Shari Howard, LPC, Registered Play Therapist

Shari Howard is a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist (child therapist) who grew up in Independence, KS. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education at Pittsburg State University in 1988 and taught third grade for two years in Bronaugh, MO. She completed her Master of Science degree in elementary counseling in 1990 at Pittsburg State University. She moved to the Tulsa area where she was an elementary counselor for 11 years. She moved to the Kansas City area in 2001 and was an elementary counselor for the Raytown school district for 7 years. She earned her Education Specialist degree in elementary counseling with an emphasis in play therapy at UCM in May 2008. She became a registered play therapist in 2008 and became licensed in 2009.

Ms. Howard has been the counselor at Oak Grove Primary for five years. She uses play therapy with small groups and individual students currently at Oak Grove Primary. Her specialty is with children ages 3 to 12. Her philosophy involves using techniques such as play therapy to understand children and their challenges through the language of play, the language that children naturally “speak.” Ms. Howard establishes rapport quickly and easily with children using playful interventions that help put them at ease so they can work on their struggles and become happy, healthy kids again. Ms. Howard has received training as a Love and Logic instructor and Child Parent Relationship Training in which she teaches parents how to conduct play therapy sessions with their own children at home.

With her background in play therapy and her many years of experience, Ms. Howard can help children overcome many issues such as Attention Deficit Disorder, friendship/social skills, anger, grief/loss, anxiety, and family changes. She is excited to be able to help children at Curis realize their full potential that is already within them.