ABSTRACT
Virginia Axline brought to her counseling the ideal therapist qualities of deep empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness that she had learned from her teacher, Carl Rogers. She began by letting the “language of play” be her child clients’ primary mode of expression in therapy sessions. She experienced considerable success and periodically stopped to contemplate what seemed to be working and why. She searched her work for the core principles that would guide others to success. From this important work with children, she developed the “Eight Principles of Play Therapy” and wrote her classic books, Play Therapy, and Dibs: In Search of Self. In this chapter, the authors help readers gain an initial understanding of each principle by “seeing it in action” and contemplating its implications. The authors state each of Axline’s eight original principles with minor modifications made for additional explanation and clarity. Following each principle, authors provide understanding of the therapeutic importance of the principle and note how principles are translated into therapist skills. Realistic vignettes and case stories are provided to illustrate the principles. By reading and working through the chapter exercises, the reader gains an understanding of the eight principles and the ability able to identify each principle in action.
