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Areas of Research & Specialization

I am an Associate Professor of Social Work at 51�Թ�. Much of my career has been focused on pediatric healthcare and trauma across the lifespan. I earned a BA in psychology, studying developmental psychology, at the University of Washington. There I worked with several research labs investigating infant toddler mental health and early childhood development. I received my MSW from Portland State University. My graduate school education offered a pathway into hospice and palliative care. This opportunity allowed me to see a gap in service to build a pediatric program offering play therapy and bereavement support to children of families impacted by death and dying. I earned my doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. My empirical work utilized qualitative methods of inquiry and grounded theory to explore early childhood adversity, social determinants of health, and post-traumatic growth. I built an outpatient behavioral health clinic in Oregon centered on providing care to individuals across the lifespan, harnessing principles of trauma-informed care with social justice advocacy. I continue to work in the field and provide clinical social work services to children, adults, and families wounded by adversity and trauma. I specialize in expressive arts, primarily play therapy practice, and incorporate movement and animal assisted human health into direct care and treatment. I work in partnership with my therapy dog, Mercury. Together, he and I seek to support those most vulnerable who have experienced profound trauma and life-altering events. My research goals involve qualitative design to explore the effects of adversity, social determinants of health, and relational-cultural theory in application to education, supervision, and direct clinical care.

Education

Doctor of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, Philadelphia, PA in 2020

Master of Social Work, Portland State University School of Social Work, Portland, OR in 2010

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA in 2003

Why I Study Social Work

I remember as a child watching my father demonstrate what it means to give to your community courageously. I saw him responding to emergency calls as a Firefighter and later as our community’s Fire Chief. He supported those impacted by tragedy and provided aid to families in need. Social workers move towards what is uncomfortable, come running when others are in pain, and do so courageously in effort to better the lives of everyone in the community. As an undergraduate college student, I knew I wanted to help others, so I began my journey as a pre-med student with long-term goals to study physical therapy. Internships provided me with the hands-on experience to understand, that although I wanted to alleviate suffering, the story of a person’s life about their lived experiences was what spoke to me. The story often held beautiful and agonizing truths capturing our collective humanity. My clinical practice honors and values the relationship between a social worker and client. Mutual empathy and mutual respect bridge presence and awareness to support life change. My research parallels my clinical and supervisory lens, drawing upon qualitative methods to respect the story and provide space for participants to have a voice. Social workers create change. Change for individuals, families, communities, organizations, and societies. They do so courageously and often unceremoniously. I see social work as an unseen infrastructure of society.

What I Would Tell a Student Considering Social Work

Social work has a broad spectrum of service delivery opportunities for all those interested in the field. Whether a student wants to work one-on-one with clients, lead support groups, organize communities, or write policy and legislative action to create social change, they can find their place in this field. Students interested in studying a specific issue or population can do so with an ability to transform thinking and generate new ideas for solving society’s most difficult problems. The work is engaging, never boring, and always changing. This work also asks the social worker to look deeply into their own past, unpack intersecting identities, and critically examine the self with an expectation of continuous personal growth. I wouldn’t say social work is easy, but it is the most rewarding career I could have imagined. I find myself without regret for choosing this field every day, whether I’m walking into a classroom and seeing a student connect theory to practice, or stepping into the therapy room and joining with a client who is navigating change.

Professional Affiliations

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing International Association

Association for Play Therapy

National Association of Social Workers

Select Publications

 

Pliske, M. (2020). Changing the outcome of adverse childhood experiences: How interpersonal relationships, play, and the arts support posttraumatic growth. Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertation. University of Pennsylvania.

Pliske, M., Stauffer, S., & Werner-Lin, A. (2021). Healing from Adverse Childhood Experiences Through Therapeutic Powers of Play: “I Can Do it With My Hands” International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(4), 244–25.

Pliske, M., Stauffer, S., & Werner-Lin, A. (2022). Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It.” Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11(4), 105-115. 10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11

Pliske, M. (2022). Mindfulness-based techniques in play therapy supervision (pp 212-213). In S. Born & C. Baker (Eds). Play Therapy Supervision: A Practical Guide to Models and Best Practices. Routledge.

Stauffer, S. & Pliske, M. (2022). Art and movement in play therapy supervision: Working through inevitable trauma stuckness (pp 224-239). In S. Born & C. Baker (Eds.) Play Therapy Supervision: A Practical Guide to Models and Best Practices. Routledge. 

Pliske, M. (2022, September). The Middle Ground: Multiple factors contribute to the decision-making process for breaking confidentiality. Play Therapy, 17 (3), 16-17. 

Pliske, M. (2022). Doctoral education in social work: The impact of accreditation on licensing and regulation for clinical social workers. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department of Social Sciences, 51�Թ�.

Hartwig, E. K. & Pliske, M. M. (2023). Are you and your dog competent? Integrating animal-assisted and play therapy competencies. International Journal of Play Therapy, 32(3), 146-155.

Pliske, M. (2023). Paws and play: A social work canine partner team in play therapy practice. In L. Kogan (Ed.) Careers in one health: Social workers’ roles in caring for humans and their animal companions. Routledge. 

Pliske, M. & Black, S. (2023, March). “I Don’t Know What I’m Doing and Feel Like an Imposter!” The Pandemic Fallout of Play Therapy Graduate Education. Play Therapy, 18 (5), 20-23.

Stauffer, S. & Pliske, M. (2025). The therapeutic powers of play in action with sexually abused children and adolescents. In S. Kenney-Noziska (Ed) Play Therapy and Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Practice. Routledge.

Pliske, M. M. (2025). The impact of loss, death, and bereavement across the lifespan. In J. C. Wadley (Ed) Contemporary Issues in Human Services: Special Topics for Clinical Practice, Public Health, and Social Justice. Routledge.

Pliske, M. M. (2025). The power of play: Exploring the efficacy of play therapy in child abuse cases. In J. C. Wadley (Ed) Contemporary Issues in Human Services: Special Topics for Clinical Practice, Public Health, and Social Justice. Routledge.

 

Guest Lectures & Presentations

Pliske, M. M. (2020, October 28^th). Relational Trauma [Lecture session -1hr]. University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work and Social Policy, Philadelphia, PA, United States. 

Pliske, M. M. (2021, January 19-22^nd). Changing the Outcome of Adverse Childhood Experiences: How Interpersonal Relationships, Play, and the Arts Support Posttraumatic Growth [Oral Paper]. Society for Social Work and Research. 

Stauffer, S. & Pliske, M. (2021, October 12^th-17^th). Humpty Dumpty in Supervision: Using Storytelling and Art to Overcome Trauma “Shattering” [Lecture session, 3hr]. Association for Play Therapy International Conference, Little Rock, AK, United States. 

Pliske, M. M. (2022, February 2^nd). Relational Trauma [Lecture session -1hr]. University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work and Social Policy, Philadelphia, PA, United States. 

Moser, T., Smith, J., Pliske, M., & Hartwig, E. (2023, October 10^th-15^th). Partnering with Animals in Play Therapy Panel Discussion [Panel Discussion, 2hr]. Association for Play Therapy International Conference, Palm Springs, CA, United States. 

Pliske, M. & Sprinkle, B. (2023, October 10^th-15^th). “You Want Me to Do What?” Play Therapy with Adolescents and Young Adults [Lecture Session, 3hr]. Association for Play Therapy International Conference, Palm Springs, CA, United States. 

Pliske, M. (2024, October 15^th-October 20^th). Bridging Relational Cultural Theory and Play Therapy [Lecture Session, 3hr]. Association for Play Therapy International Conference, Atlanta, GA, United States.

Pliske, M. M. (2024, October 17). Play is for Everyone! Play Therapy with Adult Populations [Lecture Session, 2 hr]. Association for Play Therapy International Conference, Atlanta, GA, United States.

Pliske, M. M. (2025, March 13-March 14). Conversations in the Sand: Integrating Emotional Storytelling in Play Therapy [Keynote Lecture Session, 12 hr]. Association for Play Therapy, Kentucky, Louisville, KY, United States.

Pliske, M. M. (2025, April 3). Trauma Treatment Across the Lifespan: Integrating Narratives [Lecture Session, 1.5 hr]. St. Francis University, Loretto, PA, United States. 

Pliske, M. M. & Watson, J. (2025, October 9). What hat am I wearing? Advancing Play Therapy in Ever-Changing World [Advanced Discussion Session, 3 hr]. Association for Play Therapy, Houston, TX, United States.