Dunn-Fierstein, Patricia
METAPHORICAL LANGUAGE IN SANDPLAY THERAPY

Patricia Dunn-Fierstein, Tampa, Florida, USA

Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 22, Number 1, 2013

KEY WORDS: metaphor, metaphorical language, silence, emotional tone, unconscious, consciousness, child, adult, brain integration, resonance, poetry, OCD, depression, anxiety, psychotherapy, listening, language, sandplay, clinical examples, co-regulating communication, attachment, middle pre-frontal cortex, mindfulness, trauma, play therapy.

ABSTRACT: In this article the author discusses that during sandplay therapy and play therapy sessions clients often speak from the unconscious using metaphorical language. The goal of this article is to explore this form of communication and encourage therapists to become more aware of its power in the healing process. The author identifies four primary reasons that clients speak metaphorically in sandplay and play therapies and offers tools to enhance the therapist’s ability to truly listen for this form of expression. The author also identifies and explores five appropriate metaphorical response styles that will enable the client to feel attuned to and will further enhance the healing process. Ample case material is provided to illustrate each example. A case is made for the importance of metaphorical language between client and therapist as a form of “co-regulating communication” that furthers brain development, enhances self-regulation (e.g. Siegel, 1999) and ultimately healing. (This article is a revised transcript of Understanding and Use of Metaphorical Language in Sandplay Therapy presented at Returning to the Self—Sandplay Therapists of America National Conference, 2012 in Berkeley, California, USA).

IN GERMAN:

Metaphorische Sprache in der Sandspieltherapie

Patricia Dunn-Fierstein, Tampa, Florida, USA

Volume 22, Number 1, 2013

SCHLAGWÖRTER: Metapher, metaphorische Sprache, Stille, emotionaler Ton, Unbewußtsein, Bewußtsein, Kind, Erwachsener, Gehirnintegration, Resonanz, Poesie, Zwangsstörung, Depression, Angstzustände, Psychotherapie, zuhören, Sprache, Sandspiel, Fallbeispiele, Co-regulierende Kommunikation, Bindung, mittlerer präfrontaler cortex, Mindfulness/ Achtsamkeit, Trauma, Spieltherapie.

ABSTRACT: Die Autorin identifiziert vier Gründe warum Patienten eine metaphorische Sprache im Sandspiel und Spieltherapie verwenden und bietet Möglichkeiten an wie der Therapeut seine Kapazität für diese Form des Ausdrucks verbessern kann. Die Autorin identifiziert auch fünf angemessene metaphorische Antwortstile, die es dem Klienten ermöglichen sich abgestimmt zu fühlen und welche den Heilungsprozeß fördern.