Antoinette M. Eimers, PsyD, LMFT, CST-T
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 23, Issue 1, 2014
Keywords
Sandplay therapy, preparation for death, death, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL, surrogate, impending death, internal preparation, inner strength, unthought known, speak the unthinkable, trauma, psychic life, archaic defenses, self portrait, consciousness, unconscious belief, sarcophagus, pyramid, individuation process, family, countertransference, child, male, boy, twin, cancer, clinical example
Abstract
This article describes the clinical experience or journey of a 6-year-old surrogate twin boy who had just undergone a bone marrow transplant for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). He was only able to complete 3 sandtrays before he became too sick to come to the therapy room. In all 3 trays he creates self-portraits of his impending death and a need to let his mother know that he is about to die. Themes of the “unthought known” (Bollas) are depicted in the trays with the use of symbolic imagery from Egyptian mythology. His individuation process and preparation for his own death is both moving and heroic.
German / Deutsch
Vorbereitung auf den Tod: Die Erfahrung eines Kindes
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Dieser Artikel beschreibt die klinische Erfahrung eines sechs-jährigen Zwillingsjungens, der sich wegen einer akuten lymphoblastischen Leukämie, einer Knochenmarkstransplantation unterzogen hatte.
SCHLÜSSELWÖRTER: Sandspieltherapie, Vorbereitung auf den Tod. Tod, Akute lymphoblastische Leukämie, Surrogat, bevorstehender Tod, innere Vorbereitung, innere Stärke, ungeahntes Wissen, das Undenkbare aussprechen, Trauma, psychische Leben, archaische Abwehr, Selbstportrait, Bewusstsein, unbewusster Glauben, Sarkophag, Pyramide, Individuationsprozess, Gegenübertragung, Kind, männlich, Junge, Zwilling, Krebs, Fallbeispiel
Suggested Citation
Eimers, A. (2014). Preparing for death: A child's experience. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2014.23.1.648
