GAMES
Looking for games to use in play therapy? Read my Directive Group Play Therapy book and The Feelings Wheel Game

 VIDEOS
I produced videos for parents and play therapists who need techniques for ADHD and angry kids

 EFFECTIVE PARENTING
Use my Smiley System to reinforce discipline and teach compliance and responsibility of children

 PRIVATE PRACTICE
We offer child and family therapy, consultation, and supervision for persons who are seeking LCSW or play therapy certification

 WORKSHOPS
Learn about my speaking schedule for Hong Kong, Texas, and elsewhere

Vita for Norma Y. Leben
Early Work: Norma Yau-Chee Leben began her professional career in Hong Kong after graduating in 1974 from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, with a Masters Degree in Social Service Administration. Her first position was as Youth Center Supervisor for 13 youth centers during which time she pioneered outreach programs for “street-wise” adolescents. During her five years in Hong Kong, she conducted numerous leadership and motivational workshops based on her experiences with underachieving children. Based on her research, she authored a book in Chinese, Motivational Workshop for Underachievers, which is now in its second edition and third printing. In 1976, she was selected to be a member of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Hong Kong.

CPS and Treatment Supervision: In 1979, Norma lived in Wooster, Ohio where she became Supervisor at Wayne County Child Protective Services. For two years, she supervised investigators and caseworkers and testified in court for many child abuse and neglect cases. After moving to Austin, Texas, she worked as a Treatment Supervisor for an agency providing residential services to emotionally disturbed children. She also was the lead counselor with an agency that coordinated community services in a large Austin public high school.

In 1987, she founded Morning Glory Treatment Center for Children (MGTCC) as a nonprofit corporation licensed by the State of Texas to provide residential therapeutic foster group home services to dual diagnosis children. As its Executive Director and Treatment Supervisor, Norma was able to care for 40 children with ADHD and special needs over 10 years. Currently, MGTCC provides non-residential family-child counseling services.

Certifications & Honors

Norma is a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor (RPT-S) and was awarded Professor Status by the International Board of Examiners of Certified Play Therapists (CPT-P). She is also a social worker in Texas holding a Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor qualification (LCSW-S).

In 1989, the Regional Network of Children honored Norma for Exceptional Services to the Youth of Texas. Her social work alma mater, the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, recognized her publications in 1997 as part of a conference about Innovations in Social Work Practice. Norma was listed in the International Who’s Who Professional Directory in 1994 and 1995. In April 2003, she and her husband funded an Endowment for Excellence in Play Therapy Methods at the University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work. She currently serves on the Advisory Council of the UT School of Social Work.

Today Norma uses play therapy methods in all her parent-child counseling because of her profound belief in the therapeutic value of play.

Publications
In 1993, Norma compiled 21 years of her therapy techniques helping children and families into the book Directive Group Play Therapy that describes 60 tried-and-true childrens games useful for therapists, teachers, counselors, and parents. She also created the colorful Feelings Wheel Game, a board game that facilitates the expression of 64 feelings and emotional intelligence. Both products were translated to Chinese and are distributed by Greenfield Education Center in Hong Kong.

Beginning in 1995, Norma directed the production of training videotapes including Anger Work With Children: How to Focus, Control, and Resolve, ADHD Kids: Engaging Attention to Modifying Behavior (3 programs), Directive Filial Therapy (4 programs), and Sexual Abuse of Children: An Inside Look At Treatment.

Her newest product is called The Smiley System For Compliance and Responsibility Training. The concepts in this training kit helped hundreds of parents to turn around their difficult children.

In addition, Greenfield Education Center, Hong Kong publishes 15 audio CDs, VCDs, and VHS cassettes of Norma’s Cantonese lectures about parenting and disciplining children. Her latest published titles are about Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Adversity Quotient (AQ). Click here for Norma's resume in Chinese.

Public Speaking: Known for her enthusiasm, experience, quick wit, and no-nonsense, pragmatic speaking style, Norma’s Hong Kong public lecture tour has grown in popularity every year. She returns annually to speak to PTA’s, primary and secondary school teachers, business leaders, social service agency staff, and university students.

She has also presented at recent International Society for Child and Play Therapy/Play Therapy International conferences in England, Ireland, Toronto, Hawaii, Oregon, as well as for many Texas groups such as the Texas Foster Family Association and school professionals in Austin ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, and Leander ISD Texas school districts.

Contact me about your in-service training needs.