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Sandplay Therapists of America

Amatruda, Kate. The Haunted Boy  

Amatruda, Kate. The Haunted Boy

Volume 9, Number 1, 2000 (Volume IX, Number 1, 2000)

KEY WORDS: sandplay therapy, child, boy, clinical example, genetic condition, neurofibromatosis, tumor, phobia, somatopsychic, therapeutic witnessing, witnessing.

ABSTRACT: The work of sandplay with phobia is discussed in this article about a 3 year-old boy. He was born with the genetic condition of neurofibromatosis, which is a disorder of the nerves, causing tumors to grow on the body. He had developed a phobia of the vacuum cleaner. He had trouble sleeping. His parents divorced when he was 16 months old. Through four sandtrays and symbolic play using marbles and dominoes, there seemed to be a “loosening” of the psyche, allowing the child to express nurturing through the use of the tray. His symptoms diminished with the symbolic play.

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