Marci Ramsay, LSCSW, RPT-S
Marci is the owner of Connections Child and Family Therapy. Her advanced degree is a Master of Social Work earned in 2006 from The University Of Kansas. She holds licensure in the state of Kansas as a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (#4179). In addition, she is a Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor (#S1960). Marci is also Level 2 trained in EMDR and Level 1 certified in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics through the Child Trauma Academy.
Marci has worked in early childhood mental health for nearly 20 years. She has been employed at Positive Bright Start as an Early Childhood Mental Health Clinician and Early Childhood Services Administrator since 2007. She opened her private practice in 2016. Marci is passionate about providing high quality, evidence-based interventions to young children who have experienced trauma and other life challenges. Marci's primary practice is the assessment and treatment of children, birth through age 11, utilizing developmentally informed and neurobiological based play therapy interventions.
Marci believes that children do as good as they can and have the innate capacity to heal. Marci adopts the practice of non-directive play therapy, allowing each child to direct their own healing process in a supportive, nonjudgmental, and relational space. Establishing safety and trust are integral to the therapeutic process and Marci places emphasis on this process of connection knowing that without the felt sense of safety, children are not able to fully heal.
Marci has worked in early childhood mental health for nearly 20 years. She has been employed at Positive Bright Start as an Early Childhood Mental Health Clinician and Early Childhood Services Administrator since 2007. She opened her private practice in 2016. Marci is passionate about providing high quality, evidence-based interventions to young children who have experienced trauma and other life challenges. Marci's primary practice is the assessment and treatment of children, birth through age 11, utilizing developmentally informed and neurobiological based play therapy interventions.
Marci believes that children do as good as they can and have the innate capacity to heal. Marci adopts the practice of non-directive play therapy, allowing each child to direct their own healing process in a supportive, nonjudgmental, and relational space. Establishing safety and trust are integral to the therapeutic process and Marci places emphasis on this process of connection knowing that without the felt sense of safety, children are not able to fully heal.
Karla Flores-Hernandez, LPC-Provisional
Karla has a Bachelor's in psychology from Universidad Centro Americana Jose Simeon Canas-UCA (El Salvador). She attended and then received her Master's in Clinical psychology from Universidad Dr. Jose Matias Delgado (El Salvador). While developing her private practice, she began her career with Salvadorean community residents (children and adolescents) at her college Psychological Assistance Clinic. She enhanced the skill of treating various clinical issues focusing on behavioral and emotional problems. She currently holds a licensure in the State of Kansas as a Licensed Masters Level Psychologist – Temporary (LMLP 03103-T) and will work under the supervision of Marci Ramsay, who is an LSCSW (#4179)and Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor (#S1960).
Karla has been working in the mental health field for over 13 years. Although she is originally from El Salvador,and her native language is Spanish, she is fluently bilingual.
Karla feels comfortable working with children and adolescents and knows that it is necessary to guide parents to improve their family relationship by helping them understand their children's specific emotional and psychological needs. Karla likes to help families implement interventions with compassion and efficacy. Families, especially parents, must have adequate and suitable techniques to work with their children to help with a healthy emotional environment.
Karla treats children through play therapy and other psychodynamic techniques and interventions to help them express their feelings, solve problems, and build skills. That way, they can bring to light negative communication patterns in their families. Moreover, this will guide her to discover problem-solving techniques and strategies to meet their psychological needs.
Lacey Koester, LSCSW, RPT
Lacey completed a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas in 2016 and a certificate in Play Therapy from MidAmerica Nazarene University 2017. She holds licensure in the state of Kansas as a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (#05700). She is also a licensed clinical social worker in the states of Missouri and Maine. Additionally, she is a Registered Play Therapist (#T5796). Lacey is Level 1 trained in EMDR, ®Theraplay, and Conscious Discipline.
Lacey worked for Children’s Mercy Hospital as a school-based social worker for nearly a decade. She has also been employed by SAFEHOME and The Family Conservancy, all located in the Kansas City Metro area. In these settings, Lacey worked with individuals, families, groups, and entire classrooms related to a myriad of needs, such as selective mutism, domestic violence, special education, peer issues, phobias, anxiety, autism, ADHD, and self-regulation. She provided training and instruction to educators and elementary-level social workers regarding interventions and accommodations for kids who demonstrated social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and mentored clinical social work interns.
Lacey subscribes to the views of psychologist Ross Greene that kids do well if they can. Sometimes children and their adults need extra support to process, learn, and practice more adaptive ways to handle their challenges and big emotions. As such, she focuses on supporting children, adults, and families with challenges related to anxiety, grief and loss, neurodevelopmental differences, and trauma-related conditions. She utilizes child-centered and solution-focused approaches to promote safety, connection, and problem solving.
In addition to English, Lacey is proficient in Spanish and Portuguese.
Lacey worked for Children’s Mercy Hospital as a school-based social worker for nearly a decade. She has also been employed by SAFEHOME and The Family Conservancy, all located in the Kansas City Metro area. In these settings, Lacey worked with individuals, families, groups, and entire classrooms related to a myriad of needs, such as selective mutism, domestic violence, special education, peer issues, phobias, anxiety, autism, ADHD, and self-regulation. She provided training and instruction to educators and elementary-level social workers regarding interventions and accommodations for kids who demonstrated social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and mentored clinical social work interns.
Lacey subscribes to the views of psychologist Ross Greene that kids do well if they can. Sometimes children and their adults need extra support to process, learn, and practice more adaptive ways to handle their challenges and big emotions. As such, she focuses on supporting children, adults, and families with challenges related to anxiety, grief and loss, neurodevelopmental differences, and trauma-related conditions. She utilizes child-centered and solution-focused approaches to promote safety, connection, and problem solving.
In addition to English, Lacey is proficient in Spanish and Portuguese.
Alana Kramer, LMSW
Alana graduated from the University of Kansas with an advanced standing Masters of Social Work degree 2008. She is pursuing credentials as a Registered Play Therapist and a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker. Before her position at Positive Bright Start, Alana held a variety of titles including Milieu Group therapist with adolescents at KidsTLC Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility and In-home Outpatient Therapist for children in foster care through KVC.
Alana’s primary practice is the assessment and treatment of children with social and emotional difficulties, focusing on treating children with histories of trauma, depression, anxiety, attachment disruptions and adjustment disorders. Alana prefers to use strengths based, solution focused, trauma informed and attachment based theories to assess the needs of children and their families. Alana has received training in a variety of models, including Dialectical Developmental Psychotherapy, Trauma Systems Therapy, Sandtray therapy, Theraplay, and Child Centered Play Therapy. Alana’s primary focus is to build solid trusting relationships with her clients and their parents and to approach each unique family using a child-centered, attachment focused and trauma informed lens. Alana is passionate about helping children and their families improve their quality of life and reach their fullest potential.
Alana is currently working toward her Clinical licensure and is under the supervision of Marci Ramsay, LSCSW, RPT-S.
Alana’s primary practice is the assessment and treatment of children with social and emotional difficulties, focusing on treating children with histories of trauma, depression, anxiety, attachment disruptions and adjustment disorders. Alana prefers to use strengths based, solution focused, trauma informed and attachment based theories to assess the needs of children and their families. Alana has received training in a variety of models, including Dialectical Developmental Psychotherapy, Trauma Systems Therapy, Sandtray therapy, Theraplay, and Child Centered Play Therapy. Alana’s primary focus is to build solid trusting relationships with her clients and their parents and to approach each unique family using a child-centered, attachment focused and trauma informed lens. Alana is passionate about helping children and their families improve their quality of life and reach their fullest potential.
Alana is currently working toward her Clinical licensure and is under the supervision of Marci Ramsay, LSCSW, RPT-S.
Grace Mosier, LPC
Grace graduated with her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas in May of 2024. She is currently pursuing credentials as a Registered Play Therapist. Prior to embarking on her Master’s journey and joining Positive Bright Start, Grace obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in Unified Early Childhood Education. During this time, she gained valuable experience working in diverse educational settings such as Special Education, Title One, and Montessori environments.
In her professional practice, Grace specializes in assessing and treating children from birth through age 6 who are facing social-emotional difficulties, developmental delays, and anxiety or attachment concerns. She employs a range of therapeutic approaches, including strengths-based, trauma-informed, and child-centered methodologies, to ensure the holistic well-being of her clients. Grace has training in various play therapy modalities and interventions, including Child-Centered Play Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy. Motivated by her deep commitment to serving children and families from diverse backgrounds, Grace is devoted to leveraging the profound impact of play within her therapeutic practice.
In her professional practice, Grace specializes in assessing and treating children from birth through age 6 who are facing social-emotional difficulties, developmental delays, and anxiety or attachment concerns. She employs a range of therapeutic approaches, including strengths-based, trauma-informed, and child-centered methodologies, to ensure the holistic well-being of her clients. Grace has training in various play therapy modalities and interventions, including Child-Centered Play Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy. Motivated by her deep commitment to serving children and families from diverse backgrounds, Grace is devoted to leveraging the profound impact of play within her therapeutic practice.
Danielle Yeager, DrOT
Dr. Danielle Yeager provides occupational therapy services for Connections child clients. She graduated from the University of Kansas Medical Center with her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Occupational Therapy. She has been working in the field for over 7 years and is dedicated to supporting families with or without disabilities to feel confident about helping their child’s development.
In addition to her training in Occupational Therapy, Danielle received specialized training the Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the Center for Child Health and Development at KUMC. During her time there she increased her study in the area of autism and was a part of autism diagnostic teams.
Dr. Danielle implements occupational therapy interventions to address areas of development including sensory, fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, personal-social, self-help, sleep, feeding, and more.
Dr. Danielle prides herself on taking a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.
In addition to her training in Occupational Therapy, Danielle received specialized training the Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the Center for Child Health and Development at KUMC. During her time there she increased her study in the area of autism and was a part of autism diagnostic teams.
Dr. Danielle implements occupational therapy interventions to address areas of development including sensory, fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, personal-social, self-help, sleep, feeding, and more.
Dr. Danielle prides herself on taking a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.