Reece, Sachiko Taki
SANDPLAY PROCESS OF A BOY WITH COMPLEX PARTIAL SEIZURES
Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 7, Number 1, 1998
KEY WORDS: complex partial seizures, day-treatment, neglect, child, boy, sandplay therapy, seizure, clinical example, numinous, deintegration, reintegration, ego, centering, complex, transformation.
ABSTRACT: This article describes an 8-year-old African American boy in a Special Education class and a Day Treatment Program, suffering from an explosive temper and aggressive behavior. During four months of sandplay therapy, his play began to reveal two explosive centers: the fire spitting volcano symbolizing rage, and another of two stones representing the seizure site. His specific needs became visible in play. His identification with a monstrous power complex underwent transformation. His numinous experience (seizure), was seemingly incorporated into practical, constructive life assuring energy and self confidence. The explosive centers have become a tunnel, underground crossroad. He was stabilized after making 13 sandplay pictures, saying ‘I have done this”. Pictures made before and after medications and hospitalizations, revealed also how the psyche coped with change brought by these interventions.