Elizabeth Sawyer Danowski

Helping People Dream.

Helping Families Heal.

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. — George Bernard Shaw, playright

Biography

Elizabeth Sawyer Danowski is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and owner of Play. Build. Grow. PLC, a practice that provides a variety of therapy services to children and their families, as well as to adults.

Elizabeth has 20 years of experience and holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan. She is a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor with the Association for Play Therapy, and is also active with the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy.

Her work has been featured on WLNS, WILX, and BBC 1, and in print with Parent’s Magazine,The Independent, and The Oxford Times. Speaking engagements include The Funding Network, Michigan Association for Play Therapy, and The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children.

She is a native of the Lansing area and enjoys spending time with her own blended family.

Résumé

Michigan Licensed Masters Social Worker, Clinical and Macro (LMSW)

Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) with the National Association of Social Workers

Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor (RPT-S) with the Association of Play Therapy

Certified Child Psychotherapist and Play Therapist Supervisor with the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy (CACPT)

Psychotherapist and Owner of Play. Build. Grow. PLC, 2004 – 2008 and 2010 – Present

Executive Director of The Oxford Parent Infant Project (OXPIP), Oxford England, 2008 – 2010

Supervisor for certification as a Registered Play Therapist with the Association for Play Therapy.

University of Michigan School of Social Work, Master of Social Work (MSW)

Michigan State University, Bachelor of Arts, Major in Social Work

Presentation, The Funding Network Oxford, September 2009.

Guest Lecture, University of Michigan, School of Social Work, November 2007.

Guest Lecture, Wayne State University, School of Social Work, November 2007.

Michigan Association for Play Therapy Annual Play Therapy Conference, February 2012.

The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children, 2011 Childhood Trauma Practitioner’s Assembly, July 2011.

Danowski, E. S., & Wanberg, C. (2012, March). What makes a safe, effective and inviting playroom? PlayTherapy, 7 Issue 1, 14-18.

Sawyer, E. (1997, February 2). Harassment episodes can lead to violence: East Lansing case teaches us to hold ourselves accountable. [Letter to the Editor]. Lansing State Journal.

Sawyer, E. (1997) Sexual Assault and Teens. Livingston Area Council Against Sexual Assault Communicator.

Sawyer, E. (1997, June) On the Road to Hookahville. Renegade Newsletter.

Sawyer, E. (1997, December). Stiletto Heels at Work? I’m missing the point: working women already have enough imbalance to juggle [Opinion Editorial]. Lansing State Journal

Iceman-Haueter, Ami (2016, February). Making Relationships Work, An Interview with Elizabeth Sawyer Danowski and Dr. Sara Dupuis. Capital Area Women’s Lifestyle Magazine.

Wolz, P. (Ed.). (2011, August). An interview with Elizabeth Sawyer Danowski Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. MIAPT Newsletter, 6-7.

Mesure, Susie. (2009, September 22). How to help your baby sleep. The Independent.

Mesure, Susie. (2009, September 6). Screaming babies – it’s all Mum’s fault for fussing. The Independent.

Paul, Ian. (2009, February 6). Early years learning. BBC News.

Voluntary Voice. (2008, December). Confidential Help for Parents. The Oxford Times.

Pfaff Garisto, L. (2007, November). Family Ties. Parents Magazine, 240- 242.

Getz, P. (2000, April). Pay now, or pay later: Advocates calling for domestic violence education in public schools. Pasadena Weekly.

“Green Ribbon Campaign Kicks Off Sexual Assault Awareness Month.” (1997, April). Coalition Connection.

Hrynik, J. (1997, March). Sharing, Healing, Growing: Area activists, survivors speak out against abuse. The State News.

Cooney, R. (1995, August, 17). A good cause. Lansing State Journal.

Avery, J. (1995, August, 11). Concert to benefit Listening Ear. The State News.

Cooney, R. (1995, September). Bands join to ‘Save the Planet’: Small Planet will rock and the proceeds will help the community. Lansing State Journal.

Melinn, K. (1995, December). Concert to benefit Cristo Rey Children Program (sic). The State News.

Torres, M.A. (1995, December). Support group helps girls: Forum discusses issues, helps provide positive role models for teens. Lansing State Journal.

Paul, Ian (Producer). (2009, February 8). Politics Show South. [Television Broadcast]. England: BBC 1.

Akerly, D., Jones, S. (Hosts). (1997, March, 25). WLNS6 News at 6:00 and WLNS6 News at 11:00. [Television Broadcast]. Lansing, MI: WLNS, Young Broadcasting Inc, CBS affiliate.

Andrews, D., Uchida, A. (Hosts). (1997, March 25). News 10 at 6:00 and News 10 at 11:00. [Television Broadcast]. Lansing, MI: WILX, Grey Television Group Inc., NBC affiliate.

Akerly, D., Jones, S. (Hosts). (1996, April 15). WLNS6 News at 6:00 and WLNS6 News at 11:00. [Television Broadcast]. Lansing, MI: WLNS, Young Broadcasting Inc, CBS affiliate.

Andrews, D., Uchida, A. (Hosts). (1996, April 15). News 10 at 6:00 and News 10 at 11:00. [Television Broadcast]. Lansing, MI: WILX, Grey Television Group Inc., NBC affiliate.

Akerly, D., Jones, S. (Hosts). (1995, December, 29). WLNS6 News at 6:00 and WLNS6 News at 11:00. [Television Broadcast]. Lansing, MI: WLNS, Young Broadcasting Inc, CBS affiliate.

Akerly, D., Jones, S. (Hosts). (1995, August, 14). WLNS6 News at 6:00 and WLNS6 News at 11:00. [Television Broadcast]. Lansing, MI: WLNS, Young Broadcasting Inc, CBS affiliate.

Andrews, D., Uchida, A. (Hosts). (1995, August, 14). News 10 at 6:00 and News 10 at 11:00. [Television Broadcast]. Lansing, MI: WILX, Grey Television Group Inc., NBC affiliate.

Junior League of Birmingham Unsung Heroine Award.

MSU School of Social Work Lucille Barber Award for exemplary academic scholarship.

The J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award Certificate of Recognition for community service.

Play in the Sandbox of Life.