A Few Words from our First President
April 21, 2018
From: Robert D. Nolan, PhD, First President of FAPT
Wow! This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Florida Association for Play Therapy. It all began in 1993 when a small group of play therapists, myself included, got together and decided to form a Florida branch. Following that, we were officially recognized by the national Association for Play Therapy as a state branch during the APT annual conference that same year. In the months that followed, the newly formed board met monthly “face-to-face” (there was no such thing as email or skype at that time!) to establish membership requirements, define the by-laws such as the election of board members, duties, responsibilities and terms of office, and to formulate a long-term vision for FAPT. Within a few years we established local chapters throughout Florida as well as offering training opportunities and holding FAPT Annual Conferences. And, look at us now! I was honored to be the first president of FAPT and even now in retirement, I occasionally attend our FAPT annual conference and I stand in awe at how far we’ve come.
My very best regards to the new 2018 board members and to all our FAPT membership,
Robert D. Nolan, PhD
At the APT annual conference in 1993 when FAPT officially became a state branch.
Some of the individuals pictured above are Janet A. Courtney, PhD, RPT-S (last row to the left),
Robert D. Nolan, PhD (last row in center) and Dr. Viola A. Brody (middle row to the left).
The first original FAPT logo
Dr. Nolan, Recipient of the 2011 David Lawrence Jr. Champion for Children Award
In the Beginning...
The Florida Association
for Play Therapy
