Lowenfeld’s approach to child Psychotherapy

An Introduction to Dr Margaret Lowenfeld’s approach to child psychotherapy by Therese Woodcock and Susie Summers. Therese was trained and clinically supervised by Dr Margaret Lowenfeld at the Institute of Child Psychology (ICP) in London 1969-72.

The Lowenfeld Mosaics

Margaret Lowenfeld developed the Lowenfeld Mosaics to allow children to express themselves with simple geometric shapes and colours. She called it, ‘the personality in action’. The Lowenfeld Mosaics were always used during the first session and last session as a form of assessment. But some children also liked to use it in every session as a form of expression.

World Technique

The World Technique was developed by Margaret Lowenfeld as a way to engage children in a therapeutic process and to allow them to express themselves non-verbally through play. She allowed them to build a picture of their world using wet and dry sand in separate trays with a selection of miniature toys.

Case Study 1

Speech and language therapist Susie Summers, who was trained by Therese Woodcock in Lowenfeld’s approach, describes a client that she worked with using Lowenfeld’s approach.

 

Case Study 2

Speech and language therapist Susie Summers describes using Lowenfeld’s approach with a boy who experienced the 9/11 disaster in New York.

Case Study 3

Child psychotherapist and author Therese Woodcock describes a client that she worked with using Lowenfeld’s approach.