ABOUT THE FOUNDERS
Claudio Mochi and Isabella Cassina founded in 2015 the INA International Academy for Play Therapy Studies and Psychosocial Projects in Lugano, Switzerland. They have conducted with institutional, scientific and academic partners specialized trainings and conferences on play therapy and crisis interventions for Mental Health and Neurorehabilitation professionals in over 60 cities across all six continents.
​
Isabella and Claudio have worked in developing, implementing, and consulting on projects and programs in areas of Natural Disaster, Conflict, and High-Risk Countries. They have conducted interventions in hospitals, centers for asylum seekers and refugees, temporary shelters, and schools by involving and training local professionals and survivors.
​
Combining their decades of experience in psychosocial and community-based projects, Claudio and Isabella have developed a model called "Coping with the present while building for the future" (CPBF) that they have presented in many countries including Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. Description of the model CPBF is also available in books.
​
The exclusive Crisis Play Therapy Certification is available from 2026, a specialized program led by internationally renowned experts in play therapy, crisis intervention, and trauma work.
​
Isabella and Claudio are Founding Members of the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations (IC-PTA) based in Switzerland whose Board of Directors includes some of the most renowned national play therapy associations as well as members from all over the world.​
Claudio Mochi
MA, RP, RPT-S™ (APT & APTI)
Claudio was born in Rome, Italy. He is a Clinical Psychologist, Child and Adolescents Psychotherapist, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S™) with the Association for Play Therapy.
He specializes in Emergency Interventions and trauma with more than 25 years of international field experience in Disaster Mental Health (among the countries are Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, Iran, Palestine, Pakistan, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Haiti, etc.).
​
Claudio is the Director of the University Master's degree in play therapy (INA/UER) and training program of the International Academy for Play Therapy. He is President and Founder of the Association for Play Therapy Italy.
He presented and trained professionals in play therapy related topics across six Continents. In 2015, the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center, Inc. awarded him for “Outstanding contributions to the practice and teaching of Filial Therapy”.
Claudio is author of Beyond the Clouds: An Autoethnographic Research Exploring Good Practice In Crisis Settings (Mochi, 2022). He has published several book chapters and articles on play therapy and crisis interventions.
He has co-edited the book Play Therapy and Expressive Arts in a Complex and Dynamic World: Opportunities and Challenges Inside and Outside the Playroom (Cassina, Mochi & Stagnitti, 2023) published by the renowned Routledge.
Isabella Cassina
MA, TPS, CAGS, PhD Candidate
Isabella was born in Lugano, Switzerland. She is a Social Worker specialized in International Cooperation and Project Development at The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, University of Geneva.
She is registered Therapeutic Play Specialist (TPS) with the APTI and holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Expressive Arts Therapy (EGS Switzerland). Her doctoral studies focus on the use of play therapy and expressive arts in crisis work.
Isabella is the Director of Project Management and trainer at the INA International Academy for Play Therapy with over 15 years of worldwide experience in crisis contexts.
She teaches at Universities in Switzerland and Italy. She is an international speaker skilled in six languages, Editor-in-chief of the magazine Rivista di Play Therapy by the APTI.
Isabella has been Head of Social Services for the Swiss Red Cross asylum seekers and refugees sector. Since 2006, she served as a Humanitarian Worker in a variety of countries including Colombia, Serbia, Haiti, India, Nigeria, and Venezuela.
Isabella is author and illustrator of the book The Magic Home: A Displaced Boy Finds a Way to Feel Better (Cassina, 2020). She has published book chapters and articles on therapeutic play and crisis work. She is the author of the board games "Hugs for Everyone" (2019) for families and "PLeG Play, Learn & Grow" (2024) for schools.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |