History of Play Therapy

APT APPROVED PROVIDER 18-533

Course Description:

As play therapists, it's easy to prioritize the practical aspects of our work over delving into the historical underpinnings of therapeutic interventions with children. However, understanding the evolution of play therapy and its historical context is essential for informed practice and career development.

This course offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the brief history of play therapy, highlighting its origins, key developments, and influential figures. Participants will gain insights into why play therapy emerged as a distinct therapeutic approach and how it has evolved.

Throughout the course, participants will examine the historical roots of play therapy, tracing its origins back to the pioneering work of key figures such as Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, and Margaret Lowenfeld. They will explore how early psychoanalytic theories laid the groundwork for understanding the importance of play in children's emotional expression and psychological development.

Additionally, participants will learn about significant milestones in the development of play therapy, including the establishment of formal training programs and the emergence of various theoretical approaches, such as client-centered play therapy, cognitive-behavioral play therapy, and Jungian play therapy.

By understanding the historical context of play therapy, participants will be better equipped to appreciate the significance of play in therapeutic work with children and adolescents. They will also better understand how play therapy has evolved in response to changes in psychological theory, clinical practice, and societal attitudes toward childhood and mental health.

Ultimately, this course will empower participants to recognize the value of historical knowledge in enhancing their effectiveness as play therapists. By embracing their roots and understanding the historical trajectory of play therapy, participants will not only enrich their practice but also contribute to the continued advancement and recognition of play therapy as a legitimate and valuable therapeutic modality.

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.