About Curtis

Curtis Graf, Ph.D. has specialized for more than thirty years in Carl Rogers's person-centered approach as a licensed professional in New York, New Mexico, and Vermont. From 1978 until Rogers's death in 1987, Curtis worked with Dr. Rogers staffing nine residential workshops and launching the first person-centered training program in Port Jefferson, NY. Dr. Rogers also served on the committee for Curtis's doctoral dissertation from SUNY, Stony Brook. After Curtis moved to Albuquerque, NM in 1993, he worked for the Area Agency On Aging, City of Albuquerque with older adults in the Peer Counseling Program for Seniors and later Senior Caregiver Retreats. Relocating to Brattleboro in 2004 fulfilled a long-term dream of Curtis's to live in Vermont and still be near his family including four grandchildren living on Long Island, New York.

Provides Individual Psychotherapy and Counseling, Blending Humanistic and Buddhist Psychologies:


Imagine being in the care of an experienced mental health practitioner who genuinely relates to you and strives to understand and accept you just as you are. In his unconditional presence, you will not be judged and pushed, but nurtured and trusted to confront at your own pace the obstacles that prevent you from realizing your innate healing capacities, natural well-being, and full potential. WELCOME to a way of being with Curtis Graf!

Curtis has been committed to the application of the person-centered approach for 40 years. In recent years, Curtis has integrated Rogers's humanistic psychology and Dzogchen Buddhism as complementary ways of being. He practices mediations and Tai Chi.

Dr. Graf works with individuals of all ages, couples, families, and groups to provide: Psychotherapy, Counseling, Living With Life-threatening Illness, and Conscious Aging. People from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and sexuality are welcome. If insurance reimbursement is not an option for you, sliding scale fees can be negotiated to accommodate those with limited resources.

Provides Person-Centered Continuing Education

Dr. Graf has made continuing education for mental health practitioners a major focus of his professional life. In 1980, with Carl Rogers's involvement, Curtis, Peggy Natiello and Ruth Sanford launched the first continuing education program for mental health professionals utilizing Rogers's approach.

Carl Rogers (far left) pictured with Ruth Sanford, Curtis Graf, and Peggy Natiello in 1980 on Long Island, NY.

The New York training program thrived for seven years until Rogers's death in 1987, after which Curtis and Peggy Natiello staffed continuing education trainings in Arizona and New Mexico until 2002, when Curtis began offering continuing education trainings in Vermont.

From decades of providing continuing education to hundreds of mental health practitioners, Curtis is convinced that person-centered group training is the ideal format for practicing psychotherapists and counselors to enhance their ability to offer present-centered, nonjudgmental mindfulness, and the healing power of natural presence.

The first training group is pictured here in Port Jefferson, NY in 1981 with Curtis, his colleagues, and Carl Rogers (front row center).