Virginia Axline
Play Therapy
Person Centered Play Therapy
Conclusion
- Axline was greatly influenced by Carl Rogers' "Person Centered Theory"
- In the 1940s she developed her own non-directive approach to Play Therapy
- Play therapy is based on nonverbal communication through play
- In 1947 she published her first book entitled "Play Therapy"
- In this book Axline outlined her eight principle approach to successful Play Therapy
8 Principles Cont.
- Axline's ideas on Play Therapy were greatly influence by Carl Rogers and Person Centered Therapy
- Her 8 Principles of Play Therapy outline how a therapist can create an effective environment for Play Therapy
- Axline's account of her work with Dibs shows first hand how successful Play Therapy can be
- Her ideas and those that she influenced remain the standard in play therapy today
6. Does not attempt to direct the child’s actions or conversations in any manner. The child leads the way, the therapist follows.
7. Does not hurry the therapy along. It is a gradual process and must be recognized as such by the therapist.
8. Only establishes those limitations necessary to anchor the therapy to the world of reality and to make the child aware of his/her responsibility in the relationship.
Axline's 8 Principles
1. Must develop a warm and friendly relationship with the child.
2. Accepts the child as she or he is.
3. Establishes a feeling of permission in the relationship so that the child feels free to express his or her feelings completely.
4. Is alert to recognize the feelings the child is expressing and reflects these feelings back in such a manner that the child gains insight into his/her behavior.
5. Maintains a deep respect for the child’s ability to solve his/her problems and gives the child the opportunity to do so. The responsibility to make choices and to institute change is the child’s.
Contributions and Influence
- Axline's greatest contribution to the world of counseling is her theory regarding Play Therapy
- It strives to facilitate healing, as well as psychological and behavioral changes in clients who are most often children.
- The goal is to afford the child the opportunity for self-development, growth, and social integration.
- A therapist can gain a deep understanding of a child’s underlying issues by observing the child’s play and assessing the interaction between child and therapist
- Both structured and unstructured play is encouraged in order to provide the child with the opportunity for proper behavioral and cognitive development.
- Axline in turn influenced Violet Oaklander who added a gestalt therapy (more directive) approach to play therapy and extended the 'tool-kit' concept
Tool-Kit Concept
The techniques and methods are the tools in the tool-kit of a play therapist or a practitioner of therapeutic play.
• Music
• Dance and movement
• Drama therapy
• Puppets
• Masks
• Clay
Tool Kit includes:
• Guided imagery
• Art – drawing and
painting
• Therapeutic storytelling
• Sand tray/sand words
Dibs
About Axline
- In 1964 Axline published her second book, entitled "Dibs: In Search of Self"
- The book closely follows a five-year old uncommunicative boy through his therapy with Axline
- After several months of play therapy with Axline, Dibs was able to achieve a more healthy state of communicating and functioning
- When Dibs developed the necessary skills to show his true self to the world, Axline realized that he was a genius with an IQ of 168
- Virginia M. Axline: 1911-1988
- Not a lot of information to be found on her early life or her personal life
- Studied at Ohio State University and Columbia University
- Taught at New York University of School and Medicine and School of Education
- Spent 3 years as a research associate and faculty member at the University of Chicago
- Spent 7 years on the faculty at Columbia University Teachers College
- Toward the end of her life she worked at Ohio State University and did some private practice counseling as well.