Our Crew

Stacey Bankston, LCSW, CCTP

Stacey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Principal Partner/Co-Founder of Creative Counseling Center of NWA, and the Executive Director/Founder of the nonprofit, “The Hit and Run Project”. In addition to these hats, I’m a mom of 3 boys! Being a busy mom and a working professional reminds me constantly of how incredibly human I am! On my days off, I’m quirky, funny and have never truly left the 80’s!

Working with people has been my passion for nearly 30 years. My hope is that when people meet me, they feel my compassion, warmth and authenticity. We are all on this incredible journey of life together and no one gets through that alone. In my 20-year career as a Social Worker, I have sat with men, women, and teens as they search for clear solutions to tough issues like depression, anxiety, marriage and relationship conflict, anger, stressful adjustment, attention and focusing issues, trauma, grief and loss. In 2019 I became trained in EMDR to treat trauma.

Kate Siegenthaler, LCSW

Kate is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Arkansas and Missouri. Kate has over twenty years experience working with children and families in individual, family, couples and group counseling. Kate’s specialty is working with individuals and families to enhance good communication skills and to teach interactions styles that help families create healthier living environments. In addition, Kate treats trauma and stress disorders to assist individuals in developing healthier coping and adjustment skills in order to create happier lifestyles and to move forward with life goals. Kate believes that it is possible for every individual, couple and family to work toward improving functioning to achieve more satisfying and gratifying interactions, to significantly improve self-esteem and to reduce the stress and depression that has hampered them from feeling good about themselves and their relationships. Everyone deserves to be happy. This is Kate’s abiding belief and her work with individuals and families is geared toward helping people achieve that goal. Personally, Kate lives in the country with her husband. They raise horses and are involved with animal rescue. They enjoy the peace and beauty of this incredible community and spend a lot of time gardening and enjoying local activities.

Anne Gray, LCSW

Earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Arkansas and has been practicing therapy in NWA for the past 8 years. With over 15 years of experience in the mental health field Annie has had the privilege of working with individuals of all ages and walks of life. She is driven to help you find your delicate balance in life and will focus on your unique needs with compassion and honesty. Whether it is addressing past trauma, phase of life, or current stressors, Annie will work with you to develop practical tools that give you the confidence to take on daily challenges and live well in the moment. She knows this is tough work and honors your courage for walking through these doors. Annie believes the therapeutic relationship is vital for clients to feel safe enough to do this work. With this security, her clients are able to dig deep and try new things, helping them reach their personal treatment goals. Annie utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Empowerment and Strengths Based approaches. She is versed in Crisis Intervention and has enjoyed training individuals outside of the mental health field.  Her goal is to assist this community in decreasing stigma while increasing awareness and compassion on issues related to mental health. Current certifications include: Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), and Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider (CTMH). When not at work she is spending time with her husband trying to keep up with two busy little girls, traveling when possible, and enjoying down time. Annie is recharged when she makes time for a trip to the river or  sitting with others around the fire.Â

Amanda Schroeder, LCSW

Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with twenty years of experience providing individual, family and group therapy. She earned her Masters of Social Work degree from Missouri State University in 2001. Amanda uses a strengths-based approach that assists clients with finding solutions to issues such as anxiety, depression, life adjustments, trauma, parenting and women’s issues. Amanda is a solution-focused therapist who uses several forms of therapy which are tailored to meet each client’s needs. Her range of expertise is vast so she is able to use techniques for treatment with a spectrum of age groups. Amanda enjoys building healthy relationships with her clients, teaching them ways to overcome stressors and walking with them on their journey to achieving desired life goals. Amanda balances her life as a wife and mother. She loves spending time with her son, daughters, and husband at on the beach. Amanda has a passion for decorating, building homes, and coffee is her love language!

Ashley Shifflett, LCSW

Ashley earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Arkansas and was born and raised in the natural state. She began her career supporting victims of domestic violence, and later entered the mental health field where she has worked with all ages in a variety of settings including therapeutic day treatment, outpatient therapy, inpatient treatment, and providing acute crisis support to individuals through correspondence with local law enforcement and healthcare agencies. For the past several years Ashley has primarily served teens and young adults within Northwest Arkansas but has experience supporting individuals of all ages in addressing challenges related to anxiety, depression, trauma, and disruptive behaviors. She utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, and values clarification. She is energized by the growth that accompanies a firmly rooted therapeutic relationship, and collaboration among family members and community. She values genuine human connection and is passionate about supporting others in improving their communication, the quality of their relationships, and personal self-awareness. Ashley and her husband live in Fayetteville. In their free time they enjoy camping in the Ozarks, live music, and traveling.

Leslie Moseley, LPC

Leslie Moseley is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor. I have over 10 years of experience in the mental health field and over 25 years working in social services. I am experienced in counseling all ages: children ages 5 and up, young/middle-aged adults, and our older, full of wisdom, retirement age adults. I genuinely love being a counselor and believe that positive change can be just one decision away for you! Depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and relationship issues are some of the areas that I specialize in and have helped many find their way to a happier, more well-rounded life. I also come from a long line of first responders and have great compassion, empathy, and understanding for families who face the challenges of living with an LEO and first responder. I am a single mom of a beautiful 24-year-old recent college graduate. Through the years we have been through so much together and I believe those challenges have shaped me into who I am today and how I help others walk through their own healing experience. My hope is that you will feel comfortable from the moment you walk through the front door and through our time together in your session. I believe that we all have a story to tell and developing a strong therapeutic relationship with you is the best way to support you as you tell your own story! I look forward to seeing you soon! For self-care and fun, I love to explore all that beautiful Arkansas has to offer since I’ve moved here from Texas!

Alyson Harder, LCSW

Alyson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas with over twenty years of experience providing individual, family and group therapy to pre-teens, adolescents and adults. She earned her Masters of Social Work degree from University of Kansas in 2003 and her undergraduate from the University of Arkansas in 1997. She is excited to begin treating patients in Northwest Arkansas. Alyson’s practice embraces and encourages whole-hearted living. She believes in the power that we have within each of us to heal and to live a well and balanced life.  Alyson’s goal is to have an authentic and genuine relationship with her patients. She feels honored to be invited into your life, as therapy is about self exploration and healthy challenge. Her mantra has been, imagine how different the world might be if we sought therapy before an actual crisis. She hopes to be an individual that can assist you with drawing upon your internal strengths and your courage to imagine a life that is meaningful, genuine and enjoyable. It’s in those moments of discomfort that we find who we truly are and where we want to go. Alyson uses EMDR, DBT and other evidenced-based therapies that assist clients with struggles related to anxiety, depression, trauma, women’s issues while promoting a holistic approach to wellness. Each client is assessed as to the most effective techniques to utilize to meet their specific needs. Along with being a practicing clinician, Alyson balances her life as a wife and mother. She has been married for nearing 25 years with two children in college and one in middle school. When not working she spends time with her Irish doodle therapy dog, Molly and is either near a ballpark watching her children play or dreaming of hiking and skiing in the mountains.

Catherine Piercy, M.Ed., LPC

Cathy graduated from the University of Arkansas with a master’s degree in counselor education in 1992. She has over 30 years of experience providing counseling to women, families, children and adolescents in Northwest Arkansas. She enjoys working with all ages, from infancy to adulthood and is recognized as a leading Child therapist in our area.  She is registered in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children from ages 5-18, and Child Parent Psychotherapy for children ages 0-5, both focused on trauma resolution. She has been trained in EMDR with children and adults as well as play therapy techniques, including sandtray therapy for children and adolescents.  Cathy has been trained in Conscious Discipline, which focuses on how children learn and can be applied to parenting skills. She has experience working in several treatment areas, including Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, ADHD, and parenting systems.

Cathy believes that emotional healing comes through relationship, connection and feeling a sense of value and belonging. This is seen most clearly when working with children and adolescents since their learning still comes within the context of the family. All people need to feel seen and heard and this includes children. She looks at clients through a lens of cognitive, psychosocial and milestone developmental stages, focusing on what needs to be learned and experienced in each stage and the impact this has on the emotions.

In her spare time, Cathy enjoys spending time with her two grown daughters and her four grandchildren. She loves white sand beaches and hot springs. Her companion and fur baby is a black and white party colored cocker spaniel, and during basketball season, she may be heard calling the hogs.

Kari Spears, LCSW

Hi! I’m Kari, a Licensed Certified Social Worker with Creative Counseling NWA. I have a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy and a Masters in Social Work, both from the University of Arkansas. For the past 8 years I have worked in the medical social work field, ranging in areas from home health, hospice, and most recently in dialysis. In addition to medical, I have taught at the University level since 2016.

Prior to graduate school, I worked for several years in a variety of mental health settings. With experience in mental health case management, chronic illness, and end of life, I am ready to process through any of the tough topics related to young adulthood to concerns on aging, caregiver strain, health changes, anxiety, or any area in which you would like to explore.

We have been living in an ever-changing climate with new stressors added every day. I believe in therapy as a catharsis for the mind and body. Therapy allows someone to have a safe space to let it all out and have a consistent person to explore any thoughts and feelings that may arise. My therapeutic process is a mix of gentle and assertive. I’m not afraid to be direct, yet there are times that gently working our way through feelings or experiences is what is needed.

I am originally from Central Arkansas and have called Northwest Arkansas home since 2004. I live with my husband and our two rescue dogs. In my off time, I enjoy watching documentaries, live music, brainstorming travel plans, reading thrillers and I love trivia games and hosting game nights. The Quizepticons did (barely) make it into the top 100 at the National Trivia Championship!

Christine Robertson, LCSW

I love to work with women who are struggling with their identity and are in the midst of change. Does it feel as though you have no idea who you are anymore? Perhaps you are going through a breakup or you suddenly find yourself with an empty nest and life outside of being a parent is overwhelming. Maybe you have spent so much of your adulthood caring for others without much regard for yourself. I love to explore the possibilities of life with clients. My main goal is to help you create a life worth living, however you define that. My approach to therapy is one of warmth, genuineness and humor. I can give you coping skills all day long. What is probably more important, however, is that I can give you a safe place to just be you, with all your quirks.  I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over nine years of experience conducting individual and group therapy. I received my Masters of Social Work from the University of Arkansas and have spent my career working with veterans, those with SMI, foster children and domestic violence survivors. If you are curious about my training and enjoy a deep dive into Google, I am well-versed in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  On a more personal note, I’m a single mom to a fabulously funny four-year-old little girl and two cats. Originally from New York, I am very much a transplant to Fayetteville. I love reading, Star Trek and musical theater. Full disclosure: I’m nerdy. There will be nerd references in our sessions.

Katie Coker, LCSW

Katie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a BA in Psychology and Masters in Social Work from the University of Arkansas. She is experienced in providing individual and group therapy and is passionate about helping adults struggling with anxiety/stress, eating disorders/disordered eating, trauma, life transitions, depression, perfectionism, grief, and young adulthood issues. Katie practices primarily through a Compassion-Focused Therapy lens, as she believes that self-compassion can be one of the hardest things to give ourselves, and yet, often the first step towards healing, growth, and lasting change. She also utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, expressive art techniques, the Health at Every Size framework, and faith-based elements (if desired by the client) to help support clients in their healing process. Katie understands how difficult it can be to reach out for support and considers it a great privilege to hold space for the experiences, pain, joy, and hope of her clients. She deeply values building strong therapeutic relationships with clients and strives to create a warm, accepting, and safe space for them to be their most authentic selves. It’s her mission to ensure that her clients leave feeling valued, heard, supported, and empowered. You don’t have to go it alone—come as you are! Katie is originally from Hot Springs, AR and has lived in NWA since 2014. She is a home decor enthusiast, loves being out in the sunshine, and enjoys traveling to new places. When she’s not in session, she’s likely to be found on a hike with her husband and pup, at her local TJ Maxx, or sipping a chai latte!