Mary Bennett

Mary Morrison Bennett, Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S is an Associate Professor in the Professional Counseling Program at Texas State University. Dr. Bennett received her B.S. in Special Education at Texas Christian University, her M.Ed and PhD in Counseling from the University of North Texas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Dr. Bennett is the Director of the Institute for Play Therapy at Texas State University in San Marcos.

She is a Past President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Bennett has presented on play therapy across the United States and in England, Ireland and Russia. She provides play therapy and serves as the mental health consultant for children at an orphanage in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Dr. Bennett has published on the play therapy process, trauma, Child Teacher Relationship Therapy and play therapy supervision in professional journals and books.

She has been recognized for her professional contributions including the recipient of the Dissertation Award by the Association for Play Therapy for her research on Child Teacher Relationship Therapy and the Nancy Guillory Award by The Texas Association for Play Therapy. Her research interests include childhood trauma, international adoption, filial therapy and working with parents and teachers.

She serves as the mental health consultant for children at an orphanage in Port Au Prince, Haiti. She and her husband have two children.