Rie Rogers Mitchell, CST-T, and Harriet S. Friedman, LMFT, JA, CST-T
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 26, Issue 1, 2017
Keywords
Sandplay, themes, patterns, themes of wounding, themes of healing, movement of the psyche, indicators, archetypal patterns, sandplay process, tracking progress, stage of development, symbolic, theme, archetypal, increased understanding, sandplay process, clinical example, boy, child, enuresis, adoption, bar graph, chaotic theme, empty theme, split theme, confined theme, neglected theme, hidden theme, prone theme, threatened, hindered, bridging theme, journeying theme, energized theme, going depeer, birthing theme, nurturing theme, changed, spiritual elements, centered, integrated, themes
Abstract
In an attempt to respond to the need for an increased understanding of the sandplay process, the authors search for an intrinsic organization within the psyche by studying their clients’ sandplay scenes to determine if they could identify patterns or themes in clients’ sandplay journeys. Common patterns gradually emerged, and the authors followed their visual, emotional, and cognitive reactions in organizing themes. It was noted that specific themes in the scenes repeated themselves. After further study, the authors became aware that it was possible to cluster these themes into two groups: themes of wounding and themes of healing. It was found that wounding themes were more prevalent at the beginning of therapy, and as therapy progressed, healing themes appeared more often in clients’ trays. Near the end of therapy, it was observed that the healing themes were usually dominant with few, if any, wounding themes present. This discovery may help clinicians: (a) understand the movement of the psyche, (b) expand their understanding of the sandplay process, and (c) serve as an indicator of changes in the client's inner and outer situation. Rogers Mitchell and Friedman realized that the themes were archetypal patterns that appear during a sandplay process. From this research, they found that tracking themes in sandplay scenes is a helpful method for following movement in sandplay therapy. It is a useful way to track clients’ progress throughout therapy, as well as through clients’ stages of development.
German / Deutsch
Archetypische Themen im Sandspielprozess
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Die Autorinnen identifizierten Muster oder Themen in den Sandspielprozessen Ihrer Klienten. Spezifische Themen wiederholten sich. Diese Themen wurden zwei Gruppen zugeordnet: Verwundungsthemen und Heilungsthemen. Verwundungsthemen waren häufiger am Anfang einer Therapie. Mit dem Fortschritt der Therapie erschienen öfter Heilungsthemen in den Sandbildern der Klienten. Gegen Ende der Therapie waren normalerweise Heilungsthemen dominant. Ein klinisches Fallbeispiel ist in diesem Beitrag enthalten.
SCHLÜSSELWÖRTER: Sandspiel, Thema, Muster, Verletzungsthema, Heilungsthema, Indikatoren, archetypische Muster, Sandspielprozess, Tracking Fortschritt, Entwicklungsphase, symbolisch, archetypisch, klinisches Fallbeispiel, Junge, Kind, Enuresis, Adoption, Balkendiagramm
Spanish / Español
Temas Arquetípicos en el Proceso de Sandplay
RESUMEN: Los autores identificaron modelos o temas en los procesos de sandplay de sus clientes. Temas específicos se repitieron. Es posible agrupar estos temas en dos grupos: temas de herir y temas de sanación. Se encontró que temas de heridas fueron más frecuentes en el inicio de la terapia. Terapia avanzado, temas de curación aparecieron más a menudo en las bandejas de los clientes. Cerca del final de la terapia temas de curación eran generalmente dominantes. En este artículo se incluye un ejemplo clínico.
PALABRAS CLAVE: Sandplay, temas, formas, temas de herida, temas de curación, indicadores, pautas arquetípicas, proceso de sandplay, seguimiento de progreso, etapa de desarrollo, simbólico, arquetípico, ejemplo clínico, muchacho, niño, enuresis, adopción, gráfico de barras
French / Français
Thèmes d'Archetypal dans le Processus de Sandplay
RÉSUMÉ: Les auteurs ont identifié des modèles ou des thèmes dans les processus de sandplay de leurs clients. Des thèmes spécifiques se répétaient. Il a été possible de regrouper ces thèmes en deux groupes: les thèmes de la blessure et les thèmes de la guérison. On a constaté que les thèmes des blessures étaient plus répandus au début de la thérapie. À mesure que la thérapie progresse, les thèmes de guérison apparaissent plus souvent dans les plateaux des clients. Près de la fin de la thérapie, les thèmes de guérison étaient généralement dominants. Un exemple clinique est inclus dans cet article.
MOTS CLÉS: Sandplay, thèmes, motifs, thèmes de la blessure, thèmes de la guérison, indicateurs, modèles archétypiques, processus de jeu de sable, suivi du progrès, stade de développement, symbolique, archétype, exemple clinique, garçon, enfant, enureses, adoption, graphique à barres
Portuguese / Português
Temas Arquetípicos en el Proceso de Sandplay
PALAVRAS CHAVE: Sandplay, temas, padrões, temas de ferimento, temas de cura, indicadores, padrões arquetípicos, processo de sandplay, acompanhamento do progresso, stágios de desenvolvimento, simbólico, arquetípico, exemplos clínicos, menino, criança, enureses, adoção, Gráfico de barras
Suggested Citation
Mitchell, R. R., & Friedman, H. S. (2017). Archetypal themes in the sandplay process. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2017.26.1.184
