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Mimi Y Ryans, LICSW, LCSW-C, RTP-S, CCTP

Lighthouse Center for Therapy & Play


Y. Mimi Ryans, LCSW-C, RPT,CCPT is the Owner/Therapist at Lighthouse Center for Therapy & Play. For the past decade, she has made it her lifework to provide quality mental health services to children and families either experiencing mental health crises or those with specific mental health needs. In the last few years, it has become more evident to her that the focus on trauma when addressing children’s mental health needs is imperative to their healing and completing their treatment.

In 2013, Mrs. Ryans incorporated Lighthouse Center for Therapy & Play. At Lighthouse Center for Therapy & Play, the mission is to provide hope and healing to children and families through the power of play. Lighthouse is a therapist owned and operated provider of mental health services for children, adolescents, adults, and families. They provide quality individual, family and group therapy to the children and families of the greater Howard County community. They truly believe in working with each individual and family to help them understand and utilize their strengths in the process of healing and broadening their communication through expressive therapies.

They offer children, adolescents, and adults the opportunity to process their feelings and challenges through the use of play therapy and other alternative techniques including sandplay, filial, art and expressive therapies. Play therapy, children’s natural language, offers them the opportunity to process and communicate their feelings and needs without the traditional “talk” therapy that is common in therapeutic settings. They use several play therapy interventions including trauma-focused integrated play therapy, child-parent relationship therapy, and other interventions that strengthen the client’s ability to function in the home, school and other environments that they identify. They believe that working with children through their natural language of play is the most impactful strategy to assist them with identifying and addressing their emotional and behavioral health challenges.

Mrs. Ryans has presented trainings on Introduction of Play Therapy and Trauma & Play Therapy. Some of the venues have included University of Maryland School of Social Work (Baltimore & Shady Grove campuses); Jewish Community Services; University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. Mrs. Ryans is a Certified Trainer for Mental Health First Aid in both the Youth and Adult Modules.

Mrs. Ryans is the wife of Richard Ryans for fourteen years.  She is the mom of Jeremiah (15) and twins Alyssa & Allyson Ryans (11). She enjoys reading and traveling with her family.