About
Meet Dr. Mindy Parsons
PhD, LMHC, RPT-S, RST-C/T, NCC, CCMHC, QS
- PhD
- LMHC
- RPT-S
- RST-C/T
- Former Adjunct Professor at FAU, Lynn University, and St. Bonaventure
- Author
- Qualified Supervisor
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Registered Play Therapist Supervisor
- Registered Sand Therapist, Consultant/Trainer
- National Certified Counselor
- Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- Qualified Supervisor
Dr. Mindy Parsons
PhD, LMHC, RPT-S, RST-C/T, NCC, CCMHC, QS
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor
Dr. Mindy Parsons is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S) who is passionate about helping improve family and relationship issues. She has maintained a private practice in Downtown Delray Beach, Florida, since 2008. She is a nationally respected author on family therapy and co-authored Changing Aging, Changing Family Therapy: Practicing with 21st Century Realities, along with Dr. Paul Peluso and Dr. Richard Watts. She is also Nationally Board Certified and a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Dr. Parsons previously served as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University, Lynn University, and St. Bonaventure University. She previously served as an associate editor of Mental Health and Mental Disorders: An Encyclopedia of Conditions, Treatments, and Well-Being (ABC-CLIO, 2016).
Dr. Parsons is trained in play therapy and sand tray and specializes in couples, families and children.
Among her areas of expertise:
- Couples dealing with infidelity
- Improving communication with couples
- Children of divorce
- Parenting issues and challenges
- Play therapy for children
- Sand tray therapy for children, adults, families, and couples
She has presented on sand tray therapy at national and international conferences for the Association for Play Therapy (APT), the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP). She conducted her Ph.D. research on using sand tray with individuals diagnosed with neurocognitive disorders (Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia).
In addition, Dr. Parsons has a Ph.D. in Counseling Education. She is an interactive therapist trained in the school of Adlerian Psychology. Her therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help empower clients to effectively address personal life challenges.
She integrates complementary methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each individual client, couple or family. With compassion and understanding, she works with each individual to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they're striving for.
Co-authored by Dr. Mindy Parsons
Changing Aging, Changing Family Therapy: Practicing with 21st Century Realities
With Paul Peluso and Richard Watts. A clinical text on doing family therapy with the realities of modern aging: multigenerational caregiving, late-life transitions, and the family systems that surround them.
View the bookSelected Publications
Books & Chapters
- Changing Aging, Changing Family Therapy: Practicing with 21st Century Realities (Taylor & Francis, 2012), with Paul Peluso and Richard Watts.
- Mental Health and Mental Disorders: An Encyclopedia of Conditions, Treatments, and Well-Being (ABC-CLIO, 2016). Associate Editor.
- Adlerian Play Therapy Treatment Manual, Rev. ed. (The Encouragement Zone, 2018), with Terry Kottman, Kristin Meany-Walen, and Dalena Dillman Taylor.
- “Dissociative Disorders” in Psychopathology and Psychotherapy: DSM-5 Diagnosis, Case Conceptualization, and Treatment, 4th ed. (Routledge, 2024), with Len Sperry and Jon Sperry.
- “Case Conceptualizations in Treating Children, Couples, and Families” in Case Conceptualization: Mastering This Competency with Ease and Confidence, 3rd ed. (Taylor & Francis, 2026), with Terry Kottman.
Articles & Reviews
- “Using Sand Tray Therapy with Individuals Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease,” World Journal for Sand Therapy Practice, 1(9), 2023.
- “The Past, Present, and Future of the Journal of Individual Psychology: A Three-Way Conversation,” Journal of Individual Psychology, 75(2), 2019, with Jon Sperry and Len Sperry.
- Review of Preserving Family Ties, The American Journal of Family Therapy, 2019.
Editorial Roles
Contributing editor/reviewer, The American Journal of Family Therapy (2016–2019) and The Journal of Individual Psychology(2017–2020).
Speaking & Conferences
Dr. Parsons has presented on sand tray therapy and family counseling at national and international conferences, and is affiliated with:
- Association for Play Therapy (APT)
- North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP)
- World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals (WASTP)
Selected presentations
International
- Sand Tray Research Circle, guest author reviewing original research (Using sand tray therapy with individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. World Journal for Sand Therapy Practice), hosted by the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals, online forum (2026)
- The Beauty and Challenge of First Sessions, co-presented with former NASAP President James R. Bitter, at the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP) Annual Conference, Toronto, ON (2018)
- More than Child's Play: Unlocking the Power and Potential of Adlerian Sand Tray Therapy, presented at the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP) Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC (2017)
National
- Show Me Your Client's World: Using Sand Tray for Supervision, presented at the Association for Play Therapy National Conference, Atlanta, GA, October 2024
- Working with Families Using Adlerian Sand Tray Therapy, Association for Play Therapy National Conference, Dallas, TX (2019)
- Introduction to Sand Tray Therapy, East Tennessee State University, part of a week-long training on Lifestyle Assessment with Dr. James R. Bitter and Dr. Jon Sperry (2018)
- Adlerian Sand Tray Therapy, 40-hour course co-taught with Dr. Terry Kottman, Cedar Falls, IA (2018)
- More than Child's Play: An Advanced Experience in Adlerian Sand Tray Therapy, pre-conference Learning Institute presented at the American Counseling Association (ACA) National Conference, Atlanta, GA (2018)
Local / Regional
- Exploring Your Client's Sand Tray Using an Adlerian Lens, 3-hour workshop at the Florida Association of Play Therapy Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, April 2025
- Using Sand Tray for Case Conceptualization, co-presented with Dr. Jon Sperry, 3-hour experiential workshop at the South Carolina Adlerian Conference, Greenville, SC (2024)
- Introduction to Sand Tray Therapy, 3-hour workshop hosted by Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL (2019)
- Professional Counseling Expert Panel, presented by Chi Sigma Iota at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL (2018)
- Introduction to Sand Tray, 8-hour workshop hosted by Chi Sigma Iota at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL (2014)
Education & Faculty Roles
- Ph.D., Counseling Education (2013)
Florida Atlantic University - M.Ed., Mental Health Counseling (2008)
Florida Atlantic University - Former Adjunct Professor
Florida Atlantic University · Lynn University · St. Bonaventure University
Supervision for Clinicians
As a Florida Qualified Supervisor (QS), Dr. Parsons provides post-graduate supervision for registered mental health counselor interns working toward licensure.