About Me:
Tiffany Vandergriff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is passionate about being a vessel of healing to children and families by implementing play therapy interventions. Tiffany feels that it is her calling to bring Light and Hope with her into every therapy session. While brokenness and trauma exist among humanity, Tiffany believes that every human is deserving of healing and peace. Tiffany feels that it is a privilege to be entrusted with vulnerability, and she aims to provide a safe place to come as you are. By practicing Play Therapy, Tiffany makes it her goal to serve children and families by implementing evidence-based practices and developmentally-appropriate interventions.
She is trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Tiffany has had extensive training in TraumaPlay and Theraplay. She has completed over 150 hours of Play Therapy trainings, completed more than 100 hours of Play Therapy supervisions, and is in the final phase of attaining her certification to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). Additionally, Tiffany has been trained in Sand Tray-Based Play Therapy. Treatment plans are collaboratively created with caregivers by considering each child’s unique situation, past experiences, strengths, and interests. She believes that a child’s behaviors are their means of communicating their needs. It is only until the need is met that healing can take place.
Areas of Tiffany’s special interests include children and tweens who have experienced complex trauma, neglect, abuse, social and/or educational difficulties, PTSD, behavioral issues, and parental divorce. Additional areas of interests include working with infants, toddlers, and families experiencing difficulties with healthy attachment and/or have been involved with the foster care system. Tiffany approaches therapy by using a Systems Theory approach and aims to partner with parents to advocate for the child’s healing. By teaching children and their families positive coping skills, techniques on how to reframe negative thought processes, and providing acceptance and validation, Tiffany strives to empower clients to continue improvement, even after therapy is completed.
Tiffany got her Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma in 2018. After graduation, she attained employment at Oklahoma Department of Human Services as a Permanency Planner in the Child Welfare Service department. While learning about the foster care system, Tiffany came to realize the importance of individualized treatment plans, healthy attachments, breaking the cycle of abuse, and healing from trauma. These components were all primarily treated by various modalities of therapy, which were referred out to outside agencies. Tiffany completed her Masters in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 2021. Since then, Tiffany has completed her supervision hours and is an LCSW.
Tiffany recognized the “power of play” long before becoming a child therapist. She is a mom of two, incredible little boys. She spent summers by working at an orphanage in Thailand, being a camp counselor, and nannying children. In undergrad, she spent hundreds of hours in elementary school settings as a mentor, educator, tutor, and she successfully completed 69 hours of elementary education-specific college courses. Promoting the well-being, safety, and joy of children has always been Tiffany’s passion. No matter the child or the setting, she makes it her mission for every child to leave any interaction feeling more empowered, valued, and accepted than they were before.
When Tiffany is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her two children. She is very involved in her church and student ministry. She enjoys reading, getting outside in nature, traveling, and prioritizing time with her friends and extended family. Finding hidden gems, trying new eateries and coffee shops, and finding adventures locally are Tiffany’s favorite past-time.
Education
License and Certifications:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners
Additional Training and Memberships:
Theraplay Level 1 Trained
Member, National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
AutPlay Trained