Dianna Briggs Morse
Director of Play Therapy, LCSW, RPT 

Dianna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist and Art Informed Therapist who has experience working with children, teens, and young adults dealing with stress and anxiety, executive functioning deficits, identity confusion, mood disorders, grief and loss, and life adjustment issues including separation/divorce/college. Her role with clients is to be an active listener, compassionate facilitator, and an effective collaborator in their journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-growth. Dianna utilizes Person-Centered, Expressive Arts, Family Systems, Strength-Based, and elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her practice. She has over 7 years of experience working with children, teens, young adults, and adults in a variety of settings including private practice, non-profit agencies, hospice care, autism research center, acute inpatient behavioral health hospital, and residential behavioral health hospital.

 

Dianna’s specializes in Child-Centered Play Therapy and Synergetic Play Therapy approaches which are developmentally appropriate treatment modalities for children (4-12 years old). Play is an important and integral part of child development! When the powers of play are combined with an empathetic, non-judgmental therapist in a safe, trusting environment, children are able to connect with their inner strengths and process and explore unintegrated parts of themselves that would otherwise be too difficult to talk about. Dianna offers a range of creative outlets for children to externalize their inner world to effectively express and explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. When clients feel seen, understood, and fully accepted as they are, the possibilities for personal growth and acceptance increase. Children experience and internalize the belief that they are equipped with a unique set of skills necessary to overcome adversity and understand that they have choice.

 

Dianna’s approach with teens and young adults is to provide a warm, safe space that encourages openness, honesty, and vulnerability and an opportunity to explore their inner thoughts and feelings.  Dianna provides a collaborative approach built on mutual respect and the belief that each person’s unique experiences and gifts can be utilized as assets for overcoming adversity. Dianna believes every person is capable of growth, self-acceptance, and a more fulfilled life. Therapy can look like talk therapy or can utilize expressive arts if the client is interested.