Who We Are
Carmy Goodwin, Co-Owner
LSCSW, LCSW, RPT-S
Carmy is a bilingual clinical therapist seeing adults, teens, children and families that have experienced trauma, grief and loss, relationship problems, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Carmy uses Play Therapy, Sandtray, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and TF-CBT (Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as her primary therapeutic modalities, but is also skilled in utilizing Theraplay techniques, Psycho-drama, Group Therapy, and Expressive Art Therapies.
Carmy began her career working in the public education system, first in the Olathe School District as an interpreter and then in the Independence School District as a Family School Liaison. After gaining experience in early childhood behavioral, emotional and psychological evaluations and intensive in-home case management, Carmy’s interest in clinical social work blossomed and she began looking for opportunities to transition to a clinically focused practice. In 2011, Carmy was hired on at SAFEHOME, Inc. and became a full-time Bilingual Clinical Therapist for 7 years. In addition to her work at SAFEHOME, Carmy expanded her experience by working part-time as a Bilingual Clinical Therapist at the Child Abuse Prevention Association in Independence, MO and by facilitating play therapy workshops all across the Midwest.
Carmy supervises individuals pursuing their Kansas and Missouri clinical social work licensure and registered play therapy credential, as well as served on the Kansas Association for Play Therapy (KSAPT) board as Conference Chair and President. Carmy is co-owner of Heartland Play Therapy Institute and believes that Play Therapy is an essential tool for understanding and processing trauma through the eyes of the child.
Carmy obtained her undergraduate degree in Spanish from Kansas State University, her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and her Play Therapy Certification from KC Play Therapy Institute.
Amber Johnson, Co-Owner
LCPC, RPT-S
Amber obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from John Brown University, her Master’s degree in Counseling from Mid America Nazarene University and her Play Therapy Certification from KC Play Therapy Institute.
Amber began a love of helping others in high school, dedicating summers to being a camp counselor with inner city children, youth camps and adolescent girl camps. During her graduate program in Counseling, Amber completed her internship at SAFEHOME, providing therapy to victims of domestic violence. Shortly after completing her graduate degree, Amber was hired as a full time Clinical Therapist providing individual, family and group therapy for adults and children. Amber was the Clinical Director at SAFEHOME prior to transitioning to Creative Connections. She now sees adults, children and adolescents at Creative Connections. Amber has expanded her experience by teaching workshops for Heartland Play Institute, providing Play Therapy supervision and providing Clinical Supervision for individuals pursuing clinical licensure.
Throughout her career as a therapist, Amber has pursued training in a variety of therapeutic models including Emotional Transformation Therapy, Resonance Repatterning, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Psychodrama, Play Therapy, Theraplay and Art Therapy. Amber especially enjoys working with adults and utilizing various techniques to explore inner child processing. She is dedicated to helping clients understand and overcome whatever is getting in their way of who they want to become. She believes that with the proper therapeutic relationship, hard work and counseling, healing can be achieved. She believes that the deeper you are willing to process into your struggle, the greater the change you will see!
Lori Peterson, Co-Owner
LSCSW, LCSW, RPT-S
Lori has been working with adults, teens, children and families for more than fifteen years to heal from trauma, overcome anxiety, conquer depression, understand unhealthy relationship patterns, walk through grief, integrate strategies to manage ADHD symptoms, strengthen families, develop insight, build self-esteem and achieve their life goals. Throughout her career as a therapist, Lori has pursued training and integrated a variety of therapeutic models into her practice including Play Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT), Expressive Art Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Theraplay Attachment Therapy, Psychodrama, Emotional Transformation Therapy, and Resonance Repatterning. Lori is passionate about working with individuals of all ages and believes that the therapeutic relationship has the power to be transformative.
Lori obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree in Social Work with a secondary major in Women’s Studies from Kansas State University in 1999, her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas in 2002 and her Play Therapy Certification from KC Play Therapy Institute in 2006. Lori is licensed as a LSCSW in the state of Kansas and an LCSW in the state of Missouri. She also maintains the Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) credential as provided by the Association for Play Therapy.
Favorite Therapy Quote: “Sometimes I must first struggle before I can discover a strength, and I may never discover that strength if I never have to struggle.” – Garry Landreth
Andrea Peck
LSCSW, LCSW, RPT
Andrea has 3 years of therapy experience partnering with adults, teens, children, and families that have experienced varying degrees of trauma, loss, connection hardships, managing strong feelings, depression, anxiety, and finding their “new normal” after hard experiences. Andrea uses Play Therapy, Sandtray, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), TF-CBT (Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Theraplay, Expressive Art, and Pyscho-drama to support clients in meeting them where they are in their process.
Andrea began her career working at the Rose Brooks Center as a children and family therapist gaining experience working with children and families with complex trauma that were involved in domestic violence relationships. Andrea transitioned to Voices of Courage Children’s Advocacy Center as a counselor working with children and families that experienced trauma, supporting them increase capacity of healthy connections, and to move through trauma in a safe environment through the therapy process. Andrea currently sees adults, children, teens, and families at Creative Connections weaving in her skillset, experience, and passion to increase others capacity of courage, love, belonging, and safety.
Andrea looks forward to meeting you and helping you to find hope in hard times.
Andrea obtained her Bachelor degree in Social Work from Missouri Western State University, Master of Social Work from University of Kansas and Play Therapy Certification from Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
Fun Facts about Andrea: She enjoys YouTube painting tutorials, reading laffy taffy jokes, and trying to run a 5k without stopping.
Kat Cahill, Clinical Director
LCPC, LPC
Kat Cahill received her Bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Kansas, and holds a Masters degree in Community Counseling from Loyola University Chicago.
Kat is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Kansas and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri, and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in the individual, group, family, and residential setting. She believes in approaching each client individually and tailors treatment to meet each client and family where they are from the first session. Kat adapts with her clients as they grow and make progress toward their goals.
Kat uses a combination of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solutions-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, and the Attachment Regulation Competency (ARC) framework of trauma treatment. Kat was extensively trained in this modality by the director of the Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute in Boston, MA. She also has extensive training in DBT and SMART (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment) therapy. Kat is currently taking step towards obtaining her Play Therapy Certificate from Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In her downtime, Kat enjoys swimming, hiking, reading, traveling, patios, cheering on the Jayhawks and Chiefs, and spending quality time with loved ones.
Erin Walker
LMSW
Erin is a licensed Master level Social Worker, currently under clinical and play therapy supervision in Kansas. She obtained her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas and Play Therapy Certification from Heartland Play Therapy. She is currently working towards her Registered Children Yoga Teacher (RYCT) through Yoga Ed.
Erin has 2 years of therapy experience working with elementary age children in a school setting. Erin completed her master’s level practicum with the WRAP (Working to Recognize Alternative Possibilities) program through Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. While working for Bert Nash, she primarily worked with adolescents in middle school. After graduating with her MSW degree, she continued to work as a WRAP therapist, this time at two elementary schools in the Lawrence Public School System. While at the schools, she provided crisis intervention, therapeutic interventions, assessment, support services, and intakes to at-risk children and their families.
Erin currently sees children, adolescents, adults, and families at Creative Connections. Erin uses Play Therapy, Sandtray, TF-CBT (Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Yoga, and mindfulness to support clients in their therapeutic process.
Laura Lester
LSCSW, LCSW
Laura Lester has been working in the social work field for over 10 years. She holds a clinical social work license in both Kansas and Missouri. Laura has experience working in hospital social work, community mental health, case management, and in private practice counseling. Laura enjoys working with children, teens, and adults who have experienced trauma, loss, major life changes, as well as difficulty managing worry, anger, sadness, and other intense emotions.
Laura graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in Speech and Organizational Communication. Deciding that she would like to use her communication skills in a helping profession, Laura went on to the University of Missouri where she earned a master’s in social work. In addition, Laura has earned a master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University.
Laura utilizes an integrative approach to her practice. Laura is currently working towards her certificate in play therapy from Heartland Play Therapy Institute. In addition to play therapy, Laura has received extensive training in solution focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), and in crisis intervention.
In her free time, you can usually find Laura spending time with her family, reading, baking, or cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Stephen Mockery
LMFT
Stephen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has experience working with couples, kids, adolescents, families, and adults. Stephen uses techniques from Emotionally Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, Theraplay, Narrative Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Stephen is working towards obtaining his Play Therapy Certificate from Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
Stephen received his bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science from the University of Kansas and his Masters in Counseling from the University of Colorado. Stephen started his career as an intern at JS Therapy Group where he was hired right after graduation. Stephen worked with couples and families to build connection, improve communication, explore attachment needs, and create a sense of emotional safety in the relationship. Stephen was also an intern at Safehome. Stephen joined with survivors of domestic violence as they healed from trauma, developed safe and healthy relationships, and reclaimed their independence. Stephen then worked at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center on the Children and Family Therapy team. Stephen joined with kids and families and used the power of play to build connection, learn coping skills, and learn to express needs in a healthy way. Stephen is honored to be at Creative Connections. He works with couples, families, children, and adolescents.
Stephen values therapy built on empathy, trust, respect, and collaboration. Stephen strives to create an experience free from judgement where people feel safe to explore the most vulnerable parts of themselves. Stephen values a culturally responsive approach and always learning, growing and understanding himself and others in a cultural context.
In his free time, Stephen enjoys taking photos with his film cameras, making music, collecting records, and going on adventures with his wife and dog.