Linda Cunningham, PhD, LMFT, CST-T
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 15, Issue 1, 2006
Keywords
resistance, transference, countertransference, relational field, transitional space, Sandplay therapy, stuckness, frustration, “feeling against,” “feeling with,” intrapsychic, field phonemenon, archetypal relational fields, Field of Original Oneness/Merger, Field of Twoness/ Rupture, clinical examples, intersubjectiveresistance, transference, countertransference, relational field, transitional space, Sandplay therapy, stuckness, frustration, “feeling against,” “feeling with,” intrapsychic, field phonemenon, archetypal relational fields, Field of Original Oneness/Merger, Field of Twoness/ Rupture, clinical examples, intersubjective
Abstract
“Resistance” is a term arising with increasing frequency in the sandplay literature. This indicates that sandplay therapists are delving into those experiences in many therapies where, in contrast to true transitional space, there is a stuckness, a frustration, a “feeling against” rather than a “feeling with.” However, the term “resistance” itself is an outdated term, indicating an intrapsychic rather than an intersubjective stance. It may be more clinically useful to think of “resistance” as a field phenomenon occurring in one of the two more difficult relational fields: Field One, The Field of Original Oneness/Merger and Field Two, The Field of Twoness/Rupture. Two case examples are provided, as well as an Appendix briefly describing the 4 archetypal relational fields.
Suggested Citation
Cunningham, L. (2006). "Resistance" in sandplay: Inherent qualities of presymbolic relational fields. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2006.15.1.852
