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Summary: Insightful
Review: First read this book when I was perhaps 12 years old. Even now Nineteen years later I recall this book vividly.
A fine work.
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Summary: The path to success was the most intersting part
Review: Reading the jacket and "about the author" section prior to reading the book let me in to the fact that Dibs would be a success story. After all, one would not expect a pioneer in Play Therapy to write about a failure in that particular field (thank you for pointing that out Ms. Ban). The book is entertaining in the same way a mystery novel is entertaining--slowly, as Ms. A gains Dibs' trust, we understand the frustrations of living in a family intent on keeping up appearances. Indeed, one can assume that the more "trouble" Dibs is to the family, the more they try to cover their problem child up, making matters even worse...but I digress. The evolution of Dibs from a totally introverted ball of anger, confusion, and fear into an outgoing, affectionate genius makes it as gripping as a fast paced fiction novel, but it warms the heart as well. What other reviewers point out holds true as well--if people took the time to listen and extend a helping hand, especially to those who are introverted or "trouble cases", this world would be much better.
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Summary: My favorite book - ever!
Review: This is a fascinating book on play therapy. It presents the story of a child, session by session, and how he turned from a troubled little boy to a wonderfully stable child. It is written in plain English, very understandable for people with no training in psychology.
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Summary: An insight into childhood violence and hate
Review: At the age of 5, Dibs wanted to kill his father. His parents did not abuse him, and provided a stable home with pelnty of toys and educational learning and support. This book provides excellent and frightening insight into how a child, when unloved and unaccepted by his parents, can so early in life learn and understand the meaning of hate. Perhaps we Americans can learn from this example that physical comforts alone are not enough to raise well-adjusted children, and look for the source of so much childhood and teen-age violence.
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Summary: Simply Inspiring
Review: Virginia Axline's moving 'Dibs in Search of Self' has probably impacted my life more than any other book I have read. I read this book at age 16, while in my first year as a summer camp counselor. The empathy and emotion she shows in her writing struck a chord with me, and inspired me to take a similar look at helping children. I am now studying to become a child psychologist. I have worked with children with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and I can attest to the reality of the thoughts, reactions, and emotions of both child and therapist. This book is a seminal work, and I recommend it to anyone who works with children.
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Summary: Dibs In Search Of Self
Review: I studied this book thouroughly for a psych. course and it was amazing! It's hard to come across a truly wonderful book like this one. Dibs is a very young boy who has been "locked away," and had attention focused off of him. A boy who has been put down, by his own family, and put down by himself. Some how, with the help of Miss A (Virgina Axline) he learns how to accept what has happened, and move forward. Using unconditional positive regard, and acting with a non directive attitude, Miss A. forms a great relationship with Dibs.I believe Miss A was trying to get the point accross that you can get better and that if anyone can do it if a young boy did it. I loved this book and I am sure you will too!
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Summary: AN OUTSTANDING BOOK! TRULY EXCEPTIONAL!
Review: My mother is a retired special education teacher. She read this book the winter I was in second grade and gave me a synopsis of it. Naturally, my curiosity was piqued, so I decided to read the book. The following fall, I, then 8, read the book. And read it and read and read it again! It was my first "adult" book and it touched my heart deeply. It was my very best book for the next 5 years. I loved "Dibs" so much that I was, at 8, able to quote whole passages by memory and find myself thinking about Dibs long after I reread a beloved passage yet again. I loved this book so much that I wore out my first copy and had to replace it (at 11). It has a place of honor on my bookshelf today. I truly love this wonderful book and feel it has made a postive difference in the lives of others. A little child shall lead them -- gifted Dibs has led many people into a whole new area of acceptance. It is to the author's credit she does not condemn Dibs with a psychiatric label. Dibs is allowed to move and grow and like a mighty falcon, soar! THIS IS TRULY AN OUTSTANDING BOOK!
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Summary: EXCELLENT BOOK!
Review: This is an excellent and touching book. As I read some of the other reviews I was troubled by those who considered this oudated 50's garbadge. Play therapy is still used today by children's psycholgists. This book is just one example of a child acting out his own pain through playing in a special playroom. It is a therapy that allows children to unlock the doors of their souls to help them to heal and find an identity. As some other viewers smuggly asked... "Why is this book still in print?" Well, to find out and understand play therapy the best thing is to go to the original source, the one who pioneered it all, Virginia Axeline. This is a book that one cannot help but get drawn into... we realize the strength a small and fragile child can have.
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Summary: Amazing
Review: A wonderful book that beautifully illustrates the power of play therapy and reveals the marvelous strength of the human spirit. This book is not about blame or autism, as suggested by one reviewer who has issues that colored their reading. It is about the potential for self-discovery and about hope. Dibs is an inspiration to all who search for personal growth, meaning in their lives, and a true self-identity. A very moving and profound story, full of wisdom, and abundant with heart. Is this book still in print? Oh, yes, and for many years to come because of its unique message of hope.
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Summary: impact of conversation on growth
Review: As a practicing oncologist I deal with peoples struggles for their life.This is another story about an individual's struggle to take control of their life.In some other reviews of this book I think the readers missed the basic concept. This is not a book that blames parents for their childrens psychological problems, rather it points out the power of conversations and actions on another human beings emotional well being. Especially the power during early childhood when the individual is developing his or her self concept.It should remind us all that the conversations we have about people including ourselves can alter a life. The pivotal point for Dibbs was acceptance of his self expression by a talented psychologist then himself and finally his parents. In the epilogue the letter Dibbs writes points it out beautifully.I recommend it highly for all those interested in the triumph of the human spirit.
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