Emma Allen
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 27, Issue 2, 2018
Keywords
Sandplay therapy, firesetting, forensic sandplay, firesetting treatment, learning disabilities, low secure unit, hospital, prison, trauma, neglect, symbolic, attack, home, homelessness, abandonment, offenders, adult men, shelter, emotional pain, infliction, belonging, dog, castle, house, home, fire, security, soul, "cry for help", archetypal feminine energies, vulnerability
Abstract
Homes can become prisons, and prisons can become homes; both nurturing of the self, but also its violation. Houses in forensic sandplay imply issues of safety, security and containment, institutionalization and incarceration, reparation and resettlement, building, and hiding that is pertinent to the person, the psychotherapeutic experience and a complex relationship between secure settings and the psyche. Firesetting, a symbolic attack against "home" and property is often a response to conflict or crisis, expresses a desire, wish or need, is influenced by learning disabilities, and can be a "cry for help" for those who have been neglected, traumatized or abused, and when verbal language has been impossible. Sandplay images of two men in a low secure unit, who underwent firesetting treatment, provide glimpses of an internal world that seeks to repair inner damage, and where ruins express psychological homelessness; offering a return to natural shelter and activating a descent.
German / Deutsch
Die Suche des Feuersetzers Nach »Einem Ort Namens Zuhause«
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Sandspielbilder von zwei Männern in einer niedrigen Sichereinheit, die einer Feuersetzungsbehandlung unterzogen wurden, geben Einblicke in eine innere Welt, die versucht Selbst- und Ich-Schäden zu reparieren und durch Ruinen psychologische Obdachlosigkeit ausdrücken.
SCHLÜSSELWÖRTER: Sandspieltherapie, forensisches Sandspiel, Feuersetzen, Lernschwierigkeiten, niedrige Sichereinheit, Krankenhaus, Trauma, Vernachlässigung, symbolischer Angriff, Zuhause, Obdachlosigkeit, Aufgabe, Straftäter, erwachsene Männer, Unterkunft, emotionale Schmerzen, Zugehörigkeit, Hund, Burg, Haus, Gebärmutter, Feuer, Sicherheit, Seele, Hilferuf, archetypische weibliche Energien, Verwundbarkeit
Spanish / Español
La Búsqueda del “Firesetter”: “Un Lugar Llamado Hogar”
RESUMEN: Las imágenes de sandplay de dos hombres en una unidad de baja seguridad, que se sometieron a un tratamiento para el establecimiento de incendios, brindan un atisbo de un mundo interno que busca reparar el daño del yo y del ego, y donde las ruinas expresan la falta de hogar psicológico.
PALABRAS SIGNIFICATIVAS: Terapia desandplay, sandplay forense, manejo de incendios, problemas de aprendizaje, unidad de baja seguridad, hospital, trauma, negligencia, ataque simbólico, hogar, personas sin hogar, abandono, delincuentes, hombres adultos, refugio, dolor emocional, inflicción, pertenencia, perro, castillo, casa, matriz, fuego, seguridad, alma, clamando por ayuda, energías femeninas arquetípicas, vulnerabilidad
French / Français
La Recherche du « Firesetter »: « Un Lieu Appelle Maison »
RÉSUMÉ: Les images en mode sandplay de deux hommes appartenant à une unité peu sécurisée, ayant subi un traitement de mise au feu, donnent un aperçu d'un monde interne qui cherche à réparer les dommages causés à soi-même et à l'ego et où les ruines expriment le sans-abrisme psychologique.
MOTS CLÉS: Thérapie par sandplay, sandplay médico-légal, «firesetting», troubles d’apprentissage, unité de sécurité réduite, hôpital, traumatisme, négligence, attaque symbolique, domicile, itinérance, abandon, délinquants, hommes adultes, refuge, douleur émotionnelle, infliction, appartenance, chien, château, maison, ventre, feu, sécurité, âme, appel au secours, énergies féminines archétypales, vulnérabilité
Portuguese / Português
A Procura do Firesetter por “Um Lugar Chamado Casa” (Um Lar)
RESUMO: Imagens de Sandplay de dois homens em uma unidade de baixa segurança, que foram submetidos a “firesetting treatment”, fornecem um olhar a um mundo interno que procura reparar danos psicologicos, e onde ruínas representam desabrigo psicológico.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Terapia de Sandplay, Sandplay forense, causando incêndios, incêndiario, incêndios, dificuldades de aprendizagem, unidade de baixa segurança, hospital, trauma, negligência, ataque simbólico, lar, desabrigo, abandono, agressores, homens adultos, abrigo, dor emocional, inflição, pertencer, cão, castelo, casa, fogo, segurança, alma, grito de ajuda, energias femininas arquetípicas, vulnerabilidade
Suggested Citation
Allen, E. (2018). The firesetter's search for "a place called home." Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2018.27.2.810
