Julie Thigpen as a Licensed Professional Counselor- Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor, has been working professionally with children and their families for over 30 years. She primarily serves children, ages 2 to 14, and their families in the Corpus Christi, TX area.  

“Ms.Julie,” as her clients call her, loves to support great families in their pursuit of being better together. She primarily utilizes Play Therapy, Sandtray and other expressive therapies with children combined with talk therapy for adolescents and adults. She also works with families and parents using Filial Therapy, Parent Coaching and Child Parent Relationship Training to assist families with parenting skills and any developmental issues.  

In addition to her private practice, Julie has also worked with local area organizations such as Charlie’s Place, HeadStart, Spaulding for Children, Family Outreach as well as Safe Place in Austin, TX. She continually advocates for children's, and families’, mental health needs by developing programs and expanding the communities’ knowledge about Play Therapy and related services. 

As an LPC-Supervisor and RPT-Supervisor, Julie has tirelessly supported the ongoing development of many other Play Therapists in the Coastal Bend through intern supervision and mentoring. She also enjoys sharing her passion with others especially professionals wanting to learn more about Play Therapy, and working with children, by offering presentations and training groups. 

Julie continues working with the local professionals and organizations. She has served several leadership positions on the Coastal Bend Chapter of the Texas Association for Play Therapy board since 1996, including three terms as President.  She has also been active at the state level of the Texas Association for Play Therapy serving two terms as Chapter Representative and serving on the planning committees for the state conferences in Corpus Christi in 2004 and 2011.

In 2022, Julie was the recipient of the Nancy Guillory Award by the Texas Association for Play Therapy. This prestigious honor is awarded to a Mental Health Professional who has made a substantial impact on the lives of children and who has been instrumental in the promotion of the field of Play Therapy. 

Julie recently joined the Distinctive Counseling and Consulting