by a Master's Degree of Social Work at Aurora University in Illinois. She also has a BA in Criminal Justice and Sociology. For fun, Orren loves on her nieces and nephews, always feeling fulfilled by kids! At Artplay, she enjoys helping children between the ages of 7 to 18 years old.

Lynn Presley

"Artplay is a calm space that allows a child to express themselves openly."

Lynn has her Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology & Family Studies, both from The University of Arizona. Using her knowledge, Lynn’s goal at Artplay is to help kids in a therapeutic capacity to become less anxious and more confident. She most enjoys supporting kids with mood issues or trauma by promoting verbal sharing in unison with using art as a catalyst for opening up. Lynn also has her parent coach certification, so she enjoys guiding parents - post-session - to better support their children.

The amount of experience that Lynn has accrued over time makes her a true asset to Artplay families. She has worked in a hospital setting, with Child Protective Services, in the Foster Care system, at an Adolescent Recovery Center, as a Court Appointed Advocate, as well as being an Educational & Treatment Consultant. She is also kind beyond words, which means Lynn has it all!

Shannon Carter

"There is so much reward in making a positive connection in Artplay's safe space."

Shannon was born and raised in our sunny state of Arizona. Her life goal has been to work with kids, in hopes of helping each child feel comfort in opening up to explore their authentic self. She has a diverse background, working in a variety of settings, including being a medical assistant, a school counselor and more recently in a clinical psychology office as a PhD intern. In each setting, Shannon has enjoyed creating strong relationships with her clients. She believes that human connection is the most vital part of working through difficult emotions.

For education, Shannon completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She also achieved her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and is currently working on her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Shannon combines her extensive knowledge-base with her love for the arts, to help Artplay kids learn calming techniques that will last them a lifetime.

Jenny Stewart

"Being playful, expressive, and present with a child is one of life’s greatest gifts."

Jenny is Artplay’s reliable substitute therapist, for when your Artplay helper takes time off. Jenny kindly offered to take on this role as sub as she loves helping empower children to lead lives grounded in resilience. Her philosophy aligns with Artplay as she believes healing begins with self-awareness, growing emotional maturity through exploration, plus creating a sense of connection with others.

Having worked for eight years in trauma-informed care, she specializes in helping children build a strong relationship with themselves, as well others. Jenny’s background spans early childhood programs, tribal communities, clinical settings, non-profits, and public schools. Jenny has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Justice, plus Youth & Trauma. She is currently finishing up a Masters of Science, in unison with starting a Masters in Clinical Social Work. Jenny is dedicated to helping children build emotional skills that will serve them throughout life, enabling them to face challenges with confidence!

Mike Tomko

"Making sure everything inside and outside of the building looks nice and is functional just adds to the positivity of Artplay."

You will see Mike around the Artplay office as he busies himself with all the background Artplay needs, such as filling the complimentary waters in the waiting room fridge or replenishing the snack bar. He is also our IT guy, so if you need help with connecting to the internet, or you need a unique charger, he will be the guy you want to ask. Yes, Mike is the husband of owner, Liz, and he has been instrumental in the success of Artplay, so he knows answers like, "Do kids get to make things for the Artplay store?"

Mike is a graphic designer by trade, with his office in the Artplay building, so if you need a logo, website or other branding for your own business, you can find his contact info at tomkodesign.com.

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