Board of Directors
President: Dana Hillman-Sabato, LPC, RPT-S™, PMH-C is the Senior Manager of Clinical Operations for Child First at Changent and the owner of The Playful & Connected Practice in Southbury, Connecticut. She specializes in infant and early childhood mental health, play therapy, trauma, attachment, and relationship-based interventions, and is endorsed by CT-AIMH as an Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical. Dana is also EMDR trained and PSI-certified in Perinatal Mental Health. Dana is passionate about dyadic play therapy and partnering with parents and caregivers to strengthen the relationships that support children’s healing and development. She has presented nationally and regionally on dyadic play therapy, partnering with parents in treatment, early relational health, attachment, and the impact of early childhood trauma on the developing brain. Dana lives in Connecticut with her wife and their three children.
How I like to play: I believe relationships are strengthened through play. Whether I’m building connection with children and their caregivers in the playroom or being silly with my own kids at home, I love creating moments of laughter, curiosity, and joy that bring people closer together. One of my favorite things to do is bring my own children to my play therapy office, where we can unplug, play together, and simply enjoy being connected.
Vice-President: Kimberly Mossman, LICSW, RPT-S™
Secretary: April Mack, PhD, LMHC, RPT™
Treasurer: Brooke Hackett, LCSW, RPT™
Board Member: Dorothy Derapelian, LCMHC has a private practice in Meredith NH since 1986 specializing in play therapy. She is the creator and author of Core Attachment Therapy©, an advanced trainer for The Nurtured Heart Approach®, an adjunct instructor for the University System of New Hampshire and an international speaker on developmental trauma, attachment development, The Nurtured Heart Approach® and of course Core Attachment Therapy©.
How I like to play: I am playful by loving the outdoors and my new endeavor as a beekeeper.
Board Member: Teresa Dias, LMHC, LPC, RPT™
Board Member: Jenny Sheehan, LCMHC, RPT-S™
Board Member: Chelsea Welch, LICSW, RPT™