About Us
We are empathic and highly skilled clinicians, engaging our clients with compassion and total acceptance. We recognize the abundance of challenges facing families today and we help children and their caregivers find calm, connection and confidence in their capacity to handle life’s struggles.
Our approach is more holistic and comprehensive than simple “behavior management” because it is informed by neuroscience research, which emphasizes the importance of relationships, the perception of safety and the growth of neural connections for resilience and regulation. We know that behavior tends to be adaptive and communicate an underlying need. By viewing each client through this lens, we are able to look through the behavioral manifestation of nervous system activation to address the root issue.
At the Champlain Center, we believe that you are the expert on your family and your life. We know that all parents are biologically driven toward nurturance and connection with their children. We are committed to helping parents connect with their own innate wisdom, while providing effective skills to cope with challenging behaviors and to promote healthy development. We are grateful for the enormous trust you are sharing with us. It is an honor to walk beside you on this journey of healing and growth.
Our Clinicians
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Katie (she/her) is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) and Registered Play Therapist™. She is also a Foundational Group Theraplay Practitioner. Katie received a Bachelor of Science degree in speech pathology from Miami University and a Master of Social Work from University of Cincinnati.
Katie values the uniqueness of each child and believes all children are deserving of unconditional love and respect. Katie uses child-centered play therapy to empower children to express their feelings, make good choices, and solve problems in healthy ways.She has over a decade of experience in social work case management and mental health for children, teens, and young adults, in advocacy centers, hospitals, and the school setting. The only thing that is constant is change… so after three years working as a school-based clinician, she partnered with her dear friend and colleague to open Champlain Center for Play Therapy and Family Counseling.
To date, Katie’s most rewarding–and challenging!–gig has been parenting her two school-aged children. Over the years she has discovered the transformative, connective power of play in her own family. Her favorite ways to play are making fairy houses in the garden, building sand castles on the beach, and treasure hunting in second-hand shops with her family.
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Corey (he/him) is a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) and child psychotherapist practicing Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT). Corey received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from University of Vermont and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Naropa University with a concentration in Contemplative Psychotherapy and Buddhist Psychology.
Corey has over 13 years of experience in mental health working with groups and individuals including developmental services for people with diverse developmental abilities; a residential home for teen boys; a residential home for young adults transitioning to independent living; court-ordered clients dealing with substance use and domestic violence issues; as a crisis counselor at a community mental health clinic and in the emergency room; and most recently as a school-based clinician working in public elementary schools for the past four years.
Corey builds strong, therapeutic relationships with children and families that lead to growth and wellness. In play therapy, a safe, therapeutic environment is created to understand the child's way of being and experience of the world. With curiosity and appreciation, he meets the child where they are, and together, they enter into a "world of wonder," a journey of discovery about their unique selves. This curiosity and sense of wonder creates a feeling of acceptance, non-judgment, and increased empathy. Feeling seen and understood, the child can move forward in creating lasting, positive change.
Corey’s main job is as a father to two young children (the hardest and most rewarding job in the universe!). He and his family can usually be found riding their bike to and from the playground, in the garden nibbling on kale or berries and picking flowers, or swimming (in the summer) or sledding and eating snow (in the winter).
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Maggie (she/her) is a current masters in social work (MSW) candidate at the University of Vermont. She is in the final year of her degree, and is very excited to be able to complete her practicum internship with the Champlain Center for Play Therapy and Family Counseling. Maggie received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Vermont.
Maggie comes from a background in early childhood education, and has years of experience working with young children and their caregivers. Through her work as a preschool teacher and supporting young children, she had the opportunity gain practical knowledge and insight regarding the essentiality of unconditional love and care for all children. Maggie values the inherent natural curiosity of children, and believes in play therapy as a way to honor and foster this curiosity, as well as to help children grow in their independence, abilities to emotionally regulate, and grow to reach their full potential.
She can most often be found outdoors, and enjoys running, skiing, biking, or moving in any way that brings joy. Maggie tends to gravitate towards arts and crafts in her play, and enjoys using various mediums to create art, decorations, and tools.
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Carolynn (she/her) is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) and a child psychotherapist practicing Child-Centered Play Therapy. She also has extensive training in attachment-based therapy and is a Foundational Group Theraplay Practitioner. Carolynn received a B.A in psychology from Amherst College and a masters in social work (MSW) from Boston University.
She has over a decade of experience in mental health and social work with adults, children and families providing services that are holistic, client-centered and strengths-based. Carolynn uses play to promote experiential learning in which the child grows to become more self-aware, inner-directed and emotionally regulated. She firmly believes that with compassionate support every child can reach their full potential and she is honored to be in the position to serve the children and families of her community.
Carolynn is the parent of two young girls and has felt the joy of connection and playfulness, as well as the struggles of modern parenthood, within her own family. Carolynn and her family can be found exploring the outdoors and learning about the world while in constant motion. Play in Carolynn’s family tends to look like imaginative play (everything unicorns!), constructive play (they build!) and gross motor play (sports, exercise, the joy of moving one’s body).
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Sophie (she/her/hers) obtained her Masters in Clinical-Counseling Psychology from Saint Michael's College in 2026, and her B.A in Psychology from University of Vermont in 2024. Currently working toward professional licensure, and supervised by Katie Wessels and Carolynn Nagao Marcotte, Sophie provides psychotherapy to children aged 3-11 through the modality of Child-Centered Play Therapy.
Previously, Sophie spent years in the early education environment, where she provided social-emotional support to young children and used play to connect with students even in their most challenging and vulnerable moments. It was there that she first experienced play as a universal language, and in 2025, she joined Champlain Center for Play Therapy and Family Counseling as a clinical intern. Now a practice associate, Sophie continues to value and center the healing powers of play in her work with children and families.
In her free time, Sophie's favorite ways to play include reading sweeping fantasy stories, crocheting a great many hats, and doing anything art.
Testimonials
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The list is too long, literally the ability to clone her would be ideal. I can’t imagine a more supportive and caring person in this position. So much so that my child felt safe enough to talk to her about feelings that needed more support than the school could provide.
-Caregiver
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I have worked with many case workers over the years, all do their job well, but Katie is one of a kind. She is one of those people that will stand out in your mind years to come because she really touches your heart. I am forever grateful for all she has done for my son.
-Caregiver
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I felt that [my child] and I have had a great experience with Ms. Katie. She is kind, compassionate and always ready to find the best in a situation. I have praised her to other staff and parents at school and will recommend her to any family that is struggling.
-Caregiver
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I really like talking to her. She really nice to talk to and hangout with. I like going outside and playing games with her.
-Child
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She helps me feel comfortable about new things and helps me deal with my big emotions.
-Child
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She's amazing. She communicates very well with us parents, and our child's teachers and pediatrician. She always includes us in the connections she is making with our child, and what she is teaching and how she is supporting our child in every way. She also shares a lot of resources and tools with us to use outside of the school, to set our child up for success.
-Caregiver
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She is very knowledgeable about neurodivergence and always has been able to quickly respond with the perfect solutions to any issues my child and I may be having at home, and we work well together to make sure he feels supported across all settings. She’s also very good at explaining things in a way that don’t make you feel like you missed something as a parent, and offers supports with the offer for more if needed. She is irreplaceable.
-Caregiver
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She has been so attentive to my children’s needs. She has been so wonderful and helpful to our family.
-Caregiver
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She is so warm and empathetic, I feel like I can tell her anything. She never judges me and helps me feel supported. After our conversations, I feel energized and confident as a parent, like I can handle anything.
-Caregiver
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She is very helpful with questions we had for her and always great with resources! She is super knowledgeable and always points me towards exactly what I need.
-Caregiver
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She has expertise and is very skilled in therapeutic approaches with children presenting complex and diverse mental health considerations. She contributes expertise and guidance in team meetings. She has been a critical liaison for the school with many families which has helped to coordinate services and better meet the needs of students.
-School-based partner