Arkansas APT Board Members
President
Rodney A. Fry, MA, MDIV, MS, LPC, RPT
Rodney has his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Brown University. He currently is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a specialization in Play Therapy as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), Gottman Marriage and Technology Assisted.
Fry, originally of Mountain Home, Arkansas, received his BS from Central Baptist College in Conway and went on to gain his Masters from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO. Fry is married and has six children.
He enjoys working with individuals, couples, children, and families. Sometimes difficulties arise in life, and asking for help can be challenging and overwhelming to take that first step. Rodney takes pride in being able to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where he can work alongside you overcoming obstacles so that you can live your life as you were meant to be.
Rodney has served ArAPT as a member at large and now as President. Fry has served on the national APT Conference Committee and Leadership Academy. Fry has written articles for the APT. Rodney is currently working on his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with Regent University.
Vice President
Kristy Goodwin, 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 of 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.
Treasurer
Dr. Hailey Frost, PhD, LPC
Hailey is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and is working toward becoming 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. In 2024, she earned 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 client’s 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.
Secretary
Laura Simmons, LPC, RPT
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.
Director Position 1 (South Arkansas)
Melissa Cook, LPC, RPT, TBRI
Melissa Cook is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) practitioner and trainer, and a 500-hour registered yoga instructor. With a deep passion for helping children, teens, and families reconnect with themselves, she employs play and attachment-based interventions to address individual, behavioral, and family struggles.
Melissa strongly believes in the importance of education in play therapy. As an RPT, she understands the specialized training required to effectively meet children's emotional, social, and behavioral needs. With the proper education, therapists can create safe, supportive environments that promote healing, emotional growth, and stronger family connections.
In addition to her therapeutic practice, Melissa is a dedicated community advocate. She works with collaborative mental health and educational groups in Texas and Arkansas. Her involvement in these initiatives allows her to influence and shape mental health services at a broader level, ensuring that children and families have access to quality care and resources. Through these partnerships, Melissa works to create a more supportive, inclusive community for those facing mental health challenges.
For the past seven years, she has served her native Texarkana area through private practice and within the public school system, providing therapy services and parent/staff training. She also shares her knowledge with other professionals, promoting effective practices in play therapy and beyond.
When not working, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, exploring the outdoors with her therapy dog, Tullia, and practicing yoga.
Director Position 2
Abby is a Licensed Professional Counselor who provides individual therapy services for clients of ages across the lifespan. 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 offers therapy services 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.
Director Position 3 (Central Arkansas)
Stasia L. Myers, LCSW, RPT-S, ICST
Stasia is a licensed credentialed social worker and a registered play therapist-supervisor. She owns Create Healing Counseling Services, a group private practice, specializing in child and adolescent counseling located in Little Rock. She received her B.A. degree in Psychology from Baylor University and her master’s in social work degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Over the last twenty
years, Stasia has worked in inpatient, residential, and outpatient settings with children, adolescents, and their families. She was an internship instructor at the juvenile detention center for first-year MSW
students with the UALR’s MSW Program. She has taught BSW and MSW courses at UALR as an adjunct faculty member. Stasia specializes in sandtray therapy which she uses with children through adults and
has provided training for therapists on advanced topics in sandtray therapy. She provides supervision for therapists seeking credentialing in play therapy as an RPT-S. Stasia is a doctoral student at the
University of Louisiana Monroe in the Marriage and Family Systemic Studies program.
In her spare time, Stasia enjoys travel and time with her son and husband. Her son is a junior at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Her hobbies include all things health and wellness, including cooking, exercise, and meditation. Her creative pursuits include interior design, fashion, and all things colorful and Zen.
Director Position 4 (NWA)
Dr. Chulyndria “Lyn” Laye is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arkansas, a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a 2022 Doctoral Minority Fellow for the NBCC Foundation, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas. Lyn has extensive training in child centered play therapy and rehabilitation counseling. She primarily works with children, adolescents, and adults in private practice settings, but has experience working in community agencies, school-based settings, and in-patient facilities. She has a strong passion for advocating for the advancement of mental health in the Black community, particularly among Black girls and women. In addition to working with Black women, she has worked diligently to break generational curses and beliefs associated with accepting the identity of the Strong Black Woman, as well as assist Black women and girls in resetting these narratives and liberating themselves from the stigma associated with mental health.
Director Position 5 (Eastern Arkansas)
Josh Everett, LCSW, RPT, RIST
Josh is a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist, as well as a Registered Integrative Sandtray Therapist. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology at Ouachita Baptist University and his master’s degree in social work from Arkansas State University. He has been working in the therapeutic field for over 10 years.
He is currently at Open Book Wellness Center where uses play therapy for children all the way through adulthood in a variety of ways. He loves witnessing clients come in and make small changes to their lives that have eternal impacts.
He is a native of NEA (Paragould) and has a wonderful wife, Kayla, and three children- Knox, Nash, and Nora. He spends most of his time coaching sports, traveling, and watching his kids play sports. He also enjoys teaching a Sunday school class at his church, Harvest Baptist.
ArAPT Gold Branch
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023