CELESTE C. NEIL

PhD, LPC-S, NCC, NCSC, ACS, BC-TMH, Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor

Dr. Celeste Neil received her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of Alabama in 2015. She is a frequent presenter at the annual Alabama Counseling Association (ALCA) Fall Conference. Although Dr. Neil is a retired educator with 30+ years’ experience, she continues to provide services for children, adolescents, and families. She was a preK-12 system psychometrist 11 years and an elementary school counselor the last 19 years in Vestavia Hills School System. Dr. Neil served 8 years on the Alabama School Counselor Association (ALSCA) Board as Recognition of Accountability, Verification, and Excellence (RAVE) chair as well as recipient of the RAVE Award for 3 years prior. She has provided candidate support for numerous school counselors across the state for national certification in school counseling through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Dr. Neil was one of the first three Alabama school counselors to achieve the NBPTS certification the first year it was available in 2004. In 2008, her elementary school counseling program at Vestavia Hills Elementary-West was Nationally recognized, becoming the first Alabama program to receive the National award as a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP).

Dr. Neil served 3 years (2015-2017) on the Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) Board as President-Elect, President, and Past President. She was the first Alabama Registered Play Therapist to be a member of the national APT Leadership Academy. Dr. Neil is a Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor, a Licensed Professional Counselor- Supervisor (LPC-S), a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and a Board Certified Telemental Health (BC-TMH) provider. She has participated in extensive sandtray training, practice, and supervision with Dottie Higgins Klein through the Family Play Therapy Center in Pennsylvania and Dr. Theresa Kestly at the Sandtray Institute in New Mexico.  Dr. Neil has also completed 2 years of training, practice, and supervision in Mindfulness-Based Play Therapy though the Family Play Therapy Center.

In neuroscience, Dr. Neil is a provider for Dr. Stephen Porges’ Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), in addition to contributing to the iLS Focus Program. In October 2020, Dr, Neil completed the 30-hour Program by Deb Dana, Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation: Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice. Additionally, she is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).


NBCC ACEP # 7021

APT Approved Provider #18-550

Play Therapy Plus LLC has been approved by NBCC as an approved continuing education provider, ACEP No. 7021. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Play Therapy Plus LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the the program.


Play Therapy Plus LLC endorses the Association for Play Therapy Mission and Scope

The mission of APT is to promote the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.  This is accomplished by advancing the psychosocial development and mental health of all people through play and play therapy by promoting and supporting those programs, services, and related activities.