Our Why: The Passion That Drives Us Forward
Meet Amanda Comage-Trower
Amanda Comage-Trower is a multi-certified Therapeutic Grief Play Practitioner and educator with over 35 years of experience supporting families through healing, grief, and life transitions. A devoted mother of six, grandmother of nine, and loving wife, Amanda’s professional expertise is deeply rooted in personal experience.
As a young teen mother, Amanda gave birth in a hospital that offered her zero support—placing her in a room with a grieving mother who had just lost her baby. Left to celebrate her new life while the mother beside her wept in silence, Amanda witnessed firsthand how unseen grief and isolation can exist side by side, even in the most tender and life-altering moments.
” We believe everyone especially little ones deserves a judgment-free zone to explore emotions, learn coping tools, and reconnect with joy. “
Years later, Amanda became a survivor of near-death childbirth due to hospital neglect, spending months in the ICU. She later faced the mental devastation of a miscarriage. These experiences shaped her mission to help others process trauma and grief, and to amplify the voices of mothers—especially Black mothers—regarding their bodies, their births, and the critical importance of ICU bonding and postpartum emotional care.
Amanda’s passion for grief support extends beyond mothers. Through her work as a Funeral Buddy, Amanda provides compassionate support to children who are often unintentionally overlooked during times of loss. She has witnessed too many young people sit quietly during funeral planning and services, with no space or tools to process what’s happening. Often, their grief isn’t recognized until weeks later, when emotional or behavioral struggles emerge—signs that they have been bottling their pain in silence. Amanda steps in to support children through their grief as it happens, helping them feel seen, heard, and emotionally safe.
Professionally, Amanda has worked throughout Arizona in a wide variety of supportive roles. Her experience includes shelter management at the Child Crisis Center, Child Management Coordinator, Department of Child Safety aide, Afterschool Program Manager for school districts, and Marketing Manager for one of Arizona’s top early childhood programs. She has also served as a case aide and shelter operator, supporting families in crisis and advocating for real, human-centered help.
Most recently, the tragic loss of a beloved client in her community reaffirmed Amanda’s commitment to creating culturally responsive, safe spaces where grief can be expressed and healed, not hidden.
At the Heart of Our Work
Our vision and mission are far more than words on a page—they’re the guiding force behind every interaction we have. From the moment a child steps into our play space, to the community gatherings we host, and the one-on-one conversations we share with parents, these core principles inform every activity, decision, and care plan. They ensure that every play session sparks growth, every event builds connection, and every family feels seen, supported, and equipped to face life’s challenges with confidence.
Partners
Here is the list of organizations we are in partnership with:
Our Vision
A world where grief isn’t scary, boooring, or hidden—but met with play, presence, and compassion. Where every child has a Funeral Buddy, and every mother’s grief is LOUD—because the Loss Of U(r) person dying is heard, seen, and felt alongside you. Support begins before, during, and after death—for both you and your children.
Our Mission
To meet grief with play—providing private and co-learning therapeutic support for children ages 3–11 facing life’s hardest changes, and for mothers navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, and traumatic births. Through hands-on Grief + Play and community pop-up experiences, we help end isolation and bring healing where words fall short.
Our Promise
To walk with grieving moms and children through the hardest losses such as miscarriage and baby deaths under 4 weeks, sibling or parent death — supporting you for a full year. When you’re all talked out, we kill isolation and move with Grief + Play 2 Heal. Funeral home & hospital grieving room advocate — creating calm, caring spaces for families to bond deeply before the final goodbye.
Get to know Our Other dedicated professionals
Cora
Lead Play Coach
Cora
Cora has been with Mental Heart for a year, serving as a lead play coach. During her time working closely with children, she witnessed the powerful impact of play therapy and found joy in building relationships and watching each child grow. Her experience at Mental Heart has inspired her to continue pursuing a career in mental health care. She is now preparing to attend Northern Arizona University, where she will major in Psychological Sciences.
Cynthia Morris
Play Coach
Cynthia Morris
Cynthia Morris known to most as Cyndee began her journey in education at Mental Heart, where she worked as a Play Coach. It was her first hands-on experience working with children, and although she started with little background, the opportunity to support a child therapist and connect with kids through play helped her grow in meaningful ways. She learned how to build trust, encourage self-expression, and support children’s emotional development. That experience ignited her passion for working with students and led her to pursue a career in education. As she nears graduation with a degree in Elementary Education, Cyndee reflects proudly on how far she’s come and looks forward to continuing her path toward becoming a teacher.
Laneic
Retention Relocation Readjust Director
Laneic
Laneic is a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a BS in Sociology and continuing her education for her master’s degree. Laneic has 10 plus years of Early Childhood experience in traditional classrooms, as a Montessori instructor, and classrooms for at-risk communities. Laneic is CLASS/ERS certified, and previously an ECE professional development coach. She is also a mother of 2 and owner of 1 other business.
John Trower
Director of Operations & Technology
John Trower
John has been with Mental Heart since March 2020, serving as the Director of Operations and Technology. With over 20 years of experience in the field, he brings a deep understanding of how structure and innovation can support mental health programs. His time at Mental Heart has strengthened his commitment to expanding access to care and making a lasting impact in the community.
Alani
Play Assistant Intern
Alani
Alani is a sophomore at Arizona State University, majoring in psychology. She began her journey with Mental Heart during her junior year of high school as an intern and has continued to grow with the organization ever since. She strongly believes in Mental Heart’s mission and is passionate about their commitment to creating a better future for today’s youth.
Mark Hamaguchi
Marketing Virtual Assistant
Mark Hamaguchi
Reymark, though everyone calls him Mark is a virtual assistant based in the Philippines who has been working remotely for almost 3 years now. Over time, he’s found his sweet spot in three things he genuinely enjoys and thrives in: marketing, design, and tech. He primarily supports small to medium-sized business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs especially those wearing too many hats and in need of a reliable creative assistant to help scale their brand. Whether it’s managing social media content, creating graphics, setting up email campaigns, building websites or landing pages, or keeping brand visuals sharp and consistent, Mark loves being part of someone’s growth story. It’s incredibly fulfilling for him to take what’s in a client’s head and turn it into something that moves the business forward visually and strategically.
Frequently Asked Questions
We guide families through life’s toughest seasons—grief, low self-esteem, big transitions, and more—using play-based support and small-group connection. Every family’s needs change, so we adapt our programs to help children and parents navigate:
Major losses (death of a loved one or pet)
New challenges (moving to AZ, school suspensions, heavy travel)
Family shifts (divorce, blending families, CPS/DCS involvement)
Life milestones (new baby, miscarriage)
If your family is going through change, we’re here to help you heal together.
Absolutely. Our licensed play therapists combine art, games, and guided conversation to build trust and uncover what your child is feeling—then model healthy ways to express and process those emotions.
Healing is a family journey. Parents get:
A personalized three-month workbook to use at home
Post-session check-ins and weekly text support
Invitations to monthly parent-child groups & milestone celebrations
Referrals to coaching or therapy when deeper work is needed
Our goal is to strengthen your connection so you feel confident guiding your child long after you leave our doors.
Therapeutic play at Mental Heart isn’t talk therapy—it’s hands-on learning. Through immersive activities, your child practices naming feelings, coping tools, and behavior strategies in a natural, playful setting. We sit alongside you both, encouraging each new skill and mentoring every step of the way.
No. We’re a holistic play-centered program, not a medical clinic. If clinical diagnosis or medication is needed, we’ll connect you with licensed therapists, psychologists, or pediatric specialists. We welcome all children—including those on prescribed treatments—and focus on building emotional resilience, whatever your care path looks like.
Schedule a free 30 Minute Consult Call
Schedule your free 30-minute consult with Amanda Comage Trower—share your family’s story, ask questions, and discover the right play-based support for your child.
