Lisa Forbes, Ph.D. is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Counseling Program at the University of Colorado Denver. Lisa earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling and her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision with an emphasis in Couples and Family Therapy both from the University of Northern Colorado. At CU Denver, Lisa teaches counseling techniques, practicum, internship, group counseling, counseling children, adolescents, and their parents, and introduction to play therapy. Lisa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and has clinical experience working with abused children and adolescents, women and children at a domestic violence shelter, as well as adults, adolescents, and geriatric populations in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Currently, Lisa has a small side play therapy practice working with children from 3 to 8 years old.
Lisa is the co-founder of a global faculty network called Professors at Play which invites educators to explore the transformative power of play higher education. Through community, resources and events, Professors at Play looks to challenge existing norms of academia to allow learning to be more engaged, inclusive, and meaningful. Professors at Play has hosted several events including three "Playposiums" which have highlighted play experts such as Stuart Brown, Gary Ware, Pat Kane, Alison James, and more.
Areas of Expertise
- Playful Pedagogy in Higher Education
- Play in Adulthood
- Play Therapy
- Mental Health Counseling
- Supervision of Counseling
- Intensive Mothering Expectations, Cultural Norms, and Mental Health
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- BS in Child and Adolescent Development
- MA in Clinical Counseling
- PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Registered Play Therapist (RPT)
Resumes/CV:
Awards
Recipient - 2023 CU Denver School of Education and Human Development Excellence in Research and Creative Work Award
Recipient - 2022 University of Colorado Denver Excellence in Teaching Award
Recipient - 2021 CU Denver School of Education and Human Development Excellence in Teaching Award
Nominated - 2020 Dean’s Master’s Student Mentoring Award
Affiliations
Founded “Professors at Play” faculty listserv and website/blog to engage in dialogue about play in higher education. https://professorsatplay.org/
Research
- Play in higher education
- Play in adulthood
- Mothering
- Working mothers
- Intensive mothering expectation
- Gender roles and mental health
Publications and Presentations
Dissertation
Forbes, L.K., (2014). Clarifying the essential descriptors and definitional boundaries of counselor impairment (Doctoral dissertation). University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO.
Books
Forbes, L.K. (2023). Children’s Book: Only Kids and Play Can Save the World. LuLu Press. ISBN 978-1-312-10726-7
Forbes, L.K., & Thomas, D. (Eds). (2022). The Professors at Play Playbook: Playful pedagogy to transform higher education. Carnegie Mellon ETC Press.
Peer Reviewed Publications
Forbes, L.K. & Craven, C. (2023). Play experts’ view on the future of play: I have a vision poem. Journal for Play in Adulthood.
Lamar, M., Donovan, C., & Forbes, L.K. (2023). Maternal Mental Health in the United States. Journal for the Advancement of Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-023-09534-z
Forbes, L.K., Lamar, M., Speciale, M., & Donovan, C. (2022). Mothers’ and fathers’ parenting attitudes during COVID-19. Current Psychology, 41, 470-479.
Lamar, M.R., Speciale, M., Forbes, L.K., & Donovan, C. (2021). The Mental Health of U.S. Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 43(4), 319-335.
Forbes, L.K. (2021). The process of playful learning in higher education: A phenomenological study. Journal of Teaching and Learning, 15(1), 57-73.
Lamar, M. R., & Forbes, L. K. (2020) A phenomenological investigation into the role of intensive mothering in working mothers’ career experiences, Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy. doi: 10.1080/2336716X.2020.1753596
Forbes, L. K., Lamar, M.R., & Bornstein, R.S. (2020). Working mothers’ experiences in an intensive mothering culture: A phenomenological qualitative study. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 1-25. doi:10.1080/08952833.2020.1798200
Forbes, L.K., Donovan, C.V., & Lamar, M.R. (2020). Differences in intensive parenting attitudes and gender norms among U.S. mothers. The Family Journal, 28(1), 63-71.
Lamar, M., Forbes, L.K., & Capasso, L. (2019). Helping working mothers face the challenge of an intensive mothering culture. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 41(3), 203-220.