History of Play Therapy

Course Description:

As a play therapist, it isn’t always our first priority to know the history of therapeutic work with children.  But play can often be commonly dismissed and misunderstood, but knowing our origins and the history of how we are part of history and how we have evolved is a powerful tool in effective work and making a career out of Play Therapy. 

Course Objectives: 

Objective 1 List out the therapeutic powers of play and why historical knowledge of play therapy is essential to a play therapist.

Objective 2 Identify key individuals, theorists, and organizations that have shaped the history of the profession of play therapy.

Objective 3 Discuss early therapeutic approaches with children which include play

Objective 4  Discuss the evolution of play therapy practices from the early 1900s to the present day.

Objective 5  Compare and contrast the most widely accepted theoretical models of play therapy and the formats in which they are most commonly offered as evidenced-based practices in the field.  (individual, group, family, etc.). 

Objective 6 Identify and recognize the evolving body of qualitative and quantitative play therapy research backed by current brain research and neuroscience that provide significant underpinnings to play therapy being the ideal treatment approach to children 3-11.

Play Therapy Toolbox is an Approved Provider with the Association for Play Therapy. (APT Approved Provider #18-533).  

Play therapy credit available to mental health professionals only as listed in each course description.  Courses that do not qualify for play therapy credit are clearly listed.