first time." Children's group psychotherapy Slavson is considered the founder of children's group psychotherapy. He saw games as methods of therapy and used modelling clay, puppet theaters and building blocks. He believed that by these means, children would develop their social skills and strengthen their community spirit. He said that children can change their behavior while in a group of peers, believing that an otherwise quiet child becomes more open and bold and that a loud child becomes more reserved. He believed children would be able to relate to each other's problems. Through the group, according to Slavson, a feeling of unity can be created and a sense of identity can become strengthened. Developmentally, he thought this is particularly important for children aged 6 to 7 years. Small group model After decades of work with children and young people, in the late 1940s Slavson started working with adults as well. His small group model is designed for a maximum of 8 participants and is based on groups homogeneous in terms of age, sex and symptoms. Slavson developed several disorder-specific models, with exact descriptions for clinical use. Distinctions were made between counseling, guidance and psychotherapy. His parent groups around child welfare were particularly well known as well as vita-erg therapy with psychotic women. In 1964, Slavson put forward a summary of his theoretical developments and practical experience in the volume A Textbook in Analytic Group Psychotherapy. He combined Freud's theory of psychosexual development with terms from the field of sociology and recognized the human search for relationships and acceptance as a primary need. He saw the group as an "I (ego) therapy" within a collective "we-superego", which opens up a path out of selfishness and psychological isolation. He is credited for synthesizing the principles of the founding generation of psychoanalytical theory with the requirements of American psychiatry. Awards 1969 Award from the American Academy of Psychotherapists 1972 Father of group psychotherapy In the media A. Klein: He lets them grow. Survey 85 (1949): 75-80 Hyman Spotnitz: In tribute to S.R.Slavson. Intern' Journal of Group Psychotherapy 21 (1971): 402-405 Scheidlinger/Schamess: Fifty years of AGPA 1942–1992: An overview. Intern' Journal of Group Psychotherapy 42 (1992): 1-22 References External links American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) Guide to the S.R. Slavson Papers 1890 births 1981 deaths 20th-century American engineers American psychotherapists