"Dibs in Search of Self " by Virginia Axline

Paper Summary:

Using the empowerment/strength-based theory, this paper critiques critique Virginia Axline's intervention approach with Dibs in "Dibs in Search of Self". The paper explains that, since the book was published in the early 1960s; the way in which the strength-based intervention was used is to an extent outdated for current social work practice. Thus, the paper also discusses what practices could have been changed or added to the intervention that would be more suitable when working with children of today's Canadian society. In particular, the paper discusses three different strength-based practices that Axline should add or change in the intervention in order to work more efficiently with current Canadian children.

From the Paper:

"The kind of language and dialogue used in interventions with children is an important factor that contributes to the client's sense of self and the way in which they define their own experiences. "The power of language to influence perception and the development of self-fulfilling prophecies can create negative or positive outcomes". With that said, Axline skilfully used strength-based language and the skill of positive re-framing of words when conversing with Dibs. Strength-based language is displayed by asking questions that let the child tell their story and also by staying in-line with where the child wants to take the intervention (Greene, Lee, Hoffpauir, 2005). Strength-based language often uses the skills of positive re-framing. Positive re-framing focuses on building on the child's inner strength and to help re-frame the child's outlook on their experiences into something they can grasp and cope with more effectively (Greene, Lee, Hoffpauir, 2005). A good example of Axline using strength-based re-framing with Dibs would be displayed on pg. # 46 in the book where Dibs demands that the window be closed in the playroom."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anderson, H (1997). Conversation, language, and possibilities. New York, NY: Basic Books.
• Axline, V, M. (1964). Dibs in search of self. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
• Brun, C, & Rapp, R, C. (2001). Strengths-based case management: Individuals' perspectives on strengths and the case manager relationship. Social Work. 46, 2.
• Clark, M, D. (1998).Strength-based practice: The ABC's of working with adolescents who don't want to work with you. Federal Probation. 62, 46-50.
• Garner, H, G. (1994). Teamwork in human services: Models and applications across the lifespan.Newton, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.

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