Lauren Cunningham, MSW, LCSW, JA, CST-T
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 18, Issue 2, 2009
Keywords
numinosity, child, boy, stealing, religion, spiritual attitude, Self, paternal function, symbolic attitude, children, development, clinical example, child development, symbolic life, separation, omnipotent fantasy, sandplay therapy, developmental threshold, ego functioning, differentiation, relatedness
Abstract
Many children come in to therapy when they are stuck and experiencing turbulence at a developmental threshold. This paper presents a sandplay case study of an 8-year-old boy that illustrates a child who connected to his deeper symbolic life as his ego functioning matured and he moved through the developmental thresholds of separation and differentiation. Magic and omnipotent fantasy were relinquished and replaced by a symbolic attitude that connected him to a sustaining spiritual source. His outer world expanded and blossomed as he became more related and engaged with others.
Suggested Citation
Cunningham, L. (2009). Approach to the numinous in sandplay: A bridge to creativity. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2009.18.2.487
