Play therapy, as defined by the Association for Play Therapy, is "the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development" (2016). Since the early 1900s when play therapy techniques were developed, the method has become an increasingly popular way of engaging children in psychoanalytical practice by mental health professionals. The practice model receives regular criticism, however, due to a lack of empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of play therapy when used to engage children as opposed to well-researched practices, such as cognitive
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Soon after, Melanie Klein and Anna Freud followed suit, using play with children in place of free association, which was used with adults (Bratton, Ray, Rhine, & Jones, 2005). Play therapy developed throughout the 1900s to include structured play created by David Levy in 1939 as a directive form of therapy (Bratton et al., 2005). In the late 1940s, Virginia Axline created child centered therapy, based on the idea that the child has the freedom to use play to naturally express feelings and lead resolutions to his or her problems (Bratton et al., 2005). Axline’s published work with a child helped to popularize play therapy as it was the first attempt examine the effects of play therapy scientifically. While this study is not considered credible in modern times, Axline made a significant contribution to the intervention in this fashion at the time. Filial therapy, which is a training program for parents to learn how to engage their children in play therapy at home, was developed in the 1960s after a mental health worker shortage was acknowledged (Bratton et al., 2005). The 1980s and 1990s allowed the field to grow considerably as specific approaches were developed based on the experiences of mental health workers and theorists (Bratton et al.,
Soon after, Melanie Klein and Anna Freud followed suit, using play with children in place of free association, which was used with adults (Bratton, Ray, Rhine, & Jones, 2005). Play therapy developed throughout the 1900s to include structured play created by David Levy in 1939 as a directive form of therapy (Bratton et al., 2005). In the late 1940s, Virginia Axline created child centered therapy, based on the idea that the child has the freedom to use play to naturally express feelings and lead resolutions to his or her problems (Bratton et al., 2005). Axline’s published work with a child helped to popularize play therapy as it was the first attempt examine the effects of play therapy scientifically. While this study is not considered credible in modern times, Axline made a significant contribution to the intervention in this fashion at the time. Filial therapy, which is a training program for parents to learn how to engage their children in play therapy at home, was developed in the 1960s after a mental health worker shortage was acknowledged (Bratton et al., 2005). The 1980s and 1990s allowed the field to grow considerably as specific approaches were developed based on the experiences of mental health workers and theorists (Bratton et al.,