Katie Mega
Katie Mega, MSW, LMSW, LCSW, RPT
Senior Counselor
- Virtual Therapist
- Trauma Specialist
- Wounded Relationships
- Emotional Distress
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Registered Play Therapist
Session Fee $190
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist, Katie has many years of experience and training in treating children and families. Katie holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Washington University of St. Louis and believes deeply in the privilege it is to work alongside children, adolescents, and families as they move through the trials and tribulations of life, traumatic experiences, emotional distress, behavioral issues, and wounded relationships.
Katie’s virtual therapy is surprisingly similar to what you would experience during a session in an office. You or your child will have a virtual therapy experience crafted to meet your unique set of needs, personality traits and attention span.
Katie has recognized Play Therapy as a therapeutic approach that matches her core beliefs of counseling and interaction with children and their families. Katie strives to create an atmosphere and environment where acceptance is felt, and healing and change can occur more readily. When working with older children and adolescents, Katie enjoys using alternative forms of play therapy such as expressive art techniques and sandtray therapy. Most importantly, Katie is passionate about providing a connected environment to work collaboratively with children, teens and their family to create a safe place to express their wants, needs, thoughts, and desires more effectively.
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Throughout her career, Katie has specialized in treatment of trauma (sexual abuse, physical abuse, and maltreatment and neglect) and attachment disturbances (foster care, placement within residential care, adoption). Katie has worked extensively to provide assistance for anxious, grieving, angry, and/or depressed children and families. Katie has worked at length with families providing parent consultation, assessment, and counseling to help parents manage and resolve their children’s behavior problems, as well as create the change and choice that is so often sought by families in difficult times.
Recent Accomplishments
- Katie has been awarded the designation of Registered Play Therapist (RPT) by the Association for Play Therapy. A registered play therapist is a mental health professional with training and experience working with children and families through the use of play therapy. To earn RPT credentials, therapists must demonstrate coursework in child development, theories of personality, principles of psychotherapy, and child & adolescent psychopathology, as well as ethics. In addition, acquire clinical experiences as required by state licensure, roughly equivalent to 2 years and 3000 hours of general mental health clinical practice. Katie completed over 415 play therapy specific hours of experience, 35 hours of supervision, and 150 continuing education hours in play therapy specific knowledge.
- Completed Theraplay Level 1, an essential child and family modality for building and enhancing attachment, self-esteem, trust, and joyful engagement with one another.
- Obtained Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) certification. Certification required completion of TF-CBT web program, participation in live TF-CBT training and follow-up consultation on a monthly basis for twelve months, completion of TF-CBT treatment cases including active participation of caretakers, and passing the TF-CBT therapist certification program knowledge-based test.
- Completed Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) 101: Basics in Child-Centered Play Therapy and CCPT 102: Child-Centered Play Therapy Practice and Application.
- Facilitated and developed Trauma-Informed Care in the Residential Setting training to assist Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) staff, therapists, and other professionals in fostering greater understanding of trauma-informed care practices and appropriate responses to child traumatic stress.
- Developed Introduction to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) training for residential clinical staff, facilitating the supervision of clinical staff in providing DBT skills building group practices utilizing the modules of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.
- Completed extensive leadership training including Leading at the Speed of Trust, implementing trust-building practices for clients and employees and Civil Treatment for Leaders, discussing development of more civil, inclusive, and productive workplaces, assisting PRTF clinical team in altering and enhancing daily practices.
Specialties
- Trauma Play Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Education
Washington University
Work Days
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday • Friday
Fun Facts
I traveled approximately 46,000 miles in 2017, totaling 12 cities and 4 countries, including the U.S., Spain, France, and Netherlands. 2018 was filled with similar adventures and travel expeditions (although a few less miles!). With help from travel sites, I found INCREDIBLE deals for all out-of-country flights and ended up only spending a WEEKEND in each country — yes, I actually flew out on a Thursday and returned on Sunday to be back at work bright and early on Monday morning!
I was born and raised in Chicago, IL, although I have lived in 6 states in the last 8 years – including Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas! I have very much appreciated the journey south (Chicago winters are the WORST!), although each city I have lived in holds a special place in my heart.
I married my high school sweetheart after EIGHT years of long-distance! Thankful to have such an incredible partner by my side throughout all the blessings, surprises, and opportunities life has brought.