Member Spotlight - Lyla Tyler, LMFT, RPT-S

Please join us in celebrating SVC-CAMFT member Lyla Tyler, LMFT, RPT-S, who is  CAMFT’s 2026 Mary Riemersma Distinguished Clinical Member award winner– CAMFT’s highest honor! The person who nominated her provided us with what they wrote when they nominated her, and we are delighted to highlight such an incredible member.

Lyla has served in the mental health field for over 40 years and has been a dedicated member of CAMFT for over 20 years. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, EMDR certified professional, and Certified Nurtured Heart Advanced Trainer, she has exhibited an incredible commitment to the profession and fostered healing to the children and families who have sought her support. 

Lyla began her career in mental health working for the Livermore Joint Unified School District by providing counseling for children and their families on topics such as truancy, child abuse, and family dynamics. From there, she went on to work for Alameda County’s department of social services, and eventually made her way to work at a children’s group home where she would continue for nearly twenty years. As she continued in the mental health field, she went on to obtain her license for marriage and family therapy in 2004. Over the last twenty years, Lyla has made an impression in the field of marriage and family therapy due to her heart for service, her encouraging personality, and supportive character. Lyla has specialized in working with children whose families have experienced a terminal illness and medical trauma. Additionally, Lyla has supported children experiencing bereavement through her previous involvement with the Sutter Health Children’s Bereavement Art Group, and children healing through various traumas in her varied work experience. Lyla brings a wide breadth of experience as she has a strong background in both community mental health and maintaining her private practice, which expanded to a group private practice in 2017 known as Kid Counseling Sacramento. She has served as an adjunct professor, trainer, and supervisor to countless individuals.

One would be remised to review Lyla’s impact on marriage and family therapy if they were to not mention all she has done to support the integration of play therapy into our work. Lyla has facilitated countless trainings related to play therapy throughout California over the years (as well as across the United States!), and consistently provides an abundance of interventions that therapists can use in their work with clients. She empowers individuals to gain confidence as they utilize play in their therapeutic work, and is highly sought after for her trainings. Lyla has helped her clients and families obtain incredible healing as she brings play into the therapy room; her playful spirit is palpable to all who know her. As California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), created their Play Therapy Certificate program, Lyla was among the first to be requested as a supervisor and invited to support the planning process.

Lyla is the embodiment of each of CAMFT’s values: she leads with integrity, maintains accountability, fully embraces transparency, fosters inclusivity, and is actively engaged in collaboration to support our field. Throughout the years, Lyla has volunteered in numerous capacities including volunteering for Camp Hope, serving as a board member for SVC-CAMFT, and serving the California Association of Play Therapy (APT) as both a committee chair and founding member of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of Cal-APT. Lyla has been consistent in her engagement with both CAMFT and APT, which further demonstrates her involvement in the field. Lyla's tenacity is exhibited through her continued work as both an actively practicing Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist as well as mentor to many providers in various stages of their professional development.

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Our Member Spotlight feature is a chance for us to highlight the incredible individuals that make our community so vibrant and diverse. Whether you're a long-time member or just joined recently, whether you're Licensed or Pre-Licensed, we believe everyone has a story worth sharing. So, why not let yours be next? Complete this form to be considered or send the form to someone you feel we should spotlight!