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 also 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 and subversive power of play in 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, meaningful, and transgressive. 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. Lisa has various publications on teaching, learning, and play, such as

• The Professors at Play PlayBook,
• The Professors at Play Online PlayBook,
• The Professors at Play Artificial Intelligence PlayBook,
• An article in the Journal of Teaching and Learning on the Process of Play in Learning,
• A children’s book called Only Kids and Play Can Save the World.

At CU Denver, Lisa is the Associate Director of ThinqStudio – a faculty-initiated, faculty-driven community of learners exploring the possibilities of learning and teaching in Higher education. ThinqStudio supports faculty fellows and hosts several events focused on inclusive and innovative learning – for faculty as well as their students.