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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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. Just don't make him so busy that he can't help out at Artplay! 😉

Aussie

The Shy Girl

For kids that need help with impulse control, this pet is the perfect helper. She will set boundaries, building trust and rewarding the child when it is time by allowing herself to be held. Clients love making toys for her cage too!

Toast

The Ultra-Friendly Girl

Toast is the sister of Vegemite, and like many siblings, their personalities are very different. Toast is eager to play with all kids! Her social behavior is great for kids that find animals to be stress-relievers.

Dottie

The Hello Gecko

Dottie is our sweet, explorative leopard gecko. She helps the children feel welcome by coming to the glass to say “hello” when they arrive. This therapy pet really knows how to show kids the way to be regulated and chill.

Bubbles and Sushi

The Giving Goldfish

These playful fish were donated to Artplay after a client won them at a State Fair, to the parents chagrin. They have been with us since 2018, and we attribute their longevity to the love they receive from Artplay kids.