Athena A. Drewes, Psych, RPT-S, is a licensed psychologist, certified school psychologist, and registered play therapist and supervisor. Dr. Drewes is semi-retired in Ocala, Florida. She has over 40 years of clinical and supervision experience with children and adolescents experiencing complex trauma and sexual abuse in school, outpatient, and inpatient settings. She is a past board member of the Association for Play Therapy and a founder and president emeritus of the New York Association for Play Therapy. A frequently invited guest lecturer around the United States and internationally, Dr. Drewes has published 11 books on play therapy.



Charles E. Schaefer, PhD, RPT-S, until his death in 2020, was Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University. A pioneering play therapist, he was Cofounder and Director Emeritus of the Association for Play Therapy, which recognized him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Schaefer published more than 100 research articles and over 70 professional books, including Prescriptive Play Therapy ; Play-Based Interventions for Childhood Anxieties, Fears, and Phobias ; and Essential Play Therapy Techniques .