In the Spotlight: Dania Fawaz
We’re thrilled to welcome art psychotherapist and associate holistic therapist Dania Fawaz to The Center for Family Well-Being! Dania is an experienced therapist with a deep passion for using art and play to support children and families. We had the chance to sit down with her to talk about her impactful work abroad, her love for art therapy, and how her practice with young clients is already blooming here at the Center. Meet Dania:
Can you tell us about your passion for art therapy and how you use it in your work with children?
I’ve always been passionate about the arts and their ability to communicate things that words often can’t, especially for children. In my practice, I use art therapy to create a space where children can express themselves freely, without the pressure of needing to find the right words. For children, especially those still developing the language to describe their emotions, this nonverbal form of expression can feel incredibly freeing and empowering. Through art, they can show me what they’re experiencing, and together we can explore those emotions in a safe, less confrontational way. It's amazing how something like drawing or painting can unlock deeper conversations that might not have come out otherwise.
I also integrate play into my sessions because, like art, it allows children to process complex feelings in a non-threatening, imaginative way. Whether it’s through storytelling or fantasy, play helps children express what's going on inside them without the directness that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Both art and play give children a sense of control in the therapeutic process, which is so important for building trust and helping them heal.
You began your career as a therapist in Lebanon, working with children and families facing challenging circumstances. How did that experience shape you as a professional?
Starting my career in Lebanon, where I’m from, I had the opportunity to work closely with children and families navigating complex emotional and social challenges. What I found was that addressing a child's needs in the therapy room was just one piece of the puzzle — children's challenges are often deeply connected to the systems and environments they’re part of. This realization shaped my approach, broadening my focus to include not only individual healing but also supporting the wider networks around the child. I started working more collaboratively with teachers, caregivers, and other professionals to create systems of support that extended beyond therapy.
Alongside my therapeutic work, I also designed curriculum and developed training programs for teams, youth workers, and other professionals. My goal was to help them better understand and support children experiencing trauma and adversity, and also prevent burnout for the caretakers who work with kids in these high-stress environments.
How has that broader perspective influenced your work now?
Working on the other side — supporting families, teachers, and community members — has really shaped how I approach my work today. I’ve come to understand that when I’m working with a child, I’m not just working with them in isolation; I’m engaging with their entire ecology. Their experiences are influenced by their family, school, community, and the environments they interact with daily. It’s important for me to consider all these layers when supporting a child because real change happens when the systems around them are also part of the process. This perspective allows me to offer more comprehensive care, addressing not only the child’s emotional needs but also the factors in their life that may be contributing to their challenges.
We’re thrilled to have you on the team! What excites you about working here at the Center?
I’m really excited to be part of a community that shares my passion for supporting children and families in a holistic way. At the Center, I have the opportunity to work with children and their families in a collaborative environment where we can explore creative, meaningful ways to address challenges together. I love that we approach healing through multiple lenses, whether it’s through art, play, or other therapeutic methods.
I get a lot of joy from what I do! I love engaging with a young person as they explore their world and figure things out. I'm here to help families who are going through a hard time and offer them consistent, safe, and present interactions — I consider us a team as we uncover what goes on with their little one!
From a child’s point of view, what’s a session with you like?
Children are often given many instructions and expectations, so I value creating a space where they get to do the telling. In my sessions, everything is an invitation — I offer materials and opportunities for creative expression, but the child sets the tone for how we move through the session. They have the freedom to decide how they want to use the space and engage with the materials. This sense of agency and control is incredibly important because it helps them feel safe and empowered in the therapeutic process. My goal is for the child to feel that this is their space, where they have a voice and can explore whatever feels right to them.
