Leadership
Academy

Maria Laquerre-Diego is a dynamic leader, seasoned supervisor, and visionary changemaker in the mental health field. As the founder of both a thriving group practice and the nonprofit A New Hope Academy, Maria has mentored and managed dozens of clinicians, interns, and supervisors-in-training—cultivating a culture of growth, inclusion, and innovation across every level of care and leadership.

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A Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Maria’s approach blends heart and strategy. She is deeply grounded in the Systems/ Dialectical Model of Supervision (SDMS), which considers the developmental, relational, biological, and systemic factors that influence both supervision and clinical work. She believes supervision is not just oversight—it’s a powerful relational tool that shapes how clinicians show up in the therapy room and within their communities.

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Maria is committed to lifelong learning and passionate about building pathways for others to thrive. Her expertise in pop culture-informed therapy, play therapy, and inclusive care has led to national speaking engagements, conference leadership, and upcoming published works. Her two forthcoming chapters include "Are Villains Even Villains? Embracing the Shadow Self for Personal Growth" in The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Disney Villains, and "Embracing Geek Play Therapy: A Creative Approach for LGBTQIA+ Individuals" in Transformative Expressions in Play Therapy: Working with LGBTQ+ Clients.

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With curiosity, creativity, and compassion at the center of all she does, Maria leads purposefully and invites others to do the same. Through the Leadership Academy, she empowers mental health professionals to rise as confident, ethical, and inspired leaders in a field that needs bold, thoughtful guidance now more than ever.

Liliana Baylon is a Licensed Bilingual and Bicultural Therapist, TEDx Speaker, Supervisor, Consultant, and dynamic leader in the mental health field. She is licensed in six states and holds numerous advanced credentials, including AAMFT Approved Supervisor, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Synergetic Play Therapy Consultant, and ICEEFT Supervisor in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), Individual Therapy (EFIT), and Family Therapy (EFFT).

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Liliana has completed extensive leadership training through the Leadership in Equity and Development of Racial Responsibility Series (LEADRRS), the Leadership Academy with the Association for Play Therapy, and Dare to Lead, based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. She has trained thousands of clinicians in cultural humility, trauma-informed care, play therapy, and the adaptation of clinical models to better serve diverse and marginalized communities. Liliana's chapter ‘Exploring Trauma: Understanding the Impact on BIPOC Communities’ was recently published in the 2024 edited book Trauma Impacts: The Repercussions of Individual and Collective Trauma. 

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Her leadership extends across national organizations, having served as President of the Colorado Association for Play Therapy, Board Member for EMDRIA and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, Consultant for the Denver Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Advisor to numerous mental health agencies and organizations.

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A passionate advocate for immigrant and newcomer voices in mental health, Liliana is dedicated to helping therapists, teams, and systems lead with cultural awareness, authenticity, and purpose.