Renee Turner

Dr. Renee Turner has been a counselor for nearly 20 years. She received her Master's in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2005 and her Doctorate from St. Mary's University in San Antonio in 2011. In addition to private practice experience, she has worked in residential treatment, non-profits, and hospice. Dr. Turner is a Contributing Faculty member for Walden.

Research interests include Play therapy across the lifespan, Sandtray therapy, Grief/Loss/Bereavement, Trauma, Body-centered therapies, Expressive therapy, Supervision, and Counselor Wellness. She has specialized training in play therapy, EMDR, expressive therapy, Gestalt therapy, Integral Breath Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing.

Dr. Turner's passion is promoting and increasing the field of play therapy and expressive arts. She presents locally and nationally on the ethical application of play therapy, sandtray therapy, and expressive therapies with children, adults, and families. Professionally, she has held many service leadership positions, including Past President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy and multiple committee leadership positions for the Association for Play Therapy. She also serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal for Play Therapy and the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals.

Education

PhD, St Mary's University

MA, University of Texas at San Antonio

BA, University of Texas at San Antonio

Publications

Turner, S. (2023). Disenfranchised Grief: Examining Social, Cultural, and Relational Impacts.

Turner, R. (2023). The Embodied Process in Gestalt Sandtray . World Journal for Sand Therapy Practice®