Evangeline Bauer, CEO
MSW, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified Autism Specialist
Hi, my name is Evangeline Bauer. I started Come Play, STL to give children and families a better, well-rounded approach to pediatric mental health. I am so glad I did, because I get the chance to engage with children who aspire to be artists, doctors, teachers, and fire fighters but currently are struggling with this season of life. Because we work as a collaborative team, I get to work alongside the other, very talented professionals at Come Play, STL and get to know the child’s parents, teachers and school administrators well during this season.
My educational background is in Social Work. I graduated from Concordia University in Chicago with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and from Dominican University with a Master's degree in Social Work. I have been trained as a Registered Play Therapist, a Certified AutPlay Therapist, EMDRIA approved in EMDR, and a Certified Autism Specialist. I have also been trained in TheraPlay, Sandtray Therapy, mindfulness, and storytelling, and I have taken courses from The Star Institute in Denver, which specializes in Sensory Processing Disorder. I have had the privilege to work with children who were struggling with a transition in their life, to children who had panic attacks, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, ADHD, struggled with attachment, had severe trauma or were on the Autism Spectrum.
A little bit about me: I have been blessed with two girls who are constantly teaching me patience, how to extend grace, to stay quick on my toes and enjoy every moment no matter how big or how small.
I look forward to getting to know you and discovering how Come Play, STL can benefit your child and family.
Bethany Arkills, Chief Medical Officer
MOT, OTR/L
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Movement and Sports Science, with a minor in Psychology, from Purdue University; and a Master of Occupational Therapy, with honors, from Saint Louis University.
I have extensive experience providing therapy to children with a variety of diagnoses, including: Autism, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Visual Impairment; and I have provided therapy in both public school and private settings. I have completed additional continuing education courses including: sensory processing, The Alert Program, Zones of Regulation, Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorders, yoga for children, handwriting, and visual processing. As well, I completed the Advanced Mentored Clinician in SPD Level I training offered through the STAR Institute, located in Denver, Colorado, which is a renowned leader in Sensory Processing Disorder research and treatment. I am also a Certified Safe and Sound Protocol facilitator. The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is based on years of research regarding Polyvagal Theory and engages our body’s auditory system and its direct connection to the nervous system to restore the brain and body’s ability to find states of calm, safety, and regulation.
Some of my favorite things to do with my husband include: travel, bicycle, take our two dogs for long walks in the park, attend Cardinals games, try new restaurants, find fun, and shop at out of the way local retailers. I love to bake and create new recipes. I have two rescue dogs, Mia and Lilly, who bring me and my husband so much joy!
My decision to join Come Play, STL was a natural move because I am passionate about helping each child be able to participate in meaningful activities. I also love using the multidisciplinary team model, which encompasses a holistic approach in order to meet each child's individual needs.
Ann Mueller, Billing Specialist and Executive Assistant to CEO
I am very excited to be apart of the COME PLAY, STL team. I have been an Insurance Specialist/Patient Advocate for over 14 years, with experience both in the medical and dental field. I look forward to assisting you with all your family insurance, billing questions and needs.
My husband and I have lived in St Louis our entire life. We have been married 35 years and have 5 grown children and have one granddaughter.
In my spare time I enjoy quilting, knitting, reading, and spending time at our family cabin. I look forward to assisting you!
Betsy Davis, Executive Assistant to Clinical Team Lead
I am excited to be a part of the Come Play, STL team! I am currently a student at Saint Louis University, pursuing my masters degree in Speech Pathology. I moved here from North Carolina, where I got my bachelor’s degree in Education from UNC-Chapel Hill. Go Tarheels!
I am passionate about working with children and families, and am excited to be a part of a company whose values match my own. My role includes assisting our clients throughout the intake process, filing confidential paperwork, and keeping the office clean and kid-friendly. Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist your family in any way and make your experience at Come Play even better!
I spend my free time cooking, reading, and going for long walks in the many beautiful parks Saint Louis has to offer. I love to spend my weekends trying new restaurants with my fiancée!
Liz Colizza, Couples and Parenting Therapist
MAC, LPC, NCC
I love being part of the team at Come Play, STL where I can use my experience in adult and couples therapy to help both individuals and families. I work collaboratively with my colleagues to ensure that your family is served in a way that benefits your child or children, your marriage, and yourself.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri with over ten years of clinical experience. I am trained in both Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Gottman Couples' Therapy, as well as, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I am also the co-founder of three self-guided therapy apps: Lasting for Couples, Talkspace: Self-Guided, and the Lasting Parenting Guide.
I am married with three kids and a dog named Waffles. I enjoy playing board games, cooking delicious foods, and exploring national parks with my family. I am an urban farmer with bees and chickens in my backyard. I roast my own coffee, read lots of novels, and am getting into road biking.
It would be a privilege to work alongside you and your family at Come Play, STL.
Rachel Brown, Psychological Examiner
MA Ed
I earned my B.S. in Psychology in May of 2005, as well as my Masters of Arts in Education in Special Education (Mild to Moderate Cross-Categorical K-12) in August 2006 from Truman State University. Since that time, I have also earned my School Psychological Examiner certificate from Lindenwood University. I taught special education for five years prior to becoming a School Psychological Examiner. I began my career as a middle school resource teacher in the Special School District and moved to Premier Charter School a year later to become the K-2 Special Education teacher. Beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, I became the full-time School Psychological Examiner. Recently the opportunity to join the Come Play, STL team arose and, with my expertise, I am able to assist families with the completion of psycho-educational evaluations. These evaluations provide families with an understanding of their child’s intellectual and educational achievement abilities, which reveals a child’s academic strengths and weaknesses and may lead to the identification of a learning disability. These results also produce recommendations important to the educational development of the child.
In my free time, I am a wife and mother who enjoys spending time with family and friends. Some of our favorite family activities include visiting the animals at the zoo, finding hidden parks across St. Louis, and exploring other family friendly attractions on the weekends. Personally, I love attending concerts, watching movies, reading, and finding new crafts and recipes to try on Pinterest. I also play the violin and am in the process of teaching myself to play the ukulele.
Caitlin Kremer, Psychological Examiner
Caitlin Kremer, Psychological Examiner
MS ED, OG/A
I am thrilled to be joining the team at Come Play, STL. as a Psychological Examiner and Dyslexia Practitioner. I hold a Master's Degree in Advanced Teaching and Reading from Northwestern University and completed my Psychological Examiner certification through Lindenwood University. I also have a bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Dayton. I am certified by the Orton-Gillingham Academy in Dyslexia intervention at the Associate Level. I have worked in education for 15 years serving in many different roles, and am passionate about helping families determine how best to support their children’s learning.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family. We like to try new restaurants around the city, see our friends, hike, and travel.
Abigail Melvin, Occupational Therapist
I am excited to join the Come Play, STL team as a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist! I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio but completed my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis.
Through professional and academic opportunities, I have gained experience working with children of a variety of ages and diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Executive Function challenges, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Sensory Processing Disorder and others. I have completed continuing education in Module One of Ayers' Sensory Integration Course, and I look forward to continuing formal studies of sensory integration and processing in the future. I have a great passion for facilitating child-led treatment sessions that allow kids to find their 'just right challenge' in order to succeed and grow. I am grateful to be a part of a multidisciplinary team at Come Play, STL that prizes collaboration and communication to serve children and families.
In my free time, I love to engage in the music community of St. Louis. I have a background in classical singing and opera, and currently sing in a choir, as well as attend shows at The Fox and Muny whenever possible. Besides knowing all of the words to 'Hamilton', I also love to engage my brain with cooking, watercolor painting and taking hikes around the area. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends and always look forward to opportunities to hang out with my four younger sisters!
Kristen Murray, Occupational Therapist
My name is Kristen and I am so excited to be a part of the team at Come Play, STL! I am originally from the Chicago suburbs. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Saint Louis University. I attended the University of Minnesota for graduate school, where I earned my Doctorate degree in Occupational therapy.
I have gained experience and knowledge in a variety of settings and populations. I have worked with children in both school and private settings. I have also worked with young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community setting as they explore meaningful roles and occupations. I have experience with many diagnoses, including Anxiety Disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delay, Motor Delay, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, and more. I have taken elected courses on Trauma Informed Care, as well as Transition services for young adults with disabilities. I am passionate about supporting and advocating for my clients and their families through the many transitions and stages in life. My values include providing a person-centered and holistic approach, with collaboration on a multi-disciplinary team. I am proud and honored to be a part of the team at Come Play, STL where our values align.
I am thrilled to have moved back to the St. Louis area, after spending three winters in snowy Minnesota. I spend my free time exploring the city with my husband by finding new restaurants, visiting coffee shops, walking through the botanical garden, going to the art museum, hiking on trails, and riding my bicycle on the Great Rivers Greenway. I love spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy being creative and reflective through painting, scrapbooking, and playing piano.
Nikki Billmeyer, Occupational Therapist
I am thrilled to join the team at Come Play, STL, as a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist! I was born and raised here in St. Louis, and I completed my Masters in Occupational Therapy at Saint Louis University.
I have professional experience working with children of various ages and diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Anxiety, Dysgraphia, Developmental Coordination Disorder, PANDAS, Developmental Delay, Cerebral Palsy, Executive Functioning challenges, Behavioral challenges and more. I am a certified provider of the Safe and Sound Protocol, a therapeutic listening program that promotes nervous system regulation for increased feelings of safety and brain/body connection. I have a strong passion for meeting children and families where they are, in order to support growth and success to the fullest potential in all contexts of life.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, often trying new restaurants and experiences around the St. Louis area. I have a passion for traveling, and have had the opportunity to travel throughout the US, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond. I am also a frequent concert go-er, and enjoy music of all genres.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue to learn and grow alongside the colleagues, clients and families on the collaborative team at Come Play, STL!
Beth Kontney, Occupational Therapist
MOT, OTR/L
My name is Beth Kontney and I am so excited to be part of the team at Come Play, STL. I attended Saint Louis University (Go Bilikens!) and received a Master’s degree in Occupational therapy and a minor in interprofessional education.
Through my studies and work, I have gained experiences in working with a variety of age ranges and diagnoses in outpatient clinics. I have had the opportunities to work with kids in many environments like their schools, daycares, homes, and in the clinic. Some diagnoses that I have had the opportunity to work with are: ASD, ADHD, executive functioning, gross/fine motor concerns, sensory concerns, Down Syndrome, or visual motor/perceptual concerns, and meeting developmental milestones. I have completed continuing education in Early intervention and I am always looking for more learning opportunities to grow as a practitioner . I love being a pediatric occupational therapist and being able to take a holistic approach to mix play and science.
Some of my favorite things to do in my free time is spending time with family and friends. I love to go on long runs that end in getting coffee. I enjoy trying new recipes and going to new restaurants. Some other favorite activities are listening to music, watching Korean or Japanese dramas, and calling friends on the phone. I am always up to visiting the STL zoo and my favorite exhibit is the seals. I have recently moved back to Saint Louis from the Chicago Area and I am excited to find opportunities to be a part of the STL community.
Katie Copps, Play Therapy Fellow
MSW, LMSW
Hi there! I’m Katie and I’m a Play Therapy Fellow here at Come Play, STL. Come Play is dedicated to offering a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to therapy and I am so grateful to be a part of such a well-rounded team!
I earned a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Saint Louis University. My background is in serving under resourced communities in both mental health and educational support. I am experienced in creating social-emotional curriculum that promotes social justice and collaborating with families and schools to provide needed supports such as IEPs and 504 plans. I am a trained EMDR Therapist, have completed coursework in CBT, and have completed training in school-based therapy. I work with people of all ages with a variety of needs ranging from Anxiety, Depression, Autism, ADHD, going through seasons of grief, trauma, abuse, and navigating the challenges of growth as they arise. My therapeutic approach is centered in meeting a person where they are at and collaborating with their support systems to provide the best care possible throughout treatment.
In my free time, I love spending time outside, hanging out with my two rescue cats, and practicing yoga. I have started the process of becoming a yoga instructor and love incorporating yoga and mindfulness in therapy! I can always be found at new restaurants around St. Louis and exploring new parts of the city. I look forward to exploring the magic of play therapy with you and your family!
Shayla Brosch, Play Therapy Fellow
B.A. Social Sciences, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
My name is Shayla Brosch and I am so excited to be a part of the team here at Come Play, STL. I look forward to being a part of your child and family's life, too.
I have earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am also working towards certification to be a Registered Play Therapist. I have had the privilege to work with children of all ages tackling challenges with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, ADHD, and processing various life stages.
I love spending my free time with my husband and our 3 cats. I am a huge hockey fan (Let's Go Blues!) and I enjoy a good chocolate chip cookie. I am a Star Wars geek, a fan of the Marvel universe, and enjoy road trips. I also enjoy watching movies and I believe you can never go wrong with a good nap!
Under Clinical Supervision of Liz Colizza license #2013041573
Sarah Minkoff, Play Therapy Fellow-Intern Coordinator
Hi, my name is Sarah Minkoff and I'm thrilled to be a part of Come Play, STL! I started as an intern here while I completed my Master of Social Work which I received in May 2023 from WashU. I moved to St. Louis from Boston, MA in 2021 where I worked as an early educator and administrator for seven years before switching paths to pursue Social Work. I also taught English in southern China for a year and a half.
I have had the opportunity to work with children within my classrooms aged 0-13 with a variety of diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and anxiety. I have also worked with children who experienced trauma, had severe behavioral or developmental needs, or frequent emotional dysregulation. I want to gain more insight into how therapy, specifically play therapy, can be used to support young children or children who've experienced trauma around the world where language may be a barrier.
In my free time, I love theater, and have been slowly learning to tap dance. I like to paint and bake gluten free treats as well. I am always looking for new adventures, interesting foods to try, and new languages to learn.
Adisyn Morgan, Play Therapy Fellow
Adisyn Morgan, Play Therapy Fellow
B.S. Psychology, MSW
Hello, My name is Adisyn Morgan and I’m a Play Therapy Fellow here at Come Play, STL. I graduate with a Master of Social Work this May from St. Louis University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
As I have gained experience in the field, I found that I am drawn to helping children and their families reach their own definition of “success”. Most of my experience has been working with children and adolescents with severe mental health needs in an in-patient hospital setting, as well as children with complex, developmental trauma in the foster care system. I am experienced working with a variety of needs, such as depression, ADHD, anxiety, grief, abuse, toxic stress, and Autism. I have found that utilizing play therapy in practice is beautiful, as it gives children the resources and the tools to explain what is happening within themselves! Above all, I am dedicated to utilizing a collaborative, strengths-based approach with you and your child.
In my free time, I love going on walks with my rescue Husky, Nova, trying new restaurants around the city with my friends and family, and practicing yoga.
Lojeen Almarshood, Play Therapy Intern
Hello, I'm Lojeen Almarshood, currently a practicum student at Come Play, STL. I hold a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and am in the process of completing my MSW at WashU, having relocated from Saudi Arabia to Saint Louis for this purpose.
My professional journey includes a rewarding two-year experience as a Kindergarten teacher, where I actively participated in curriculum development and created valuable training materials for fellow educators. Subsequently, I transitioned to education counseling, focusing on assisting students interested in studying abroad.
Throughout my teaching, I engaged with children aged 3-6, contributing to their educational and emotional growth. I took pride in crafting innovative teaching curricula and addressing the diverse needs of students, including those who had experienced trauma or presented with behavioral and developmental challenges.
My desire to deepen my understanding of therapeutic interventions, particularly play therapy, stems from the profound impact I observed these approaches can have on young children and those who have encountered trauma.
In my free time, I find joy in expressing my creativity through painting and drawing. Additionally, I cherish moments connecting with my family overseas.
Maggie Chen, Play Therapy Intern
I’m excited to continue my work with children and have high hopes for the multidisciplinary approach taken here.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. I’m now in my second year of a dual Masters of Social Work and Masters of Public Health at the Brown School at Washington University, St. Louis. Connecting these varied disciplines is my passion for working with marginalized communities and building upon their strengths. I hope to do the same with the young kiddos I’ll be working with at Come Play, STL!
In my (limited) free time, I love to cook, bake, and cross-stitch! I also love spending time outdoors with my partner and checking out the local theater scene together.
Andrew Arkills, IT Specialist
I joined Come Play because I have a passion for helping organizations which help people. My role here is centered around automating and streamlining the IT end of things, freeing up our clinicians' time and energies to focus on treatment.
I earned a Bachelors in Psychological Science from Purdue University, and a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Louis University; and I have extensive experience in financial analysis, systems optimization, and logistics and distribution, in both the healthcare and consumer goods industries. I am a hobby cartophile (someone who is obsessed with maps), and enjoy using those skills to help local civic organizations understand the environments and people they seek to serve.
I enjoy spending my free time with my lovely wife Bethany, exploring all of the amazing restaurants and attractions St. Louis has to offer. We have two rescue dogs, Lilly and Mia, who brighten our days and keep us endlessly active. I also enjoy cycling (for distance, definitely not time!) and running, which the St. Louis area provides endless opportunities for.
Yeager, our therapy dog
Yeager will be around the office from time to time. We hope you get to meet him but cannot guarantee he’ll be here all the time. He loves chasing squirrels, tasty treats, and hugs.