Norma Cruson, M.Ed., LPC-S, RPT-S
Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
UNT CPT Certified Child-Centered Play Therapist
EMDR Trained
I earned my Masters in Counseling from the University of North Texas in 2007 as well as a Masters in Arts and Humanities with a Specialty in Literature from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2001. I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Texas since 2007, and a Registered Play Therapist with the Association for Play Therapy beginning in 2012. Since 2017 I have provided supervision for LPC Associates in Texas as well as for Registered Play Therapist candidates. Prior to working in private practice, I taught high school and middle school from 1997-2003 (Mesquite ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, and then Keller ISD) and next served in Keller ISD and Fort Worth ISD as a licensed school counselor from 2003-2009.
The focus of my private practice has been such that I have worked with a variety of ages and clientele including: children in play therapy, adolescents and adults in individual therapy, and parents. I am a Certified ChildCentered Play Therapist through UNT’s Center for Play Therapy and have extensive training in sand tray and sand play. I have utilized EMDR with numerous clients since completion of training with EMDRIA in 2009.
I offer person-centered, yet eclectic therapeutic approach and collaborate with you to help you make lasting positive changes in your life. We will work together to help you discover your negative thought and emotional patterns and then begin to exchange them for positive and healthy ways of coping and connecting. For children, I primarily use Child-Centered Play Therapy, Child Parent Relationship Training, and parental consults to help children better regulate in daily living. When working with adolescents and adults, we will establish a foundation of individual talk therapy, but may incorporate EMDR, sand tray work, CBT, and mindfulness-based practices to help you feel more connected and living your life more fully. I specialize in working with ages 3 years and into aging seniors on issues related to trauma, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, depression, anxiety, life challenges and goals, self-esteem difficulties, grief issues, spirituality concerns, attachment issues (adult and child), and adoption-related issues.
I believe clients have the inner resources to change and are brave to want to do so. I am honored to be with you on your journey of self-discovery and positive change and I look forward to helping you live your life more joyfully, purposefully, and with positive connections.
Associations
Association for Play Therapy
Keller Counselors Association
Association for Play Therapy