Therapists and staff of the center
Betsy Craft (LCSW, RPT-S)
Hi! My name is Betsy Craft, or “Miss Betsy” as my little clients call me! I am the founder and clinical director of The Center for Creative Arts and Play Therapy.
When I opened The Center in 2007, my vision was for a holistic counseling center where expressive arts were central. In the 14 years we have had, at various times, play therapy, art therapy, music therapy, sandplay therapy, and components of movement, writing, and mindfulness.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and Certified Sandplay Therapist my areas of expertise are play therapy and sandplay therapy. I am also EMDR trained and close to being certified in that effective and evidenced based modality. In my 33 years of practice I have served clients from ages 3 to 73 with an extensive variety of presenting issues.
In addition to leading the practice and seeing clients, I am passionate about training interns, supervising young therapists, and teaching others about play therapy and sandplay therapy, both at the local and national level.
We have an amazing and talented group of therapists at The Center, each with various ares of expertise, but all with a creative twist to their clinical practice. It is my vision that The Center will continue its excellent reputation for providing effective and fun therapies for clients of all ages.
Lisa Harris (MS, LPC)
Lisa brings an eclectic mix of experience in her work to help children, adolescents, and families in their journey to achieve wholeness and healing, as well as her work in helping The Center for Creative Arts and Play Therapy to begin its offering of professional development to local therapists.
Always knowing that she wanted to work with children, Lisa initially completed coursework at the University of Pittsburgh and earned a B.A. in Art/Art Education from Carlow College (now Carlow University). Working as an elementary and middle school art teacher for sixteen years, Lisa also earned an M.S. in School Counseling from McDaniel College and completed post-graduate studies in clinical counseling through Messiah College.
Lisa has returned as a Licensed Professional Counselor to The Center after completing an internship in 2016 with Betsy. She is currently working toward registration as a Registered Play Therapist. Lisa utilizes both directive and nondirective therapy approaches, and areas of interest include grief, abuse, trauma, attachment, self-esteem, adoption, ADHD, autism, social skills, mood disorders, trichotillomania, and skin picking. She has enjoyed working in schools, outpatient settings, and residential treatment, using the expressive arts, DBT, and TF-CBT to help others.
Kate Sechrist (MS, LPC, BSL, CCPT-II)
Kate graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University with a B.S. in Psychology and from Loyola University in Maryland with an M.S. in Counseling. Kate has had experience in community-based and outpatient settings. Kate has worked with children, adolescents, and families in the areas of trauma, behavioral challenges, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and self-harm. Kate has received extensive training in trauma, she is training in EMDR and DBT. She is Certified in Complex Trauma and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Kate is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Behavior Specialist in Pennsylvania and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland and Delaware. She has provided clinical supervision to other counselors for state licensure. Kate believes that everyone is unique and employs a variety of strengths to overcome challenges. No one treatment approach works for everyone and therefore uses multiple therapeutic approaches based on the needs of the person. She utilizes CBT, DBT, TF-CBT, psychodynamic, EMDR, and art therapy. She currently provides teletherapy services.
Kate graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University with a B.S. in Psychology and from Loyola University in Maryland with an M.S. in Counseling. Kate has had experience in community-based and outpatient settings. Kate has worked with children, adolescents, and families in the areas of trauma, behavioral challenges, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and self-harm. Kate has received extensive training in trauma, she is training in EMDR and DBT. She is Certified in Complex Trauma and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Kate is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Behavior Specialist in Pennsylvania and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland and Delaware. She has provided clinical supervision to other counselors for state licensure. Kate believes that everyone is unique and employs a variety of strengths to overcome challenges. No one treatment approach works for everyone and therefore uses multiple therapeutic approaches based on the needs of the person. She utilizes CBT, DBT, TF-CBT, psychodynamic, EMDR, and art therapy. She currently provides teletherapy services.
Larry Bucher (LCSW)
An Elizabethtown native, Larry L. Bucher, Licensed Certified Clinical Social Worker and Registered Sandplay Practitioner, recently joined The Center staff after twenty years of clinical work, most recently in Baltimore, Maryland as a school-based clinician for Johns Hopkins Hospital, Franklin Square Hospital, and the Change Health Systems clinic.
Prior to these experiences, he worked as a school counselor with Diné (Navajo) students (Rough Rock, Arizona) and orphans in two African schools (Mabutsane, Botswana) for The Peace Corps. A graduate of Elizabethtown College (BA), Bankstreet College of Education (MS), and Michigan State University (MSW), his early post-graduate educational experiences included work as a Child-care Worker and Early Childhood Teacher with special needs students.
Bucher's clinical work- -ego-centered, strengths based, family-oriented--with children and families remains influenced not only by his eclectic array of intervention strategies and cross-cultural sensitivities but also by his questioning the spiritual meanings of behaviors and feelings, the metaphors that arise through decision-making, and a theoretical orientation inspired by the writings of Carl G. Jung.
An Elizabethtown native, Larry L. Bucher, Licensed Certified Clinical Social Worker and Registered Sandplay Practitioner, recently joined The Center staff after twenty years of clinical work, most recently in Baltimore, Maryland as a school-based clinician for Johns Hopkins Hospital, Franklin Square Hospital, and the Change Health Systems clinic.
Prior to these experiences, he worked as a school counselor with Diné (Navajo) students (Rough Rock, Arizona) and orphans in two African schools (Mabutsane, Botswana) for The Peace Corps. A graduate of Elizabethtown College (BA), Bankstreet College of Education (MS), and Michigan State University (MSW), his early post-graduate educational experiences included work as a Child-care Worker and Early Childhood Teacher with special needs students.
Bucher's clinical work- -ego-centered, strengths based, family-oriented--with children and families remains influenced not only by his eclectic array of intervention strategies and cross-cultural sensitivities but also by his questioning the spiritual meanings of behaviors and feelings, the metaphors that arise through decision-making, and a theoretical orientation inspired by the writings of Carl G. Jung.
Brandon Lillie (LCSW)
Prior to employment at The Center, Brandon worked for seven years as a behavioral health case manager in Lancaster County serving adults. Brandon is a licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Pennsylvania and earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees in Social Work from Millersville University. By meeting clients where they are and in the context of their lives, Brandon connects his social work perspective to his therapeutic practice. Brandon has a real passion for therapy and is especially drawn to experiential therapy approaches which inspired him to acquire a certification in Expressive Arts Therapy.
Brandon's approach utilizes Expressive Arts interventions that blend classic models such as Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral therapy with creative activities. Brandon also uses humanist approaches such as non-directive Child-Centered Play Therapy which weaves therapy with genuineness, appropriate empathy, and acceptance to promote a person's natural growth.
Brandon believes that quality therapy can serve to help people during tough times by providing a catalyst for insight as well as assisting people in developing the skills they need to manage their lives and promote their move toward wholeness. Brandon sees the collaborative relationship as the cornerstone of good therapy and is energized by the opportunities that therapy provides to authentically connect with children, adolescents, and adults to witness their ability to grow, adapt, and heal.
Prior to employment at The Center, Brandon worked for seven years as a behavioral health case manager in Lancaster County serving adults. Brandon is a licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Pennsylvania and earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees in Social Work from Millersville University. By meeting clients where they are and in the context of their lives, Brandon connects his social work perspective to his therapeutic practice. Brandon has a real passion for therapy and is especially drawn to experiential therapy approaches which inspired him to acquire a certification in Expressive Arts Therapy.
Brandon's approach utilizes Expressive Arts interventions that blend classic models such as Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral therapy with creative activities. Brandon also uses humanist approaches such as non-directive Child-Centered Play Therapy which weaves therapy with genuineness, appropriate empathy, and acceptance to promote a person's natural growth.
Brandon believes that quality therapy can serve to help people during tough times by providing a catalyst for insight as well as assisting people in developing the skills they need to manage their lives and promote their move toward wholeness. Brandon sees the collaborative relationship as the cornerstone of good therapy and is energized by the opportunities that therapy provides to authentically connect with children, adolescents, and adults to witness their ability to grow, adapt, and heal.
Taylor Bortner (LSW)
Taylor is a licensed therapist at the Center who comes with prior experience as a foster care social worker supporting children and foster families involved in the child welfare system. She also enjoyed her role as a life skills counselor helping adolescents and young adults learn valuable skills for successful transitions to adulthood. Taylor graduated with her Master's in Social Work at Millersville University in Spring 2021.
She uses a combination of person-centered and directive techniques tailored to each unique person’s therapeutic needs. She incorporates expressive arts, mindfulness, play therapy, cognitive-behavioral, psychotherapy, and other approaches in her work with children, teens, and adults. Taylor strives to work
alongside others to help them on their journey to improve mental well-being and uncover strengths within themselves. Taylor uses a variety of these styles to reach clients that may be struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, ADHD, emotion regulation, trauma & grief, relationships, life transitions,
codependency, substance use concerns, eating disorders, adolescent issues, and more. Her therapeutic process is rooted in empathy, collaboration, open-mindedness, and taking the time to build a genuine
connection.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to
blossom. Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through.” -Anais Nin
Melissa Kut (MSW, LSW)
Melissa completed her master’s degree in Social Work at Widener University. She has experience across a variety of settings including Child and Family- focused treatment, case management, community-based programs, non-profits, and nursing homes. She has provided supervision to social work students and interns. She has a broad range of experience working with individuals and families during her professional career in the following areas: Children, adolescents, and families with trauma and abuse, behavioral and discipline challenges, grief and loss, anger and stress management, family and relationship issues, self-harm, anxiety disorders, depressive and mood disorders, self-image and self-esteem issues.
Melissa believes in working in partnership with clients to utilize their strengths to help them sort out their challenges and achieve healthier well-being through child-centered directive and non-directive creative activities. Her clients include children, adolescents, families, and adults. She has experience in treating childhood trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with evidence-based treatment modalities. She utilizes a variety of techniques and skills drawn from Play Therapy, Expressive Arts, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoeducation, Behavior Modification, and Family Therapy.
Melissa completed her master’s degree in Social Work at Widener University. She has experience across a variety of settings including Child and Family- focused treatment, case management, community-based programs, non-profits, and nursing homes. She has provided supervision to social work students and interns. She has a broad range of experience working with individuals and families during her professional career in the following areas: Children, adolescents, and families with trauma and abuse, behavioral and discipline challenges, grief and loss, anger and stress management, family and relationship issues, self-harm, anxiety disorders, depressive and mood disorders, self-image and self-esteem issues.
Melissa believes in working in partnership with clients to utilize their strengths to help them sort out their challenges and achieve healthier well-being through child-centered directive and non-directive creative activities. Her clients include children, adolescents, families, and adults. She has experience in treating childhood trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with evidence-based treatment modalities. She utilizes a variety of techniques and skills drawn from Play Therapy, Expressive Arts, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoeducation, Behavior Modification, and Family Therapy.
Amy Brownell (MMT, MT-BC)
Amy has been a board certified music therapist since 2013. She holds a B.M. in Music Education from Ithaca College and an M.M.T. in Music Therapy from Shenandoah University. She is also trained in Sprouting Melodies, a program led by music therapists to support developmental growth for children under the age of five. Prior to moving to York in 2022, Amy worked for nine years as a staff music therapist and assistant director of services for a music therapy private practice in Connecticut, where she specialized in working with young children with developmental disabilities and providing adaptive music lessons. Amy uses a variety of songs, percussion instruments, and visual aids in her sessions while also incorporating the guitar and keyboard. While her main instrument is the oboe, she is able to play and teach all wind instruments, as well as piano, guitar, and percussion. She loves to use music as a creative modality to help her clients reach both musical and non-musical goals.
Currently Amy is also working with the YWCA and First Presbyterian Church to make music available to children around the city of York. It is her belief that anyone can make music, and her hope is to provide a safe and creative space to help as many people as she can to achieve their goals.
Amy has been a board certified music therapist since 2013. She holds a B.M. in Music Education from Ithaca College and an M.M.T. in Music Therapy from Shenandoah University. She is also trained in Sprouting Melodies, a program led by music therapists to support developmental growth for children under the age of five. Prior to moving to York in 2022, Amy worked for nine years as a staff music therapist and assistant director of services for a music therapy private practice in Connecticut, where she specialized in working with young children with developmental disabilities and providing adaptive music lessons. Amy uses a variety of songs, percussion instruments, and visual aids in her sessions while also incorporating the guitar and keyboard. While her main instrument is the oboe, she is able to play and teach all wind instruments, as well as piano, guitar, and percussion. She loves to use music as a creative modality to help her clients reach both musical and non-musical goals.
Currently Amy is also working with the YWCA and First Presbyterian Church to make music available to children around the city of York. It is her belief that anyone can make music, and her hope is to provide a safe and creative space to help as many people as she can to achieve their goals.