A warm and accepting atmosphere for children and their families.

My therapeutic passion, what drives me and inspires me to see the strengths in all beings, is the use of child-centered play therapy with children, young adolescents, and families. The style of play therapy that I practice most often, and hold dear to my heart is a child-centered, non-directive approach, a method that unlocks a child’s fears, motivations, desires, and strengths. While creating a safe and accepting atmosphere for parent and child, I assist and encourage caregivers to create space for, witness, and support the child’s reflections and explorations. My ultimate goal is to always have the powerful interpersonal and emotional connections and discoveries from the playroom honored and replicated at home and within the family system, in the space children crave and need it the most.  

The key principle of non-directive play therapy is to trust that the child is the most capable person to find their own answers and healing abilities through the medium of play, their first and most familiar language.  The fundamental idea is that children will move through their challenges magnificently if given a warm, safe, and accepting environment to explore all facets within themselves. Because of this child-centered approach, I am able to witness the magic of healing that occurs when children are given unconditional acceptance and trust to identify and move through confusing, painful or scary feelings towards confidence and acceptance of themselves and others. It is a beautiful thing to witness a child discover that they truly are their own “expert.”

Lisa DeGraff, LCSW - Heart of Texas Play Therapy