Meet Your AST Board Members
President
Amy Flaherty, LPEI-RPT
Amy is the Founder and Director of Southern Sandtray Institute, which trains sandtray therapists from all over the world. She owns a group private practice in Arkansas. Amy is a lover of all things sandtray therapy and believes in the power of sandtray to change the world.
Contact info: amyf@southernsandtray.com
Vice President
BETH MOORE, LPC, RIST
Hi Ya’ll, I’m Beth Moore and I love Sandtray Therapy!! It all started for me when I did my first sandtray in graduate school for counseling. Voila, I had immediate insight into my reality by looking at my little miniatures in my world. My heart was changed and I knew this is what I wanted to specialize in as a counselor. So, here I am, diving in as a RIST (Registered Integrative Sandtray Therapist) and finishing up my provisional license hours for LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). I love using Sandtray Therapy and Play Therapy with clients in Louisiana, teaching about integrative therapies, and finding new ways to heal our whole mind-body-spirit. I am honored to be on the AST (Association of Sandtray Therapy) Board of Officers and hope to get to know you all better to serve you.
Contact info: beth@moorewellness.life
Secretary
Virginia Willis, LCSW, RIST
Contact info: virginia.willis1077@gmail.com
Treasurer
Nicole West, LCSW, RIST
Nicole West, LCSW, RIST is a member of the therapy team at True Hope Counseling in Jonesboro, AR. She is working towards her Registered Play Therapy credential and works in the sandtray with clients of all ages. Nicole is a member of the 2016 RIST cohort from the Southern Sandtray Institute.
Contact info: nikkiw@truehopecounseling.org
Director of Communications
Megan Simpson, LPCC, RIST
Megan is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Registered Integrative Sandtray Therapist practicing in Somerset, KY. Megan utilizes sandtray therapy in her daily practice with clients of all ages and backgrounds with a variety of presenting concerns. Megan is passionate about helping others and sharing the power of sandtray therapy. She is a member of the 2018 RIST cohort from Southern Sandtray Institute
Contact info: Megan.simpson34@yahoo.com
Virginia is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Arkansas. She has been employed by Families Inc. in Paragould, AR since 2010. Virginia is a Registered Integrated Sand Therapist (RIST) as well as being trained in Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). Virginia was in the first RIST group and was the first person to complete RIST certification. She has applied to be a Registered Play Therapist –Supervisor (RPT-S) and is expecting the paperwork to be approved very soon. Virginia works with children all the way up to senior citizens using the sand tray to assist them with identifying and working out their problems.