Mary Raftopoulos, LLB, PostGradDipPsych, GradDipChildPsych, Registered Psychologist
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 24, Number 1, 2015
Keywords
Sandplay therapy, attachment, child abuse, neglect, jewels, crystals, trauma hidden, exposed, abandonment, separation anxiety, aggression, ego strength, clinical examples
Abstract
In session after session, children who have been abused and children without abuse histories are often attracted to the jewels and crystals in the sandplay room. Children’s use of jewels is rich and offers much insight into where they may be in the process of individuation, their attachment experiences and their sense of psychological safety in and out of the sandplay room. Jewels can be buried, hidden in treasure chests, form treasures that are “stolen” or be used in mandalas. In this article clinical material is used to explore what the different uses of jewels in sandplay may suggest about a child’s inner world and their experiences. How is it that in the face of despair and a historical context of abuse and neglect that some children are still able to identify beauty? This article suggests that when jewels are selected, a connection with something worth cherishing has been experienced on a deep psychological level. This often feels like a child’s recognition of their own worth and perhaps marks the beginning of an ego-Self connection.
Deutsch / German
Der Gebrauch Von Juwelen Im Sandspiel Von Kindern Mit Und Ohne Missbrauch
Schlüsselwörter: Juwelen, Kristalle, Sandspiel von Kindern, Trauma, Individuation, KindsMissbrauch, Missbrauch, Vernachlässigung, Verlassen, Trennungsangst, Aggression, Sebsthass, Ichstärke, Selbst, Ich-Selbst, Kind, Junge, Mädchen, männlich, weiblich, Sandspiel Therapie, Fallbeispiele
Español / Spanish
El Uso de Joyas en la Terapia Sandplay de Niños con y sin Historial de Abuso
Palabras Clave: Terapia de sandplay, la ansiedad de separación, joyas, cristales, trauma, apego, maltrato infantil, abuso, negligencia, abandono agresión, fuerza del ego, yo, Yo-ego, ejemplos clínicos
French / Français
La Utilisation des Joyaux dans la Therapie par le Jeu de Sable avec les Enfants sans et avec L’Histoire de Maltraitance
Mots Clés: Jeu de sable, joyaux, jeu de sable des enfants, traumatisme, individualisation, attachement, abus enfantin, négligence, abandon, angoisse de séparation, agression, Soi, ego-Soi, enfant, exemples cliniques
Suggested Citation
Raftopoulos, M. (2015). The use of jewels in the sandplay therapy of children with and without abuse histories. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 24(1). 47-67.
