yes I have read the book. in some colleges this book is standard reading requirement.

it is a book by Virginia Axline about an autistic child (back in 1964 when the book was wrote Autism was called Emotionally Crippled.) and how play therapy was done back in 1964. play therapy back then had no direction no goals, no safety guidelines like there is today. today children do not just walk into therapy and play as if they are outside at recess. the therapist guides according to what the child or adults therapy goals are. the sand tray and other play therapy activities in the past did not really have any therapeutic focus other then giving a gild a place to play and express their self. now when a child enters play therapy the therapist has a set plan of what topic that day will be discussed and focused on.

example

therapist to child of the past.... hello come on in how are you today. child runs over to toys and starts smashing them around, burying them in the sand examining them with no guidance of what to do or topic from the therapist the child is just playing.

therapist to child todays standards.....

hello come on in. i have some toys out. (therapist has purposely chosen toys that would match todays conversations, todays toys on the table are a variety of Dogs cats and a family doll set) how about we go over to the toys and you can choose from the ones on the table to play with today.

can you show me what your dog looks like...

this gently guides child into the conversation of a traumatic event that happened with their dog. while the child is acting out the parts of the events with the toys.

my point though Dibs is a good book and was required reading for my psych class much of whats in it no longer happens as play therapy by todays standards. I enjoyed the book for what it was. a story by virginia Axline published in 1964. about how things were done back then.

its amazing to me how much has changed in the american mental health system over the years.