Team
One Team – One Vision
Behind every child we support is a team and a vision.
«Disability, like health, has its place within the diversity of human ways of being. We are committed to advancing the research, recognition, and inclusion of human difference.»
Robin Mindell, Clinical Director Spielzeit
Director of Treatment and Therapy
Counseling, Supervision & Diagnostics
Founder of the Spielzeit Method
Robin Mindell
Psychotherapist SBAP.
Counseling and Diagnostics, Fundraising Manager
Lara Gmür
Psychologist FSP
Psychotherapy
Zoe Schorno
Psychologist (SBAP).
Federally certified psychotherapist
Psychotherapy
Christina Keller
Psychologist (SBAP).
Psychotherapist in training
Psychotherapy and Diagnostics
Lisa Pinggera
Psychologist, MSc,
Psychotherapist in training
Diagnostics and Counseling
Teresa Müggler
Federally Certified Child
and Adolescent Psychologist
Vacancies
Join the Spielzeit Team
- Psychotherapy: Child Psychotherapist (60%)
- Test Psychology: All positions are currently filled.
- Administration: All positions are currently filled.
Robin Mindell
Clinical Director and Founder of the Spielzeit Method
Master’s degree in Psychology and Psychopathology, 1999, Zurich, with honors under Prof. Dr. H. Herzka on the topic “Life-Threatening Kidney Disease in Adolescence.” Specialized training in Analytical Developmental Psychology (Jung) and Depth Psychology (Szondi). Federally recognized psychotherapist with a license to practice, 2007, Zurich. Member of SBAP, VBMB, and AAIDD.
Robin Mindell has worked at Spielzeit since 1994, where from 1998 onward he researched and conducted psychotherapy for children with disabilities and neurodiversity across various projects. He has led Spielzeit since 2007, and during this time built a clinical specialization that is unique in Switzerland: psychotherapy and psychology for children, adolescents and families affected by neurodiversity, disability and severe illness. This work gave rise, in 2009, to AGGRIP®, a program for non-violent intervention with people with intellectual disabilities, used in both Switzerland and Israel, and from 2015 onward to the Spielzeit Method, a well-founded, depth-psychologically grounded therapeutic approach that has shaped the clinical orientation of the Spielzeit team ever since.
He is recognized as a leading expert in the treatment of young people with intellectual and physical disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and ADHD, and regularly lectures at universities, children’s hospitals and professional conferences.
Teaching, Presentations, and Seminars
Selection of Teaching Assignments, Presentations, and Seminars
Robin Mindell shares his specialized knowledge and many years of experience.
read more- Outpatient Psychotherapy for People with Intellectual Disabilities Who Have Experienced Violence: The Play Therapy Method. Guest lecture at Inselspital Bern, Conference of Child Protection Groups at Swiss Children’s Hospitals (2025).
- Psychological Aspects of Families with Disabilities, Relationship Dynamics, and Stressors. Guest lecture at the ZHAW Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich (2025).
- Psychological Aspects of ADHD and AS. Guest lectures and a workshop as part of a professional development program for the Zimmerberg Cantonal School in Wädenswil (2025).
- Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adult Care Facilities. Measures to Prevent Overwhelm.
Guest lecture as part of a workshop for the Mainaustrasse Foundation, Zurich (2025). - Young People on the Autism Spectrum (AS): Unique Perceptual Characteristics and Implications for Professional Practice. Seminar during Spielzeit at the Psychotherapy Institute, Zurich (2025).
- Autism Spectrum: A Neurodiverse Challenge for Professionals. Guest lecture as part of the Autism Spectrum Conference hosted by the Department of Developmental Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich (2024).
- AGGRIP® Learning Materials on Designing Nonviolent Interventions. Prevention planning, tabooing, typical causes, and risk factors for the development of aggression. Guest lecture as part of a continuing education program for the Bühl Foundation, Wädenswil (2023).
- Psychological Support for Families with a Member with a Disability. Guest lecture as part of a continuing education program for the Bühl Foundation, Wädenswil (2023).
- The Importance of Relaxation in Rehabilitation. Workshop for the Physical Therapy Department of Kinder-Reha Schweiz at the University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Affoltern a. Albis (2023).
- The Impact of a Child’s Disability on Family Dynamics. Guest lecture for the conference of school psychologists organized by the Educational Counseling Division of the Department of Education and Culture of the Canton of Bern.
- The Role of Psychotherapy in Working with Children with ADHD. Guest lecture for the ELPOS Switzerland Association, Zurich (2019).
- Shaping Your Life and Relationship with a Child with a Disability. Workshop for the EPI-Suisse Parents’ Day, Zurich (2019).
- Families with a Member with a Disability. Siblings and Parents of Children with Disabilities. Guest lecture for the ProCap association, Parents’ Forum, conference on the topic of “Shadow Children” at the Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen (2027).
- Psychotherapy for Children with Disabilities: Does It Help? The Play Therapy Method as a Developmentally Oriented Therapeutic Interaction. Workshop at the KJP Graubünden, Chur (2017).
- Psychotherapy and Individuation in Working with Children with Disabilities. Seminar and workshop with Prof. Dr. Stefano Carta at the Centro Studi Psicosomatica, Rome, Italy (2013).
- People with Disabilities in Residential Care Facilities: From Support Planning to Developmental Guidance—A Paradigm Shift? Insights for an Ethical Examination of My View of Humanity and Its Impact on My Actions. Guest lecture as part of a continuing education program for the Birsig Employment and Residential Center in Basel (2013).
- Working with Children with Disabilities: Understanding, Communicating, and Interacting. (Psychological Treatment of Children with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities: Promoting Complexity and Self-Organization). Guest lecture for Israel’s Orr Shalom Foster Care Association, Tel Aviv, Israel (2013).
- Psychotherapy for People with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities: Promoting Complexity and Self-Organization. (Psychological Treatment of Children with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities: Promoting Complexity and Self-Organization). Guest lecture at the Beit Issie Shapira Rehabilitation Center, Rananna, Israel (2013).
- The Spielzeit Method: How Therapy for Children with Disabilities Leads to New Insights. (The Spielzeit Approach: An Attempt to Understand Through the Severely Ill Child.) Guest lecture at the annual conference of the Journal of Analytical Psychology (JAP), Boston, USA, (2011).
- Nonviolent Intervention in Aggression for People with Disabilities. Guest lecture at the the Annual Conference of the Swiss Center for Special Education (SZH), Bern (2011).
- Modern Loss of the Soul: The Case of Children with Special Challenges (as defined by analytical psychology according to C.G. Jung). A one-week training seminar as part of a continuing education program for the M.-L. von Franz Institute for Studies in Synchronicity, Locarno (2009).
- AGGRIP®: Collaboration Instead of School Conflict: From Individual Psychotherapy to an Intervention Program. Guest lecture at the “Forum 13” conference, SBAP, Zurich (2009).
- AGGRIP®: Aggression Intervention Program. Nonviolent intervention and prevention for adults with intellectual disabilities . A two-week training seminar held at institutions throughout Israel on the implementation of the “AGGRIP® Intervention Program” for the Ministry of Social Welfare, Israel.
- Perspectives on Psychosomatic Treatment for Outpatient Medical Centers: Psychosomatic Case Management. Guest lecture at Tel Hashomer Hospital, The Weinberg Child Development Center, Israel (2008).
- Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Children with Mental and Physical Disabilities: Integrating Empirical Regulatory Cycles into Classical Treatment Methods. Guest lecture at Schneider’s Children’s Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel (2008).
Publications
Sharing Knowledge and Experience
Robin Mindell shares his specialized knowledge and experience gained through consulting, research, and teaching in national and international publications.
read more- Conversations with Marie-Louise von Franz on synchronicity and numbers. Insights and elaborations . Franz, M.-L. von., with C. Le Mouël & R. Mindell, eds. (2025). Toronto: Inner City Books.
- Feelings of Guilt After Childbirth in Cases of Cleft Palate and Cleft Jaw. Mindell, R. (2024). Article in: Textspalte, Issue 36/August 2024. Bulletin of the Association of Parents of Children with Cleft Palates. pp. 2–3. Bern.
- Conversations about Synchronicity with Marie-Louise von Franz. By Franz, M.-L., Mindell, R., & Freeman, R. (2023). Conversations about Synchronicity with Marie-Louise von Franz. In Psychological Perspectives, 66:1, 9–18, DOI: 10.1080/00332925.2023.2210997, PA, USA.
- Illness, just like health, must have a place in our society. Mindell, R. (2022). In Knowledge Book No. 5 of the KMSK Rare Diseases Support Association: Digital Knowledge Platform for Parents and Professionals, p. 52.
- It’s normal to be different. How severely traumatized children have transformed psychotherapy during their “Spielzeit.” Mindell, R., Mindell, L., Hauser, R., & Zeder, J. (2014). Self-published, Zurich.
- The Spielzeit Method—How Self-Organization and Complexity Are Changing Psychotherapy. Mindell, R. (2012). PUNKTUM 06/12, p. 29. Journal of the Swiss Professional Association for Applied Psychology (SBAP), Zurich.
- On the Loss of the Ability to Take Care of Oneself: What We Can Learn from the Development of a Physically Disabled Boy. Mindell, R . (2009). Journal of the Swiss Association for People with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, 1/09, 4–11. Tagelswangen.
- AGGRIP®. Aggression Intervention Program [Manual, English and Hebrew editions. Mindell, R. (2009). Zurich: The M.-L. von Franz Institute for Studies in Synchronicity.]
- Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents with Physical Disabilities. Implications of a Paradigm Shift. Mindell, R., & Zimmermann, D. (2009). *Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie*, 2009/58, 1, pp. 51–64, Göttingen.
- AGGRIP®: Aggression Intervention Program. Nonviolent intervention and prevention for adults with intellectual disabilities. Mindell, R. (2008). PUNKTUM: Journal of the Swiss Professional Association for Applied Psychology, 12/08, pp. 30–31, Zurich.
- Can psychotherapy make a meaningful contribution to the lives of children with spina bifida and their families? Mindell , R. (2007). Journal of the Swiss Association for People with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, 1/07, 1–11. Tagelswangen.
- Mechanisms of Action in Play Therapy-Oriented Psychotherapy for Children with Multiple Disabilities. The Development of Dynamic Wholeness. Interim Report on the Research Project to the Swiss Foundation for Children with Cerebral Palsy (Stiftung Cerebral), Bern. Mindell, R., & Zimmermann, D. (2004).
- The Play and Psychotherapy Service for Children and Research Project. An Introduction to Psychotherapy for People with Down Syndrome. Lengwiler, J. & Mindell, R. (2004). Aktuell 21. Bulletin of edsa Switzerland (European Down Syndrome Association), 2004/2, Bern.
Spielzeit – since 1984
Psychology and Counseling
Passing on Many Years of Experience
For over 40 years, we have dedicated our work to people of all ages with disabilities, neurodiversity, and illness, as well as their families. Using innovative and specialized psychological and psychotherapeutic approaches, we are committed to addressing their specific needs.
We support professionals in schools, socio-educational or medical institutions and other specialist departments with advice and presentations on psychological issues.
During the Spielzeit, we embrace physical and mental differences and allow them to coexist without judgment, because we are all “different.”
Philosophy
It’s Different To Be Normal – Individuality At The Center
For a long time, Spielzeit’s guiding motto was “It’s normal to be different” — a call to view otherness from the perspective of the so-called norm, and to question that very norm.
After 40 years, we shifted this perspective in 2024. Because being “different” is the shared reality of being unique in the world. This shift is meant to express the simple truth that, as individuals, we are all “different.”
Unity In Diversity
Whether ill, disabled, neurodivergent, burdened, or “normal”: we are all expressions of the diversity of human ways of being. What matters most is the uniqueness of every individual. In a world full of individuality, “being normal” is merely one facet among many.
«It is precisely as a society of unique, diverse individuals that we experience our deep sense of cohesion — through acceptance, mutual understanding, and empathy.»
Robin Mindell, Clinical Director Spielzeit