#20: More Than Just Play: Unlocking the Power of Play Therapy with Vanessa Kellner

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In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and co-host Sam Straub sit down with special guest Vanessa Kellner, a registered play therapist and founder of Wholesome Healing in Severna Park, Maryland. Together, they explore the true nature of play therapy—how it offers children a language beyond words to process deep emotions and experiences. Vanessa breaks down how play therapy works, why it’s far more than “just play,” and shares fascinating insights on how children express anxiety, trauma, and healing through toys, art, and imaginative worlds. 

Whether you're a curious parent or a professional working with kids, this episode offers a warm, eye-opening look at how play becomes a powerful path to connection and transformation.

About Vanessa

Vanessa Kellner is a licensed clinical counselor and the owner of Wholesome Healing, a private practice specializing in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), located in Severna Park, MD. She is an author, play therapist and play therapist supervisor, credentialed as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) through the Association for Play Therapy (APT), and certified as a Child-Centered Play Therapist (CCPT) through the University of North Texas Center for Play Therapy (UNT) and a Child-Centered Play Therapist Supervisor (CCPT-S) through the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement (NIRE). Vanessa was honored to receive the 2024 Play Therapist of the Year Award from the MD/DC Association for Play Therapy branch.

Connect with Vanessa

Website: https://www.wholesomehealingforall.com/

Facebook: Wholesome Healing

Instagram: @wholesomehealingmd

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