Play Therapy: The Groundbreaking Book That Has Become a Vital Tool in the Growth and Development of Children

by Virginia M. Axline

Book Overview

The author discusses the use of play therapy for children with behavioural, emotional or other psychological problems. The bulk of the text consists of highly readable annotated transcripts of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345303350
• Release Date: December 1981
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 1.1" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Must read for the field, but VERY outdated

This book is groundbreaker for play therapy the way Frued is the groundbreaker for psychology. It gives the basics of play therapy, several case studies and lists of useful supplies. However, when you read this book you can tell how old it is by both the language used and situations presented. For example, Axline describes a young male paient who played with a doll but said he wasn't the "sissy type." There is another excerpt in which an orphan patient painted his arms brown, extended his arms to Axline and asked "Take a little nigger home?" I was absolutely APPALLED by some of this sexist and racist language, but I suppose this was the norm in the time period. There are also allusions to the children playing war games relating it to WW2. Despite the changes in time there are still many children's games such as sand play, puppets, dolls, etc that have not changed, so some stuff is still applicable. This is a great book and must read for those hoping to use play therapy, but it will leave you wanting some more modern guidance as well.

I liked Dibs better

Every person int in play therapy should read this book as it's a classic, but for tech the 101 play therapy book is better. to see playtherapy ina ction I'd recomend Dibs in search of self.

A classic book in the field.

It was good to read this book. When I was doing play therapy as a counselor I used this book in my work. It doesn't tell the whole story of how to do play therapy, but it is a good addition.

Excellent!

Axline's book is a "must read" for persons interested in play therapy. I have used her book along with the text while teaching at the university level. Her book provides the reader with case studies and practical information. Her writing style is intelligible as well as technical-a rare find!

THE WORK OF A PIONEER

Dr. Axline uses a series of recorded sessions with different children ranging in age from 5 to 12. Histories of each child is given and the course of action taken during the sessions. Group and invidual sessions of the children is recorded in playwright tone; that is, T: C: (therapist, child) so that one sees how the communication flowed during the sessions. These sessions were conducted during the 1940s when pyschiatry was breaking new ground in the U.S. Issues such as extended hospitalization, foster care, death and physical challenges and the natural expressions of each child regarding such issues were explored. During this period in history, this was pioneer work. This book is interesting, flowing and a very satisfying read. It is a work that is still applicable.