We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Rifkin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.

Alright, Danielle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

One day, I was triggered by a friend, and I felt so angry. I knew I didn’t want to direct this anger toward her, but it was bubbling up, fuming within me. I also knew the anger was more about what was happening personally within me rather than about them. In the midst of feeling this intense anger, I started to imagine us having a catfight. I began to growl, hiss, and claw. I made loud sounds to release the rage, and simultaneously, I started laughing. In the midst of expressing so much anger, I felt so much amusement and enjoyment all at once. This was the beginning of How to Play in the Dark.

Let me explain what I believe playing in the dark means. When we play in the dark, we bring two polarities together. We weave the struggle, the challenge, the fear, the shame, the stuckness, the goo, the heaviness, and the unknown TO enjoyment, creativity, exploration, curiosity, freedom, innocence, childlike wonder, and so much more. We use the light to move through the darkness, like having a flashlight to help us trust that we can find our way out. We choose to turn toward our obstacles with loving presence, taking creative actions to nurture, express, and attend to our needs. Shifting from feeling like a victim of life to becoming an agent of change—finding the power within yourself, as well as the support of your community, to know that life transforms through our actions.

I believe that much of our healing and growth comes from learning to be present with, and loving toward, the darkest parts of ourselves. Without exploring these shadows, we limit our capacity for joy and love in life. I have spent years supporting people through the depths of their grief, creating spaces for people to move through emotions that we are taught to avoid, shame, suppress, or invalidate, especially in a group setting. And I know, without a doubt, massive transformation and growth happen when we find the compassion and strength to be with these exiled emotions.

As a therapist, I’ve often wondered how to inspire others to embrace this process. I’ve come to realize that resistance and avoidance of our most challenging experiences are powerful forces that can easily take hold. Healing, however, is not something we need to do alone; the support of others makes it easier to face the darkness together. I have been struggling for years to entice people into the dark, to believe it is worth it, especially when it looks so painful. And I began to ask myself, “Who will join you in the dark if you’re not having any fun?” This question—and my intention to learn how to play in the dark—has been a powerful motivator for me. It also allows me to explore the taboo idea of whether we can—and are allowed to—have fun while moving through our most painful emotions. This is something I was never taught but have been learning to embrace.

As I began to explore this idea of play on my own, it led to many amazing moments of discovery and freedom. Once I experienced the power of play in my own life, I was ready and knew I wanted to invite others to join me. I wanted to see what would happen if we played in the dark together. To bring light to the darkest parts of us and not have to do it alone—it is life-changing.

Every time we gather is unique since we all bring our personal struggles and our own imaginative selves to the playground. These emergent experiences encourage creativity and vulnerability from everyone present. We also honor each person’s boundaries—everything is a choice, and we celebrate when someone says “no.” Imagine a woman who has never felt protected or safe, surrounded by a group of women standing as her warriors and protectors, with loud, powerful music, chanting, and drumming around her—offering her an opportunity to rewrite the moments she’s felt unsafe with people she knows and loves. These embodied play experiences open people up to greater authenticity, self-love, creativity, connection, and spiritual growth. Everyone experiences darkness, and we all need support. It’s powerful to witness a community move from collectively screaming about the injustices in our world, to dancing to a power anthem, and then wrapping our arms around each other as we sway and sing “Lean on Me”—all while holding space for deep grief. This is just one small window into what’s possible when we play in the dark.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Personally, I’ve always been on a quest to deepen my understanding of myself and others. I’m a lifelong seeker of truth, continually striving to live with integrity. I earned my master’s degree in Transpersonal Psychology and Art Therapy from Naropa University over a decade ago. Since then, I’ve worked as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist in a wide range of therapeutic settings.

In 2021, I started Rise Up Rooted, my therapy practice, inspired by a line from a Rilke poem: “If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence, we could rise up rooted, like trees.” My mission is to help people feel safe exploring what lies beneath the surface—so they can grow into their most true and authentic selves, in their inner world and their outer life. The deeper we can go within ourselves, the higher we can bloom and rise.

Along the way, my curiosity and thirst for knowledge led me to pursue numerous trainings and experiences. Most recently, my title is Somatic, Play & Art Therapist, and Grief Ritualist. It’s a mouthful, but it encompasses the diversity of what I love to bring to my individual and group offerings. We all heal in different ways, so it’s great to have a robust toolbox to pull from.

I am passionate about creating transformative experiences, whether through group or individual grief rituals, therapeutic art explorations, or gatherings where people feel deeply connected and seen. I have facilitated hundreds of groups over the years, and I believe we are meant to heal in community.

In the past year, I’ve been building How to Play in the Dark. I’ve found that, sometimes, we get stuck in the dark or avoid it altogether—and I’ve experienced this both personally and in my work with others. Over time, I’ve discovered many tools to help us find the light within it. Play, in particular, has proven to be a powerful catalyst for transformation. By learning to embrace the struggle and move through it with lightness and creativity, we can release its grip on us and begin to experience more ease, empowerment, and levity in life.

My offerings include individual coaching, one-time group experiences, and longer group programs, all are co-created experiences fueled by their challenges, desires, and intentions. I especially love working with those who are eager to tap into their creativity.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn how to release self-consciousness and trust that it’s okay to be seen in all versions of myself, especially the more outgoing and lighthearted parts. Until recently, I felt much more comfortable being the serious, intellectual one. I didn’t trust that it was safe to be playful, light, or embodied. From a young age, I felt more earnest, responsible, critical, and grown-up (picture a cautious, rule-following, scaredy-cat as an 8-year-old questioning if others around them were being childish). Truthfully, my judgment was really just a reflection of how self-conscious and embarrassed I felt to be seen. Deep down, I didn’t trust that it was safe to be that free.

After some honest self-reflection last year, I decided to actively release self-consciousness—and, genuinely, it’s an ongoing practice. First, I had to bring a lot of self-compassion to the parts of me that felt awkward, uncomfortable, and stuck in my head. I began experimenting with something I began to call “dance-walks” around town. I’d put on my headphones and dance while walking down the street. Sometimes, I’d even take it a step further and sing along. When I was feeling particularly brave, I’d make eye contact with people. I noticed I felt so much freer when no one was around, and my movements would become more subdued and cautious when others were nearby. Most days, I’d compassionately encourage myself to take up more space and give myself permission to be seen dancing down the street. Gradually, baby steps began to happen. I even started forgetting people were around because I was so immersed in the moment.

When I was alone, I also played more. I made up songs, danced around the house, had hand-puppet conversations, and invited my inner child to be more present in my life. (That said, I still feel self-conscious writing this.)

My process is one of the main reasons I created How to Play in the Dark. I believe we create what we need for ourselves in this world, and I needed a space where I could feel safe to play and be free. I know others need that too, which is why I do this work—to help others find that same freedom and safety.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

It’s funny this question is coming up right now because I’m literally in the middle of a pivot. I’m transitioning from my therapy practice, Rise Up Rooted, to my new business, How to Play in the Dark. This shift has come from my own personal journey of growth, grief, and transformation. As I’ve learned to find the light in the dark, I want to help others do the same. While traditional therapy has been incredibly powerful for both myself and my clients, I’ve found that healing becomes even more potent when we approach it experientially, creatively, and in community.

This transition also reflects a shift in how I view healing. I now embrace a more co-creative approach, where everyone plays a role as both a facilitator and a creator in their own healing process. Drawing on my intuitive, curious nature and my experience in building trust and safety in relationships, I guide individuals to uncover their inner truth. With my passion for helping others, I support them in unlocking the answers within themselves and co-creating healing experiences.

I’ve also found that play creates a safe space for taking risks and expanding our edges—those areas where discomfort arises, which are fertile ground for personal growth. Additionally, by witnessing and participating in others’ exploration of their shadows and creativity, we experience the interconnectedness of our struggles and successes, which deepens our trust in our collective capacity to heal and support one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.riseuprooted.org & www.howtoplayinthedark.com
• Instagram: dbree81
• Other: Email: daniellerifkin@riseuprooted.org

Image Credits

Leigh Orne