Congratulations to Violet Oaklander who has received the American Play Therapy Lifetime Achievement Award! Over the past 35 years that Violet has been providing training, it is safe to say that thousands of clinicians have been inspired by her work. Thousands more have been inspired through her writings. Violet’s work has had impact on clinicians around the world; many of whom refer to her book, Windows To Our Children, as their “bible”. With over 200,000 copies sold, it is used as a text in graduate programs at universities and institutes around the world. Her book has been translated into 13 languages and is used internationally by educational/training institutions throughout the United States, South Africa, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, China, Pakistan, Russia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Lithuania.

Violet has long been recognized for her contributions to the field of therapy with children. In 1988 she received The Clark Vincent Award from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Educational Foundation which honors an outstanding literary or research contribution to the professions for her book, Windows To Our Children. In 1997 she received from the Group Psychotherapy Association of Southern California an award “In recognition and appreciation of her outstanding contributions in the field of mental health work with children.” Also in 1997 she received an International Play Therapy Award, “for work that has both influenced and improved the field of child psychology and play therapy. This award is granted for outstanding career contributions to child psychology and play therapy.” These testamonials are just a few of the hundreds that Violet has been acknowledged for through the years.

Reflections such as these listed below represent the the wide spread influence of Violet’s work in the lives of clinicians and their clients:

A Serbo-Croatian speaking doctor, despairing of being unable to provide adequate help to her child patients who needed more psychological than physical help, wrote in the 1980s: “Violet's book, Windows To Our Children, gave me the tools needed to meet the needs of these children.” Source: Workshop participant.

A Pakistani mental health professional stated that she "… wouldn't know what to do with the children in her orphanage without Violet's videotapes and book.” Source: Therapist communication as she worked toward receiving a visa to study with Violet in the US.

A woman in the former East Germany received a copy of Violet's book smuggled across “Check point Charlie” to her so that she could expand her knowledge of children and child psychotherapy. When Unification became official, she traveled to Wurzburg, Germany to attend a workshop on the Oaklander Model. She spoke no English and yet wanted to learn whatever she could to go back and help the children in her town who were having a difficult time with the changes in their towns and villages. Source: Workshop participant in Germany.

Rinda Blom, RPT-S (South Africa), wrote: “Violet Oaklander is considered the founder of Gestalt Play Therapy. In South Africa, there are about 16.3 million children, many of whom need therapy that is more short term and directive in nature. Since its introduction 13 years ago, thousands of mental health professionals have been trained in the philosophy and practical process of gestalt play therapy!”

Therapists from around the world have travelled great distances and with great sacrifice to attend Violet’s trainings, especially her two-week summer training from as far as Korea, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and England. Violet’s work has impacted the field by allowing clinicians to become more directive and engaging with their young clients while respecting their organismic process of developing stronger self awareness, emotional balance, and healthful interactions with others. Gestalt therapy with children and adolescents is a play-based approach that is grounded in the fundamental essential aspect of play as the child’s expressive arena of self discovery. Gestalt therapy with children also recognizes the importance of fun for growth and development in child therapy.

SB CAMFT will be honoring Violet on Wednesday December 17 at our annual holiday luncheon. Click here for more information.