Lori earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work with a secondary major in Women’s Studies from Kansas State University in 1999, her Master of Social Work from the University of Kansas in 2002, and her Play Therapy Certification from the KC Play Therapy Institute in 2006.

Lori’s professional journey began as a case manager at a residential children’s home in Wichita, Kansas, where she developed a strong foundation in child welfare, foster care, and systems-based work. After relocating to the Kansas City area, she joined SAFEHOME, an agency serving survivors of domestic violence. Over the course of sixteen years, Lori served in a variety of roles including advocate, Shelter Director, Child and Family Therapist, Outreach Therapist, and Clinical Director. As Clinical Director, she provided leadership and clinical oversight for the agency’s counseling program, which served more than 1,000 clients annually, while also mentoring and supporting clinicians across levels of experience.

In 2015, Lori became co-owner of Heartland Play Therapy Institute, Inc., where she began teaching the Fundamentals of Play Therapy workshop. Teaching and instruction have become central components of her professional identity, and she enjoys translating theory into practical, experiential learning that clinicians can immediately apply to their work. That same year, Lori established her private practice in Overland Park, Kansas, where she continues to integrate clinical practice with teaching, supervision, and consultation.

Throughout her career, Lori has expanded her instructional and supervisory experience through contract work providing individual therapy for children in Head Start programs, completing home study and post-placement services for families adopting domestically and internationally, and facilitating trainings and play therapy supervision through the KC Play Therapy Institute PlayTalk program. These roles have allowed her to work closely with clinicians and students as they develop foundational skills, clinical confidence, and professional identity.

Lori has pursued extensive training in a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including play therapy, Theraplay, Psychodrama, Emotional Transformation Therapy, Resonance Repatterning, EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Art Therapy. Her teaching and supervision are grounded in the belief that learning occurs best within safe, relational, and collaborative environments. She believes the principles of play not only support client healing, but also foster creativity, curiosity, and flexibility in clinicians.

Lori regularly teaches and facilitates workshops for clinicians, supervisors, and students across a range of developmental and clinical topics. Her instruction blends theory, experiential learning, and practical application, with a strong emphasis on ethical practice, trauma-responsive care, and relational depth. Workshop topics include Foundations of Child-Centered Play Therapy, Ethics in Play Therapy, Play Therapy with Abuse and Trauma, Differential Diagnosis in the Playroom, Empowering Children to Address Anxiety through Play, and both introductory and advanced training in clinical and play therapy supervision.

As an instructor and supervisor, Lori is deeply committed to supporting clinicians as they grow into thoughtful, ethical, and confident practitioners. She values the supervisory relationship as a space for reflection, skill-building, and integration, and enjoys helping clinicians deepen their understanding of the therapeutic relationship and their own clinical presence. Lori finds great meaning in teaching, mentoring, and walking alongside clinicians as they expand their skills and discover their professional voice.