Dibs in Search of Self: Personality Development in Play Therapy

Description

A heartbreaking nonfiction classic from a renowed child psychologist In 1964, renowned psychotherapist Virginia M. Axline visited a New York school. There she encountered a little boy apart from teachers and children. Dibs sat alone, or gently traced the edge of the room, defying approach and every attempt at interaction. Every day was like this, and every day his teachers feared further that their support was not enough. As a last resort, Axline was asked to meet with Dibs for a series of weekly play therapy sessions. There, through the guise of time spent will toys and paint, Dibs' extraordinary character -- and the circumstance of his pain -- is slowly revealed... Based on the transcripts of their sessions together, Dibs in Search of Self is a seminal testament to the power of psychotherapy, and a classic of twentieth century nonfiction -- an incredible true story of personal transformation.

Virginia M. Axline (1911-1988) was world-renowned psychologist and a pioneer of play therapy in the treatment of childhood mental trauma.

It should be the law that you have to read this book * BBC Radio 4 * I welcome this book with all my heart -- D.W. Winnicott What this book does is to beautifully and sensitively describe how we can unlock this little person and enable him to be understood and be the best little person he can be. I think it is a very empowering and kind book -- Tanya Byron