Main description:

This thoughtful and comprehensive book sheds new light on Sandplay Therapy, a method founded in the 1960s by Dora Kalff. It is based on the psychology of C.G. Jung and Margaret Lowenfeld, with inspiration from eastern contemplative traditions. This method is effectively used for psychotherapy, psychological counselling and development of the personality with children and adults.

This book grew out of the collaboration of a supervision and research group with Italian therapists which regularly met for a period of over 10 years under the guidance of Martin Kalff. It focuses on how to understand in more depth the processes clients experience in Sandplay Therapy. An important feature of Sandplay is the possibility to create scenes in a box with sand. Worlds arise through the shaping of the sand and the use of miniatures, humans, animals, trees, etc. These creations manifest inner conflicts as well as untouched healing potential.

This book discusses a number of techniques based on mindfulness such as 'spontaneous embodiment', the use of colours, spontaneous poetry, 'entering into the dream', to understand the work done in a Sandplay process and dreams and presents examples of clinical cases. These techniques are not only valuable for supervision but can also be used in therapy to help clients reconnect with body and feelings.

Contents:

Part One: The Individuation Process in Sandplay Therapy. Historical premises. Neural Integration and Individuation. A New Supervision and Therapeutic Method. A Process of Healing: Neural Integration and Individuation in Sandplay. Part Two: The Zollikon Group. Battini, Prelude. De Toma, Like a Ritual. Pasalini, The Importance of the Group. Palma, Body and Movement. Tramaloni, Countertransference in the Analytical Couple. Polidoro, Sandplay and Meditation: Creative Grains of Transformation. Part Three: Case Studies. Bottari, Story of Child Who Did Not Talk. Piccini, Perceptions of the Body within the Study Group. Gherardi, Artwork in Black: Drawing and Therapy. Canato, Body and Sand: Dramatisation. Pasolini, A Rebirth: The Story of a Woman. Ferliga, Acknowledging the Wound: The Story of a Man.