Roya Dedeaux is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a focus on parenting and play. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and a Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Long Beach where she taught in the Recreation and Leisure Studies department for over a decade. 

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This experience has led her to a private therapy practice, authoring several books, and creating games and a series of parenting courses.  She believes strongly in the importance and power of play for all ages, and has spent the majority of her personal and professional life inspiring others to become more playful. She has been a featured or keynote speaker at over 60 conferences, speaking about the importance of parents using recreation, leisure, and play to connect with and support their kids.

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As a grown homeschooler, she conducted the largest study related to mental health and homeschooling in the United States.  Her first book Connect with Courage: practical ways to work through fear and find joy in the places your kids take you is available at all major book retailers, and her latest children's book This Is The Head That I Have is available as well!



Roya specializes in using art in her therapy practice, and as her own creative outlet, she creates handmade jewelry out of clay and crochet at Royaboya Handmade. She also loves to play, garden, and craft with her wonderful children, husband, and animals where they live and homeschool  in Southern California.