President: Lindsey Swales LISW, RPT-S™
Lindsey Swales has served on the IAPT Board since 2021. Lindsey earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Iowa in 2007, and her Master’s degree in 2012 from St. Ambrose University. Lindsey is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor (RPT-S™). She began working at Tanager Place, a nonprofit organization in Cedar Rapids, shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree and served in a variety of positions and programs including the inpatient program, community based program, and outpatient clinic. In April 2022, Lindsey became a co-owner and therapist at Evolve Therapy Practice in Cedar Rapids, IA. In private practice, she works with clients as young as 3 years old through adults, and offers clinical and RPT supervision. She has training and experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Adlerian Play Therapy, AutPlay, and EMDR. Her desire to help others does not just lend to her direct work as a clinician, but also to the therapists whom she supervises. She naturally sees potential in others and loves to see them develop. In her time outside of work, she enjoys working out and spending time with her family—her husband, 2 children, and golden-doodle, Oliver.
Vice President: Jess Pladsen, Ph.D, LMFT, RPT-S™, TTP
Jess Pladsen has served on the IAPT Board since 2021. Play therapy has long been a central professional interest for her, and she credits it as a foundational element in the development of her therapeutic skills and approach. In 2017, she received the IAPT “Rookie of the Year” award, and she is honored to continue supporting the advancement of play therapy through her board role.
Jess believes that play therapy creates new pathways for communication and connection, fostering relationships that promote healing. In addition to her passion for play therapy, she is deeply committed to providing supervision and education within the field. She is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and an RPT/S™.
Her clinical experience spans PMIC, BHIS, agency settings, and private practice. Jess is currently a co-owner of Prism Therapy Group and Prism Psychiatric Group. She has extensive training in marital and family therapy, play therapy, AutPlay, Theraplay, EMDR, sandtray, and multiple somatic modalities. She works from a strength-focused, person-centered framework to support individuals and families in their pursuit of health and wellness.
Jess resides in Vinton, Iowa, with her husband and their three children.
Secretary: Kelly Robertson, LMFT
Kelly Robertson has been an IAPT board member since 2023. Kelly received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Mount Mercy College (now Mount Mercy University) in 2008. After several years in the social work field working with children and families, she returned to Mount Mercy University and earned her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2012. Since graduating, Kelly has held several roles in the therapy field. Kelly started as school-based therapist in the Iowa City School District before becoming a family therapist in a PMIC facility setting. In 2016, Kelly joined Covenant Family Solutions as a part-time therapist before establishing herself as a full-time therapist. While Kelly still sees a small caseload of clients, she has advanced to the position of Clinical Director within Covenant Family solutions. Kelly enjoys working with clients of all ages and backgrounds, including families and couples. Kelly is especially passionate about working with those navigating diagnoses of ADHD, anxiety, depression, and OCD but is always up for learning, expanding her skill set and expanding the populations she serves. Kelly has been involved in the play therapy community since completing graduate school, and while she does not currently have her RPT™ (a work in progress), she has been a strong supporter of IAPT and has many years of play therapy training and supervised play therapy experience.
Treasurer: Thea Bedell, LMHC, RPT™, CTP
Thea received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe College in 2009 and then her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University in 2015. Thea has worked in the mental health field since 2009. This included experience in residential treatment, BHIS, and an extensive Autism program. As a play therapist, Thea’s passion is assisting children and their families in being able to process and heal through traumatic and difficult situations. She believes children are resilient and their main source of communication is through their play. Thea has had training in trauma and loss in children, Autplay, Theraplay and Adlerian Play Therapy. Thea also enjoys working with families, adults and women’s mental health. Thea founded a private practice, The Wellness Collective, in Cedar Rapids, IA, where she works alongside Bridger, who is training to become a therapy dog. Outside of work, Thea enjoys spending time outdoors, working out, and being with her family and friends, especially her husband and two children.
Andrew Beer, Ph.D., LMFT, RPT-S™
Andrew is the founder of and a therapist at Ume Blossom Therapy LLC in Cedar Rapids. He graduated from the University of Iowa with his Ph.D. in 2018 and holds a license in Marriage and Family Therapy. Andrew is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ and has been a board member of the Iowa Association for Play Therapy Board since 2021. Andrew says the following about his professional and personal life:
“Play therapy has been a passion of mine since I became a licensed therapist six years ago. Not only do I provide play therapy, I teach graduate-level play therapy courses and provide play therapy supervision. I feel honored and privileged to work with such great clients every day, as well as being able to help others effectively work with children too. In my personal time, I like to spend time with my wife Caitlin, and my dog Herky. I find self-care especially important, and my number one self-care technique is golfing! I am so excited to be a part of the Iowa Association for Play Therapy board and hope that I can serve well.”
Joella Gerber, LISW, RPT-S™
Joella is the Clinical Services Director and a Therapist at Tanager, where she is honored to get to help kids, caregivers, teachers, therapists, youth workers, and the community build resilience, integrate relational wellness, and find healing both locally and internationally. Joella earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Cedarville University in 2015 and received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Iowa in 2017. (Go Hawks!) As a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™ and Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Practitioner, Joella believes that relationships and connection are the key to wellness and finds hope in knowing that through intentional experience, support, and work, people can find solutions to the challenges in their lives. Joella has had training and experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Adlerian Play Therapy, EMDR, Autplay, and Theraplay®-informed practice. Joella is especially passionate about providing support and resources to kids and families who have experienced adoption, foster care, or other trauma. Joella also believes strongly in the importance of giving back to the field through providing clinical supervision, supervising interns, and teaching as an adjunct professor.
Cassie Kehoe, LISW, RPT-S™
Cassie Kehoe, LISW, RPT-S™, is a School-Based Manager with Tanager, where she leads a large team of therapists and behavioral health interventionists across several Iowa school districts. In this role, she focuses on strengthening school–community partnerships and ensuring students have consistent, high-quality access to mental health support.
With more than a decade of experience in child mental health and play therapy, Cassie integrates a range of developmentally responsive and evidence-informed approaches into her work. She has training and experience in Adlerian Play Therapy, EMDR with an emphasis on work with children, AutPlay, and Theraplay®-informed practice. Cassie is passionate about helping young people build emotional regulation, resilience, and secure relational connections with caregivers and school supports.
As a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, she is deeply committed to supervision and professional development. She incorporates reflective supervision, trauma-informed leadership, and the RISE framework to support emerging clinicians in growing their clinical confidence and play therapy skills.
Cassie values authenticity, collaboration, and relationship-based care. She believes that when school teams, families, and mental health providers work together, children are better equipped to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Outside of work, Cassie enjoys reading and listening to thrillers, camping with her partner and daughter, and volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader.
Madi Miller, LMFT
Madi Miller received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mount Mercy University in 2019 and Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2021. Since then, she has begun her career working in private practice at Prism Therapy Group in Hiawatha. Madi has always had a passion for working with kids and teens. She believes that play therapy creates a space for genuine connection and true healing through meeting children where they are at and working with them collaboratively to achieve their goals. She is currently taking steps to become a registered play therapist (RPT™). Outside of work, Madi loves to write music, read, paint, spend time with family and friends, and play with her four corgis.