Early 1900s-Play Therapy was the most popular form of Child Psychotherapy, it began in England.
Play Therapy Timeline
Play therapy is a "systemic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapist use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development" (Schaefer, 2011, p.3-4)
1909- Sigmund Freud first brought the idea of therapeutic play into the practice of psychotherapy with, Little Hans.
1913-Hermine von Hug-Hellmuth, interpret the analysis of therapeutic play.
1919-Melanie Klein continued the concept of using play for child therapy within a psychoanalytic framework.
1920-Hermine von Hug-Hellmuth, first formally treated children with play.
1921-Melanie Klein pioneered the involvement of the use of miniatures, this consist of miniature toys in which the children felt a sense of control of the toys which represented real-world objects.
1925-Anna Freud used play to better understand her child patients.
1926- Florence Goodenough, develop Goodenough Draw-a-Man test.
1927- Anna Freud strived to assist children to consciously understand to make personal change.
1928- Anna Freud, is considered as a pioneer of play therapy. Her methods is measured to assist children consciously.
1928- Anna Freud, replace free association and used play therapy.
1929-Melanie Klein, saw that child’s play therapy equal to adult’s free associations.
1930-Margaret Lowenfeld developed the World Technique, this technique involved sand tray, access to water, tiny objects representing large scale items.
1935- Margaret Lowenfeld, wrote over allowing play to teach student how to comprehend the world.
1936- Bender & Woltman gave introduction to group play therapy by the usage of puppets.
1937- Melanie Klein emphasized on the important over working with child negative transference.
1940- Esther Bick, received support from J. Bowlby which created a child psychotherapy therapy
1941-Music Play therapy.
1947-Virginia Axline is considered as a well-known figure in the field; she adapted Carl Roger’s person-centered theory in child play therapy.
1959-Haim Ginott, Child-center therapist place limits so that the children would not hurt themselves or others during the therapy session. He would use a symbolic action so the child can channel his or her impulse.