Kathleen Beavers, MSW (retired LCSW, CST-T)
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 24, Issue 2, 2015
Keywords
Sandplay, clinical example, child, boy, male, adoption, father, mother, parents, family, anxious attachment, bonding, regression, attachment trauma, relatedness, symbol, sandplay process, symbolism, mother goddess, tree, Kuan Yin, Isis, therapeutic alliance, ego, adoptive, biological, positive counter-transference, primal relationship, progression, regression, clinical example
Abstract
This case illustrates the sandplay process of Eric, an adopted 6-year-old boy with anxious attachment. The traumatic loss of his biological family due to neglect had resulted in a disturbance of the primal relationship. His process revealed the development of the mother–child unity, the constellation of the Self, an emergence of a healthy ego and return to ordinary life. The work spanned over a period of 4 years and included collaborative sessions with parents. An in-depth discussion is presented of the healing images of the archetypal mother as symbolically represented by the Oak Tree, Kuan Yin, and Isis. A strong therapeutic alliance and Eric’s connection to the archetypal sheltering mother allowed for a regression and re-working of developmental phases. The gradual but successful bonding with his parents occurred during treatment. With the introduction of the element of fire in his sandplay, a melting of his grief and rage was expressed and experienced more consciously. His capacity for relatedness grew both within the family and the world at large. Sandplay had given Eric the opportunity to discover an inner strength with which to meet and better cope with life’s ups and downs.
German / Deutsch
Das Erwachen der Inneren Liebe: Der Sandspielprozess eines Jungen
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Dieser Fall schildert den Sandspielprozeß von Erich, einem 6 jährigen, adoptierten Jungen mit unsicherer Bindung. Vernachlässigung führte zum traumatische Verlust seiner biologischen Familie und resultierte in den Störung der Ur-Verbindung. Sein Prozeß zeigt die Entwicklung einer Mutter-Kind Einheit, der Konstellation des Selbst, die Entstehung eines gesunden Ichs und die Rückkehr zu einem gewöhnlichen Leben.
SCHLAGWÖRTER: Sandspiel, klinisches Fallbeispiel, Kind, Junge, männlich, Adoption, Vater, Mutter, Eltern, Familie, unsicherer Bindung, Bindung, Regression, Trauma, Verwandtschaft, verwandt, Symbol, Sandspielprozeß, Göttin, Baum, Kuan Yin, Isis, therapeutische Allianz, Ich, Selbst, adoptiv, Entwicklung, biologisch, positive Gegenübertragung, Ur-Beziehung, Progression
Spanish / Español
Despertar del Amore Dentro: Proceso de Sandplay de un Niño
PALABRAS SIGNIFICATIVAS: Terapia sandplay, ejemplo clinco, niño, muchacho, varón, padres, madres, padres, descuido, familia, apego ansioso, emparejamiento, regresión, cariño, trauma, relación, símbolo, proceso de sandplay, diosa madre, árbol, Kuan Yin, Isis, alianza terapéutica, ego, Yo, adoptivo, biológico, contra-transferencia positiva, relación primordial, progresión, regresión, ejemplo clínico
French / Français
Awakening the Love Within: A Boy's Sandplay Process
MOTS CLÉS: Thérapie par le jeu de sable, exemple clinique, enfant, garçon, mêle, adoption, père, mère, parents, négligence, Kuan Yin, Isis, famille, attachement anxieux, connexion primaire, régression, attachement, traumatisme, symbole, processus du jeu de sable, déesse mère, arbre, alliance thérapeutique, ego, Soi, adoptive, biologique, contre transfer positif, le relation primaire, progression
Suggested Citation
Beavers, K. (2015). Awakening the love within: A boy's sandplay process. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2015.24.2.366
