Date Significant Events in the History of Psychotherapy with special emphasis on Group Psychotherapy

Reference

1890's

Social Work, Groupthink, Settlement House

 

1892

The American Psychological Association (APA) was founded

Resnick, 1997

1905

Pratt's "class method” beginning of group psychotherapy (in US) with tuberculosis patients; didactic approach

Gazda, G M.(1982).

1910

Criminal justice recognizes therapy as possible alternative to prison.

Resnick, 1997

1919

American Psychological Association initiative to establish a certification procedure.

Resnick, 1997

1921

Adler in Vienna “collective therapy” = seeing the individual/group context

Gazda, G M.(1982).

1921

Freud in Vienna Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego

Gazda, G M.(1982).

1931

Jacob Moreno in Vienna - “Theatre of Spontaneity” & sociodrama

Gazda, G M.(1982).

1932

Moreno in US coined term group psychotherapy

Gazda, G M.(1982).

1933

Lewin in US social-psychological perspective on the study of groups - "action research."

Scheidlinger, (1995).

1934

Slavson - child-guidance - Therapeutics of Creative Activity

Scheidlinger, (1995).

1937

APA certification discontinued.

Resnick, 1997

1940's

Marriage and Family Therapy founded

 

1943

Slavson American Group Psychotherapy Association & International Journal of Group Psychotherapy

Scheidlinger, (1995).

1945

Kurt Lewin’s  - Research Center for Group Dynamics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Scheidlinger, (1995).

1945

Certification of school psychologists in Connecticut (US)

Resnick, 1997

1946

1st psychology licensing act in the Commonwealth of Virginia (US)

Resnick, 1997

1947

American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology defined: clinical, counseling, school, and industrial/organizational psychology programs and internships.  They supported state certification and licensure statutes.

Resnick, 1997

1949

Creation of the National Institute of Mental Health and its funding of graduate training in psychology.

Resnick, 1997

1950

National Training Laboratories (NTL) at Bethel, Maine - "T-groups" (sensitivity training); beginning of use of feedback

Scheidlinger, (1995).

1952

Eysenck’s concludes no research evidence to support the effectiveness of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis was less effective than no therapy at all

Scheidlinger, (1995).

1960’s

Competing schools: TA, Person Centered, RET, Existential, Gestalt Therapy Nontraditional group intervention models functioned under nonprofessional auspices – transcendental mediation & encounter groups

Gazda, G M.(1982).

1961

Bion's "Experiences in Group" is published

Ettin, Cohen, & Fidler (1997)

1963

Community Mental Health Center Act - modified group measures i.e. psychoeducational, recreational, and occupational methods, including art and dance therapy

Scheidlinger, (1995).

1974

US President Nixon signed the federal freedom of choice bill

Resnick, 1997

1980s

Rising admission rates for adolescents in mental hospitals

Resnick, 1997

1980's

Jay Haley; Problem solving ordeal therapy

 

1983

Institution in US of Preferred Providers  and Diagnostic Related Groups

Resnick, 1997

1984

Kolb's work in learning theories

 

1989

T-Groups. Sensitivity training initiatives by a Turkish psychologist who studied and worked in the states.

Scheidlinger, (1995).

1990s

Cost containment through managed behavioral health care

Resnick, 1997

 

We invite you  to add to this list:

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Reference List

Ettin M. F, Cohen , B. D., Fidler J. W; (1997) Group-as-a-Whole Theory Viewed in Its 20th-Century Context Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice Vol. 1, No. 4, 329-340

Gazda, G M.(1982).  Group Psychotherapy and Group Counseling: Definition And Heritage in G.M. Gazda (Ed) Basic Approaches to Group Psychotherapy and Group counseling.  3rd Ed.  Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publisher.

Resnick, R J. April 1997 A Brief History of Practice–Expanded American Psychologist Vol. 52, No. 4, 463-468

Scheidlinger, S. (1995). The small healing group - A historical overview. Psychotherapy, 32(4), 657-668.