A BOY’S ENCOUNTER WITH DYING AND DEATH:
THE LOSS OF A TWIN

Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 28, Number 2, 2019

Antoinette M. Eimers
Newport Beach, California, USA

KEY WORDS: Sandplay therapy, clinical example, boy, child, twin, anxiety, grief, pain, internal preparation, dying, death, preverbal trauma, transference, countertransference, triplet, terminal illness, hospice, bone-marrow transplant, chemotherapy, unthinkable suffering, twins, twinning, psychic energy, positive transference, countertransference, transitional, archetypal, psychological descent, Jung, symbol, uroboros, mounds, egg, pyramid, obelisk, snake, phoenix, crocodile, starfish, lotus, chalice, menorah, crucifixion, candles, ferryman, sword, shield, ritual cleansing, embryonic fluid, regeneration, rebirth, resurrection, eternal life, crucified, alchemical serpent, mercurial serpent, warrior’s journey, ritual, transformation, sacredness, alchemical purification, mummy, Sobek, baseball, phallic energies.

ABSTRACT: This article is about a six-year-old twin boy, “Griffin,” who remained in therapy for eighteen months as he processed his twin brother’s ongoing illness, recent bone marrow transplant, relapse and death. Over time, the client became better able to cope with the grief and stressors associated with his brother’s prolonged illness and eventual death. Griffin was first brought to therapy by his parents due to acting out at home and calling himself “an idiot”; he missed going to school. Given concerns regarding infection-control both twins had to be homeschooled and had become isolated. The parents also felt therapy would help Griffin with the containment and support a therapeutic relationship could offer. By this time, the client was questioning why his twin brother’s growth and behavior were not the same as his own. He worried about his brother’s expressions of pain as well as medical procedures. Griffin’s sandplay process revealed not only his intense grief and love for his brother but also his greatest fears and hopes. His sandplay scenes expressed symbolic imagery which seemed to emerge from archetypal layers of his psyche. His work with me (positive transference and countertransference) included processing of his grief and preparation for his brother’s death; it culminated in the experience of a more integrated young self. pp.9-33

IN GERMAN:

BEGEGNUNG EINES JUNGEN MIT STERBEN UND TOD: DER VERLUST EINES ZWILLINGS

Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 28, Number 2, 2019

Antoinette M. Eimers
Newport Beach, Kalifornien, USA

SCHLÜSSELWÖRTER: Sandspieltherapie, klinisches Fallbeispiel, Junge, Zwilling, Angst, Trauer, Schmerz, innere Vorbereitung, sterben, Tod, präverbales Trauma, Übertragung, Gegenübertragung, unheilbare Krankheit, Hospiz, Knochenmarktransplantation, Chemotherapie, psychische Energie, positive Übertragung , psychologischer Abstieg, Jung, Symbol, Uroboros, Hügel, Ei, Pyramide, Obelisk, Schlange, Phoenix, Krokodil, Lotus, Kelch, Kreuzigung, Kerzen, Fährmann, rituelle Reinigung, Regeneration, ewiges Leben, gekreuzigt, alchemistische Schlange, Ritual , Transformation, heilig, Mumie, Sobek, Baseball, phallische Energien.

ABSTRACT: In diesem Artikel geht es um einen sechsjährigen Zwillingsjungen namens “Griffin”, der achtzehn Monate lang in Therapie war, um die anhaltende Krankheit, die Knochenmarktransplantation, den Rückfall und den Tod seines Zwillingsbruders zu bearbeiteten. Mit der Zeit war der Klient besser in der Lage, mit der Trauer und den Stressfaktoren umzugehen, die mit der anhaltenden Krankheit und dem Tod seines Bruders verbunden waren.

IN SPANISH:

ENCUENTRO DE UN NIÑO CON LA MUERTE Y LA MUERTE: LA PÉRDIDA DE UN GEMELO

Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 28, Number 2, 2019

Antoinette M. Eimers
Newport Beach, California, Estados Unidos

PALABRAS SIGNIFICATIVAS: Terapia de sandplay, ejemplo clínico, niño, gemelo, ansiedad, pena, dolor, preparación interna, muerte, muerte, trauma preverbal, transferencia, contratransferencia, enfermedad terminal, hospicio, trasplante de médula ósea, quimioterapia, energía psíquica, transferencia positiva, contratransferencia, descendencia psicológica, Jung, símbolo, uroboros, montículos, huevo, pirámide, obelisco, serpiente, fénix, cocodrilo, loto, cáliz, crucifixión, velas, barquero, limpieza ritual, regeneración, vida eterna, crucificado, serpiente alquímica, ritual, transformación, sagrado, momia, Sobek, béisbol, energías fálicas.

RESUMEN: Este artículo trata sobre un niño gemelo de seis años, “Griffin”, que permaneció en terapia durante dieciocho meses mientras procesaba la enfermedad en curso de su hermano gemelo, el trasplante reciente de médula ósea, la recaída y la muerte. Con el tiempo, el cliente se hizo más capaz de lidiar con el dolor y los factores estresantes asociados con la prolongada enfermedad y la eventual muerte de su hermano.

IN FRENCH:

RENCONTRE D’UN GARÇON AVEC LA MORT ET LA MORT: LA PERTE D’UNE JUMELLE

Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 28, Number 2, 2019

Antoinette M. Eimers
Newport Beach, Californie, États-Unis

MOTS CLÉS: Thérapie par sandplay, exemple clinique, garçon, jumeau, anxiété, chagrin, douleur, préparation interne, mort, décès, traumatisme préverbal, transfert, contre-transfert, maladie terminale, hospice, greffe de moelle osseuse, chimiothérapie, énergie psychique, transfert positif , contre-transfert, descente psychologique, Jung, symbole, uroboros, monticules, œuf, pyramide, obélisque, serpent, phénix, crocodile, lotus, calice, crucifixion, bougies, passeur, nettoyage rituel, régénération, vie éternelle, crucifié, serpent alchimique, rituel, transformation, sacré, momie, Sobek, baseball, énergies phalliques.

RÉSUMÉ: Cet article concerne un jumeau de six ans, «Griffin», qui est resté en thérapie pendant dix-huit mois pendant qu’il traitait la maladie en cours de son frère jumeau, une greffe récente de moelle osseuse, une rechute et la mort. Au fil du temps, le client est devenu plus apte à faire face au chagrin et aux facteurs de stress associés à la maladie prolongée de son frère et à son décès éventuel.

IN PORTUGUESE:

O ENCONTRO DE UM MENINO COM MORRER E A MORTE: A PERDA DE UM GÊMEO

Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 28, Number 2, 2019

Antoinette M. Eimers
Newport Beach, Califórnia, EUA

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Terapia de sandplay, exemplo clínico, menino, gêmeo, ansiedade, luto, dor, preparação interna, falecer, morrer, morte, trauma pré-verbal, transferência, contratransferência, doença terminal, hospício, transplante de medula óssea, quimioterapia, energia psíquica, transferência positiva, descida psicológica, Jung, símbolo, uroboros, colinas, ovo, pirâmide, obelisco, cobra, fênix, crocodilo, lótus, cálice, crucificação, velas, barqueiro, limpeza ritual, regeneração, vida eterna, crucificado, serpente alquímica, ritual, transformação, sagrado, múmia, Sobek, beisebol, energias fálicas.

RESUMO: Este artigo é sobre um menino gêmeo de seis anos de idade, “Griffin”, que permaneceu em terapia por dezoito meses enquanto processava a doença contínua de seu irmão gêmeo, transplante de medula óssea, recaída e morte. Com o tempo, o cliente se tornou mais capaz de lidar com a doença e morte do irmão.