SHIRLA DE MAGALHÃES, LMFT, RPT-S, RSP
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ABOUT ME

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​Becoming a therapist was a career change for me, one of the many life decisions I have had to make. I immigrated from Brazil in the late 90's with two young children, I raised them as a single parent and working mother for most of their childhood. I have personal experience with acculturation, married life, single parent life, dating as a single parent, remarriage, blended family, empty nest syndrome, life after divorce, aging parents.

After obtaining my Masters in Counseling Psychology, I worked with foster children and at risk youth and their families at non-profit agencies in San Diego. I quickly realized that so many clinicians were struggling in their work with children because they were relying mostly on the power of talk therapy, which typically does not work well with children under 12 because their brains are just not developed for that kind of cognitive therapy yet. That is when I did my research and came across Play Therapy. As  I learned more about neuroscience, brain & trauma,  I realized that play and expressive art therapies are very important therapeutic tools not only for children but for teens and adults to process their traumas and to bring unconscious material to the surface for processing in a non intrusive way.  

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Having experience working with children and understanding what causes them hurt and pain has led me to be more sensitive when working with adults looking to better understand and empower their inner child. Many of our adult negative behaviors and choices stem from unresolved and often unconscious childhood issues that once brought to awareness can facilitate positive changes in the present.

At this stage of my career I have shifted from working with younger children to working predominantly with teens and adults.


I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT),  Registered Play Therapist Supervisor(RPT-S), Registered Sandplay Practitioner (RSP), SoulCollage® Facilitator & Past President of the California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT). I keep up to date by often attending conferences & workshops and have had training in different therapeutic modalities such as: Play Therapy, Sandplay Therapy, Depth Psychology, Expressive Arts Therapies, IFS, CBT, EMDR.  I utilize a Psychodynamic and Attachment 
framework to better understand childhood history and I offer a holistic, integrative approach to therapy, always taking into consideration the physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual needs of each client. 
 

I am extremely passionate about my work and believe that my personal & professional life experiences paired with my continued education have allowed me to become a very empathetic, supportive and genuine therapist. 

 I look forward to working alongside you as you take a step towards living a happier, healthier, balanced lifestyle!


"We’re only as needy as our unmet needs."
— John Bowlby

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​ Checo & Leclerc 

​On a personal note, I love being in nature, travelling, reading, hiking, camping, gardening,  yoga, creating SoulCollage® Cards, watching Formula 1 and I am a proud parent of two adult children and two cats.



Education

B.A. Communication Studies
​Major in Journalism

Universidade São Judas Tadeu
São Paulo - SP - Brazil

M.A. Counseling Psychology
National University
San Diego, CA - USA

Post Graduate Certification in Play Therapy
UCSD Extension
San Diego, CA - USA

Post Graduate Certification in Sandplay Therapy
UCSD Extension & STA Trainings
San Diego, CA - USA

Recognitions
  • Soroptimist International of La Mesa -   November 2013: Certificate of Appreciation - "In recognition of your valuable contributions and support in serving the needs of children."
Interviews
  • 2023 Go Solo 
  • ​2019 SDVoyager
  • 2018 Podcast - The Heart of the Matter "Play Therapy and Childhood Mental  Health"   
Trainings Attended​

Professional Affiliation

Shirla de Magalhães 
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
BBS - Board of Behavioral Science - CA  - LMFT License # 82947
RPT-S - Registered Play Therapist Supervisor  #S2226
RSP - Registered Sandplay Practitioner


Associations
  • Member of CAMFT
  • Member of the Association for Play Therapy
  • Member of Sandplay Therapists of America
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Accomplishments
  • 2021 - Present -  Board Member/Advisor - UCSD Extension Play Therapy Certificate Program
  • 2020/2022 Vendor Chair  - National Conference Sandplay Therapists of America​
  • 2019/2020 Immediate Past President ~ California Association for Play Therapy
  • 2018- Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteer
  • ​2018 President ~ California Association for Play Therapy
  • 2017 (June-Dec) President ~ California Association for Play Therapy
  • 2017 (Jan-Jun) ~ President-Elect ~ California Association for Play Therapy
  • 2015 & 2016 ~ Founder & President of the San Diego Chapter of the California Association for Play Therapy
  • 2014 ~ Co-Chair ~ San Diego Trauma Informed Guide Team
  • 2013 - 2015 ~ Trauma Informed Committee Member ~ SAY (Social Advocates for Youth) - San Diego
trainings_and_workshops.pdf
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   Therapeutic Empowerment for Teens & Adults

   Shirla de Magalhães, LMFT, RPT-S, RSP ~ License # 82947

​   8453 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942 ~ shirlaplaytherapy@gmail.com ~ Tel: 619-797-6595


  • Home
  • About Shirla
  • Depth Psychology
  • Sandplay
  • SoulCollage®
  • Therapeutic Art
  • Play Therapy
  • Contact Me
  • Forms
  • Resources