Who We Are
Carmy Goodwin
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 clinical social work licensure and registered play therapy credential as well as currently serves on the Kansas Association for Play Therapy (KSAPT) board as 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
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
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.
Conner McFarlin
LMSW
Conner is a Licensed Master level Social Worker, currently under clinical and play therapy supervision in Kansas. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Missouri Western State University in 2014, and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Kansas in 2015.
Conner has worked in the social work field for over three years. Her experience began working in relationship education, where she taught John Gottman’s curriculum for couples looking to improve and enrich their relationships. Around this time, she also taught a parenting and self-care course for adults looking for extra tools and support. In addition, Conner worked as a Case Manager with youth experiencing homelessness at a local shelter and this is when her interest in clinical work began to grow. Her position as a School Social Worker in the Kansas City, Kansas Public School District, really showed Conner that doing clinical work with adolescents is what she truly enjoys.
Conner is currently in the Play Therapy Certificate Program at Heartland Play Therapy Institute where she is learning new skills and play therapy methods to use with clients of all ages. She has worked closely with adults and kids experiencing anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, trauma and loss. Conner uses a welcoming and supportive atmosphere, along with trauma-focused cognitive behavioral and play therapy skills and interventions that facilitate growth and change in clients.
Conner works part time as an individual and family therapist and looks forward to meeting you and getting to work together to reach your goals.