Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH24263) 

Registered Play Therapist (RPT Credential Number: T-6925)

Mary Virginia is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Tampa, Florida. MV graduated from The University of Florida with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Disabilities in Society. She holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and a specialization in Education from UF.  Mary Virginia is also a registered play therapist through The Association for Play Therapy.

MV has significant experience as a pediatric therapist working with children with Autism.  She is a neurodivergent-affirming therapist who believes using Play Therapy to support children with Autism. Additionally, Mary Virginia has advanced training in early childhood mental health.  MV will soon complete her certification to be an Instinctual Trauma Response Certified Trauma Specialist.

Mary Virginia has clinical experience treating children in a large, multidisciplinary clinical setting, meeting a broad array of needs. MV collaborated with occupational therapists, physical therapists, and case managers to holistically support her clients. MV continued to subscribe to this comprehensive approach to treatment in a nonprofit setting and now, in private practice.  

Additionally, MV developed skills for addressing school-based issues through her work in a Catholic K-8 school, supporting students with various behavioral, social, and emotional issues. MV has experience treating children with various developmental/physical disabilities and other social emotional issues.  She specializes in Autism and children, ages 5 and under.

MV utilizes play therapy to treat her clients.  Play therapy supports the child in accessing their full potential through its unique environment and connective child/counselor relationship. Play therapy is an evidence-based, developmentally appropriate approach for treating children. Children have not developed the ability to verbally communicate their needs, emotions, and experiences in a way that promotes deep and effective processing. Play therapy allows children to process their experiences in their own language: Play. This modality permits children to externalize their experiences, which assists them in experiencing the safety that is required to process stressful events. This play-based therapy can help children develop a positive self-concept, greater self-reliance, healthy coping skills, and much more.

MV also has extensive experience in parent coaching. She is available to meet with parents, individually, to support them in developing skills to respond to their child’s unique needs and temperament.

Additionally, MV collaborates with schools and various programs to coordinate psychoeducational groups for children.  These groups can center around various subject matter.  Groups may include Autism social skills support, emotional regulation for ADHD kids, and coping skills for anxious children.  

Mary Virginia also uses her experience in working with children in her practice with adults. MV supports adults in processing childhood experiences, through a developmental lens, to support them in developing self-compassion and understanding. She also assists adults in recognizing self-defeating patterns and setting proactive goals to develop the agency to move forward. MV supports adults experiencing life changes, grief, ADHD, Autism, and anxiety.

MV believes in providing her clients a safe, accepting environment to explore their emotions, decisions, and needs. MV believes in advocating for clients to reach their full potential. She is passionate about witnessing clients discover their strengths. MV is honored when her clients permit her to enter their world and participate in this unique process.