Sand Therapy Comparison

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Sand Tray and Sandplay Sand Therapy Comparison
A Presentation byDee Preston-Dillon,
Ph.D.Director for the Center of Culture and
Sandplay www.cultureplay.com
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Sand Therapy Comparison
In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder
a secret order.Carl Jung
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Sand Therapy Comparison

• The World TechniqueMargaret Lowenfeld, English
  pediatrician. Founder London Institute of Child
  Psychology (1930s)
• Did not fit observation into existing theory.
  (Integrated)
• Children choose to work in medium of water, sand,
  toys.
• Quality of observation Emphasis on being fully
  present. Enter childs world
• No attempt to alter, influence or modify childs
  behavior during play

• Sandplay Therapy Dora Kalff, Swiss Jungian
  Analyst. Originator Sandplay. (1930-1980)
• Applied theories of C.G Jungian Eric Neumann
  (1954). Early life-crisis disrupts manifestation
  of Self, a weak ego results.
• Children choose to work with sand symbols.
• Quality of observation Emphasis on safe
  protected space
• Trust innate healing ability of the child
  rediscover reintegrate split off psyche

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Theory As Guide
In my case Pilgrim's Progress consisted in my
having to climb down a thousand ladders until I
could reach out my hand to the little clod of
earth that I am.Carl Jung
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Theory As Guide

• Sand Tray
• A generic use of sand and toys grounded in a
  variety of theories
• Use and interpretation depend on theory
• The World Technique
• Child-Centered
• Filial therapy
• Developmental models Erickson
• Adlerian, Cognitive-behavioral
• Social theorists Vygotsky
• Constructionists Narrative Therapy
• Gestalt, transactional

• Sandplay A Projective Technique
• Accesses pre-verbal thinking fantasy, right
  brain images, dreams  
• Symbol meanings Idiosyncratic personal
  associations and cultural amplification
• Focus of activity
• 1st between Child the Symbols
• 2nd between Child Sand Scene
• 3rd between Therapist Child

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 Psychotherapeutic Process
Knowing your own darkness is the best method for
dealing with the darknesses of other people.
Carl Jung
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 Psychotherapeutic Process

• Sand Tray
• Active engagement with the client
• Therapist may give voice to a toy and dialogue
  with toy or with client
• Toys are viewed for what they actually are and as
  representations in real world.
• Participation may include parents, siblings,
  peers
• Sand therapy is viewed as adjunct to talk therapy
  to actively express distress solve problems
• Dialogue may occur during and after sand activity
  
• Preliminary suggestions for a sand scene may be
  specific to current problem or designed for
  therapist insight

• Sandplay
• No intervention during sandplay
  Therapist quietly and patiently attends
  while child creates scene.
• Sand scenes are viewed as a series of
  interconnected expressions, a process
  driven by unconscious movement toward
  wholeness balance -- Individuation
• Objects are viewed as symbols imbued
  with meaning from complexes archetypes
• Repair to the ego -- Self axis will affect
  change for the lived world

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Containment and Witnessing
Often the hands will solve a mystery that the
intellect has struggled with in vain. Carl Jung
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Containment and Witnessing

• Sand Tray 
• Boundaries set to contain psychotherapeutic
  process depend on theoretical orientation.
• Containment particularly related to
  problem-solving externalized for interpersonal
  skills and confidentiality.
• Culture may or may not be included depending on
  cultural consciousness of the therapist.
• Sand play activity may extend to include other
  toys, games, and activity.
• Discussion of sand play and scene are guided by
  the clinician or child depending on theory base.

• Sandplay
• Boundaries set to contain activity in the sand
  tray, between client /clinician and in the
  environment.
• Containment includes unconscious activity.
• Culture always included when clinician turns to
  amplify symbols in sand scene.
• Sand play is contained in the sand box and is
  viewed as relative to ego boundaries.
• Discussion of sand scene relies on stories told
  by the child. Clinician interpretation is
  withheld until end of therapy or when the ego is
  in balance with the Self. Not necessary to
  interpret since the healing is already taking
  place.

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Training
One looks back with appreciation to the
brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those
who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is
so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the
vital element for the growing plant and for the
soul of the child.Carl Jung
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Training

• Sand Tray
• Training depends on the initiative of the
  therapist. In reality, the clinician may not have
  experience in the sand, nor any supervision.
• Limitations Therapist may have attended a
  workshop introducing sand as a medium for play
  therapy but limited theory or experiential work.
• Therapist may be introduced to sand box in
  clinic, school or hospital and apply his or her
  preferred theory of play therapy to the clients
  play.

• Sandplay
• Sandplay clinicians do not use the sand until
  they have completed extensive training.
• Training in Sandplay therapy requires the
  clinician to complete his or her own sand trays
  with a Jungian oriented therapist.
• Clinician is expected to understand Jungian
  theoretical constructs and the method of
  interpretation through amplification.

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Dimensions of Sandplay
The images of the unconscious place a great
responsibility upon a man. Failure to understand
them, or a shirking of ethical responsibility,
deprives him of his wholeness and imposes a
painful fragmentariness on his life.Carl Jung
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Dimensions of Sandplay

• Process is anchored in the relationship between
  the lived world and unconscious activity.
  (Preston-Dillon, 1999)
• Developmental Events
• The Life-World Problem Situation
• Familial Arrangements
• Historical, Cultural, Socio-Political Moments
• Personal Unconscious (complexes)
• Collective Unconscious (archetypes)

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Jungian Method for Interpretation
The least of things with a meaning is worth more
in life than the greatest of things without
it.Carl Jung
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Jungian Method for Interpretation

• Transcendent Function Inborn Function Method
• Active Imagination (method)
• The ability to bear the tension between conscious
  unconscious
• A Rite of Passage into the Unconscious
• The natural healing function of imagination
• To engage impulses images, build a relationship
  with unconscious
• To translate emotion into image
• Problem over-value conscious situation or
  perception
• Counter position form complexes Inner tensions,
  polarization
• New symbolic position contains both perspectives

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Active Imagination A Suspension of Disbelief
Who looks outside, dreams who looks inside,
awakes.Carl Jung
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Active Imagination A Suspension of Disbelief

• To create a dialectic -- To personify the mood
  and relate to it
• Be Aware Fully Present Open
• Invite Unconscious (sandplay, art, clay,
  narrative)
• Encounter Create Give Expression
• Ethical Engagement, Witness, Reflect
• Bring back to Life World

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Role of Clinician
Everything that irritates us about others can
lead us to an understanding of ourselves.Carl
Jung
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Role of Clinician

• Attend be fully Present, Mindful, Immediate
  Open
• Mediate transcendent function and keep channel
  open between conscious unconscious
• Offer suggestions on ways to live with the image,
  relate to it, be with it
• Link image to archeology, mythology,
  cross-cultural symbols
• Hold the opposites How is clinician experiencing
  tensions image

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An elder sitting in the back of the room at a
Native American council group has authority. Not
because he holds a higher rank, but because he
has certain values.James Hillman
Photos and Design by LK Hunsakerwww.lkhunsaker.co
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