Dr. Barbara Turner on Sandplay Therapy

Introduction

• Presenter: Dr. Barbara Turner
• Topic: Sandplay Therapy
• Psychological Foundation: Jungian School of Psychology

Overview of Sandplay Therapy

• Primarily developed for children due to their less developed abstract thinking skills
• Utilizes children's natural language of play
• Now used for both adults and children
• Components: Two sand trays (wet and dry)
  • Wet sand: Sculptable and shapable
  • Dry sand: Not sculptable in the same way, has an elegant quality
• Objective: Creating a world, design, or narrative in the sand tray using various figures -Thepsyche will do what it needs to do. _Themethodn is the play.
• Weenter into a trans like state when rearranging the sand._

Introduction to Sandplay for Children

• Process:
  • Allow the child to choose wet or dry sand
  • Child shapes the sand and uses figures from the shelf
  • Therapist observes quietly and maps the child’s activity
  • Therapist may ask if there is a story or title
  • Takes photos of completed sand tray for future reference

Introduction to Sandplay for Adults

• Adults often feel self-conscious about engaging in play-like activities
• Emphasize the deep and quick work sandplay achieves
• Process:
  • Similar to children but with more attention to overcoming initial self-consciousness
  • Encourage adults to continuously shape the sand and use figures
  • Therapist observes and maps the process
  • Adults may explain associations or feelings about the symbols used

Theoretical Background

• Carl Gustav Jung: The sandplay method aligns with Jung’s personality theory
  • Concept of the Self: Sandplay helps individuals reach a wholeness or centeredness
  • Symbols in Dreams vs. Sandplay: Dreams symbols drift whereas sandplay symbols are three-dimensional and shared with the therapist
• History of Sandplay:
  • Dora Kalff: Neighbor of Jung and consulted him about working with children
  • Margaret Lowenfeld: Developed the 'World Technique' in London
  • Kalff combined ideas from Jung, Lowenfeld, and Tibetan Buddhism to develop sandplay
• Symbolism and Katharsis:
  • Using the symbols, clients navigate unconscious material and conflicts
  • Therapist remains a non-interpreting witness

Techniques and Case Studies

• Children’s Sandplay: Example of Aaron, a 9-year-old boy
  • First tray shows anger and conflict with some wisdom and skill
  • Progression of trays shows accessing inner wisdom to address internal conflicts
  • Concluding tray signifies a return to normalcy and resolution of his anger issues
• Adults’ Sandplay: Example of Harold, a man in his 60s
  • First tray shows a false identity and powerlessness
  • Progression shows journey towards accepting aging and real self
• The importance of letting the trays remain undisassembled in front of the client

Sandplay Training and Practice

• Therapist’s Role: Non-intrusive presence and witness to the sandplay
• Training Requirements:
  • Must be a licensed mental health professional
  • Minimum 36 hours of training, including an introductory course
  • Personal sandplay process with a certified therapist
  • Regular consultation and review of practice cases
• Importance of Safety: Understanding the deep psychological aspects to avoid triggering adverse effects

Conclusion

• Sandplay as a profound and constant learning process for both the therapist and client
• Highly effective for a wide range of clinical issues, including trauma, depression, anxiety, and relationship issues

Final Note

• Continuous learning and engagement with symbols and myths enhance therapy effectiveness
• Encouragement to join sandplay therapy training and experience its uniqueness and effectiveness