Dibs in Search of Self is a book by clinical psychologist and author Virginia Axline published in 1964.
[1] The book chronicles a series of play therapy sessions over a period of one year with a boy (Dibs) who comes from a wealthy and highly educated family.
Despite signs that he is gifted, his mother, father, and most of his teachers perceive him as having an emotional or cognitive disorder.
Dibs presents abnormal social behavior by continuously isolating himself, rarely speaking, and physically lashing out at those around him.
By the end of the book, which spans the course of one full year, Dibs makes notable strides in his ability to express himself, identify and cope with his feelings, and interact socially with his peers and family.