Arkansas APT Board Members
Treasurer
Hailey Frost, LAC
Hailey is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and is working toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 and went on to earn her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Arkansas. She is currently working toward her Doctorate in Counseling Education and Supervision at the University of Arkansas.
Hailey has experience in working with children using play therapy, adolescents, and adult clients with trauma, attachment issues, life transitions, and relationship issues. She is trained in Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), Eating Disorder Therapy, and Play Therapy. Hailey practices from a Gestalt lens, where clients can expect sessions to be focused on the here and now (present moment), a holistic approach, and increasing insight and understanding of the clients experiences and how meaning is formed from them. She has a passion for working with children and their families as well as working to strengthen the client-counselor relationship to set the foundation for change.
Hailey was born and raised in Arkansas. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs - Ben who is a Labrador and Baylor who is a golden retriever - and spending time with her fiancé. She loves time with her family and friends, and enjoys trying new things and traveling. She is refreshed by being outside hiking, skiing, biking, or running.
Member at Large Position 1
Laura Simmons, LPC, RPT
memberatlarge1tarapt@gmail.com
Laura is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She earned her masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and received play therapy training from the University of Arkansas. She supported community mental health in schools, working with children and adolescents, with a focus on anxiety, depression, grief, transitions, parenting, and trauma. She considers NWA home, but is originally from North Carolina.
Laura strives to create a safe and caring space where you learn your worth. She believes in the transformational power of play and creates a supportive environment for children. She uses movement, art, sandtray, play, and talk in age appropriate ways to access a child’s inner world and help them gain self-confidence. She incorporates mindfulness to engage and teach children important skills like emotional regulation.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her two dogs, Bella and Daisy. She loves to hike, bike ride, and enjoy the beautiful landscape in Northwest Arkansas.
Vice President
Kristy Goodman, LPC, RPT
Kristy Goodwin is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She earned her undergraduate degree at Williams Baptist University, in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas in Psychology, graduating in 2013. She received her Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy at John Brown University, in Siloam Springs, Arkansas in 2018. Kristy completed her play therapy training from Heartland Play Therapy in 2021.
Before coming to Water’s Edge she worked in the school based setting in Bentonville for three years with a variety of presenting issues ranging from but not limited to anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, relationships, grief, stress, adjustment, trauma and impulse control.
“I want to reach those who are hurting and help them find healing and grow into healthy individuals and families by guiding and walking alongside them through their difficult and challenging times through a positive therapeutic relationship. I also believe in the power of play and that when words fail, play will speak and the importance that it has played in both my professional and personal life. And at the end of the day, I hope my clients leave knowing they are loved, valued, cared about and worthy of belonging.
Kristy is an Arkansas native from Northeast Arkansas and has lived in the Northwest region for the past 8 years. Kristy loves to spend time with her Chihuahuas and family back East. When Kristy is not seeing clients she can be found engaging in a variety of interests that range from arts and crafts, building model kits, playing musical instruments, and watching movies. She is also a fan of Star Wars, video games and anime which may come as a surprise to some of her younger clients.
Secretary
Rachel C. Olienyk, LPC-S, RPT-S
Rachel is an LPC and a Registered Play Therapist with supervision specialties in both of these roles. She is the Program Coordinator for Methodist Counseling Outpatient Clinic in Fayetteville, AR serving children and adolescents (2-18). She also teaches as an adjunct professor for Southern Arkansas University in the master level counseling program. When she's not working, she is with her husband, two daughters (3 and 14), and two dogs! Rachel also loves all things outdoors (hiking, gardening, going to parks and outdoor concerts, and camping). A long-time passion for her is reading- from excellent nonfiction that has informed who she is as a counselor to easy-to-read fiction for a nice brain break!
Member at Large Position 2
Abby Poteet, LPC
memberatlarge2@arapt@gmail.com
Abby is a Licensed Professional Counselor with ample experience in play and individual therapy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Master of Sciences in Counseling at the University of Arkansas. From there, Abby focused her time working in school-based settings with children ages 2+ and receiving additional trainings in neuroscience, play therapy, and mental health disorders commonly diagnosed in childhood and adolescence. She serves clients of all populations, and is especially ardent about treatment for anxiety, depression, grief, and adoption trauma.
Abby has a huge heart for improving the lives of youth and utilizes a collaborative approach with her clients and their families. She is passionate about providing a space where children feel safe and heard, while learning the skills necessary to take on life's challenges. Within a warm environment of unconditional acceptance, trust, and authenticity, she encourages clients to discover their internal motivations to grow from their own experiences and move forward feeling empowered and confident in their own abilities to do so. She provides individual counseling and play therapy with a client-centered approach that fosters healing, independence and self-acceptance.
In her free time, Abby enjoys exploring and photographing the great outdoors. She loves hiking, off-roading, camping, and boating. She takes a creative, playful approach to life and embraces this with travel, art, and music. You can often find her sitting by the water somewhere with her dogs, husband, camera and guitar.