Analysis of initial sandplay characteristics among university students with different levels of loneliness.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Loneliness is detrimental to mental health, with university students at higher risk of feeling lonely than other population groups. The mental health of college students is a hot topic at present. Despite numerous studies exploring interventions for loneliness among university students. However, little research has explored early psychological manifestations of university students with different levels of loneliness. Despite numerous studies exploring interventions for loneliness among university students, little research has explored early psychological manifestations of university students with different levels of loneliness. Initial sandplay is a good tool to reveal psychological activity. Therefore, our study aims to explore the characteristics of initial sandplay application among university students with different levels of loneliness. METHODS: We recruited 60 volunteers from a university to perform a sandplay experiment from January to April 2021. The UCLA Loneliness Scale measured the levels of loneliness. These 60 participants were divided into the experimental group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) according to their levels of loneliness. The experimental group included participants with a scale score of more than 44. Other participants with a scale score of less than 44 belong to the control group. We recorded their sandplay artwork and statistically analyzed it by the Sandplay Process Record Form. Group comparisons were performed using the t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables, and the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. The logistic regression analysis by forward stepwise method was conducted to analyze the sandplay theme features for loneliness. RESULTS: Regarding the sandplay tools, the experimental group used fewer transportation tools (t=-3.608, p < 0.01) and more natural elements (t = 2.176, p < 0.05) than the control group. Moreover, the experimental group created more natural scenes (χ2 = 4.310, p < 0.05) and used less of the lower left (χ2 = 4.593, p < 0.05) and lower right (χ2 = 5.934, p < 0.05) spaces. With regards to sand changes, the experimental group was less likely than the control group to make substantial changes (χ2 = 5.711, p < 0.05) and more likely to make almost no changes (χ2 = 4.022, p < 0.05). In terms of the themes, the experimental group was more likely to exhibit sandplay artwork themes of emptiness (χ2 = 8.864, p < 0.05) and neglect (χ2 = 6.667, p < 0.05), and less likely to show themes of energy (χ2 = 5.079, p < 0.05). In the logistic regression analysis of the sandplay themes, emptiness (OR = 5.714, 95%CI: 1.724-18.944, p = 0.003) and neglect (OR = 7.000, 95%CI: 1.381-35.479, p = 0.010) were demonstrated a nominal association with high levels of loneliness among both groups (F = 16.091, p < 0.01, ΔR2 = 0.193), but failed to pass the Bonferroni testing correction (p threshold < 0.0025). CONCLUSION: University students with higher degree of loneliness do not like to drastic changes and prefer to use natural elements in element selection, while the control group likes to drastic changes and prefers to use transportation tools in element selection. Regression analysis of sandplay theme features revealed emptines and neglect may as significant associated factors for loneliness. We propose sandplay characteristics can help identify university students with different levels of loneliness during psychological evaluations. Therefore, it is important that the school and healthcare systems assist college students in identifying the loneliness through initial sandplay and carrying on the necessary psychological counseling to the lonely student population.

Effects of Parent-Child Sandplay Therapy for preschool children with autism spectrum disorder and their mothers: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the Parent-Child Sandplay Therapy (PCST) Program on autism behaviors, social responsiveness and sleep quality among preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and their mothers' parenting stress. DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled, parallel-group trial was employed. Fifty-two child-mother dyads were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 26) or a control group (n = 26) from February 2017 to February 2019. The intervention group was treated with a 20-week PCST Program plus an Applied Behavior Analysis-based program (ABA-based program), whereas the control group received only the ABA-based program. Outcome measures included the Autism Behavior Checklist total scores, Social Responsiveness Scale scores, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire scores, and Parenting Stress Index-Short Form scores, measured at baseline, post-intervention (20 weeks after baseline) and follow-up assessments (32 weeks after baseline). RESULTS: Finally, 43 dyads completed the study. The linear mixed model analysis resulted in a significant group*time interaction effect of ABC score (Est = 2.027, t = 3.277; p < 0.01), SRS score (Est = 3.377, t = 6.095; p < 0.01), PSI-SF score (Est = 3.873, t = 4.253, p < 0.01), and CSHQ score (Est = 3.158, t = 6.485; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that the PCST Program could potentially improve social interaction and sleep quality of preschool children with ASD while decreasing parenting stress. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The PCST Program was found to be a feasible and a promising treatment for children with mild-to-moderate ASD as well as for their parents. It was a nurse-led program, which could be integrated into the usual nursing care of children with autism spectrum disorder in special education schools. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, ChiCTR2100047699.

Sandplay therapy could be a method to decrease disease activity and psychological stress in children with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Although the prevalence rate of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is far lower than that of adults, cSLE has a high rate of organ involvement, rapid development and poor prognosis, which is more serious than that in adults. And studies have shown that a wide range of physiological, functional, nerve, and organ damage will have a great impact on the mental health of children. At present, there is no relevant psychological intervention research for cSLE in China. This paper aimed to explore the effect of Sandplay therapy on mental health and disease activity of children with cSLE. METHODS: Forty childrens with cSLE were randomly divided into control group (CG) and intervention group (IG); the CG were treated with glucocorticoid, immunosuppressant and other drugs, while the IG were treated with Sandplay therapy in addition to drug therapy, at the time of 0, 2, and 4 weeks after initial diagnosis, respectively. The questionnaire evaluation and related clinical indicators of the two groups were compared and analyzed (before psychotherapy intervention) at 0, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after initial diagnosis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the evaluation of questionnaire and related clinical indicators at the time 0, 2 weeks after initial diagnosis respectively. At 12 weeks after the intervention, the score of Short version of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI-S) in the IG was significantly lower than that in the CG, the score of The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) scale in the IG was significantly lower than that in the CG, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0) showed that the scores of social function, school performance, and emotional health of the IG were higher than those of the CG (p < 0.05), and the clinical indexes of the IG were better than those of the CG (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sandplay therapy may help to slow down the occurrence and development of anxiety and depression and reduce disease activity in patients with cSLE.

Refugee children's sandplay narratives in immigration detention in Canada.

Asylum seeking children arriving in Canada regularly face incarceration in medium-security-style immigration detention centres. Research demonstrates the human cost of detaining migrant children and families and the psychiatric burden linked with such imprisonment. This study aims to understand the lived experiences of children aged 3-13 held in detention. Informed by a qualitative methodology of narrative inquiry, child participants created worlds in the sand and generated stories to express their subjective experience. Results suggest that children's sandplay confirms the traumatic nature of immigration detention while also revealing children's sometimes conflicting understanding of the meaning of detention and their own migration. The results are contextualized by a description of detention conditions and the psychiatric symptoms associated with immigration incarceration. The study highlights the need for more research examining the impact of immigration detention on children's mental health, while also underlining how refugee children's voices provide important direction for policy change.

Sandplay Therapy and Active Imagination: What Are the Similarities and Differences? Reflections about Jung's Writings on Active Imagination.

Jung stated that active imagination is a fundamental component of the second phase of an analysis that can continue even outside the analytic setting. Since it can be conveyed through various expressive techniques, such as writing, drawing, and painting, it is possible to argue that all forms of psychotherapy based on art (e.g., poetry, dance, and theater) originate from Jung's contribution about active imagination. This paper focuses on Sandplay Therapy as one of the forms of expression rooted in active imagination. Apart from some critical differences between the two analytic processes (e.g., active imagination is usually prompted in the last phase of the analysis, while Sandplay Therapy might be used since the first sessions), there are several convergences. Among the principal analogies, consciousness lends its expressive means to the unconscious, which decides what to depict. Also, the resulting image is determined from both the consciousness and the unconscious and is related to the person's conscious situation. Finally, I suggest that Sandplay Therapy-aside from contributing to the subsequent development of active imagination itself (as suggested by Dr. Carducci)-might also be used to practice active imagination in a "facilitated" and protected setting. It would help let the unconscious come up while creating the image in the sandtray, and it fosters the confrontation between the unconscious and the consciousness through the contemplation of the image in the sandtray.

A systematic review of the effect of sandplay therapy on social communication deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Objective: To explore the efficacy of sandplay therapy in intervening social communication deficits in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and whether this efficacy is influenced by the age of the children and the dosage of sandplay therapy intervention. Methods: Following the PICOS principle, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to sandplay therapy for social communication deficits in ASD children were retrieved from seven databases: PubMed, WOS, The Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP, from the inception of each database to November 10, 2023. Two experimenters independently conducted study screening and excluded studies with concomitant diseases, incomplete data, unextractable data, and non-randomized controlled trials. The PEDro scale was used for methodological quality assessment, and the GRADEprofiler method was employed to evaluate the quality of evidence. Stata17 software was used for meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias testing. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used as the effect statistics. Results: A total of 12 RCTs (791 cases) were included. Sandplay therapy had a positive impact on the social communication deficits of ASD children [SMD = -1.42, 95%CI (-1.79, -1.04), P < 0.001]. Subgroup analysis revealed that sandplay therapy administered during the early school age (449 cases, SMD = -1.44, P < 0.05), for a duration of 22-28 weeks (208 cases, SMD = 1.69, P < 0.05), and with a frequency of once per week (218 cases, SMD = -1.67, P < 0.05) was most effective in improving on social communication deficits of ASD children. Discussion: The quality of evidence in this study was rated as high, with good methodological quality, including 12 studies with better quality and no detection of bias risk. The study had high heterogeneity, which was attributed to the measurement tools and intervention duration through subgroup analysis, with no inconsistency found. Additionally, no downgrade factors related to imprecision, publication bias, or indirectness were identified. In conclusion, sandplay therapy is an effective measure to improve social communication deficits in children with ASD, and current evidence recommends early intervention using an individual sandplay therapy or integrated sandplay therapy intervention program once a week for 22-28 weeks, which can serve as evidence-based clinical guidance. Systematic Review Registration: www.crd.york.ac.uk, identifier (CRD420234821750).

The characteristics and associations between trait and state time perspective in adolescents with depression: a questionnaire and sandplay study.

Background: Time perspective is strongly associated with depression. However, the characteristics and associations between trait and state time perspective in adolescents with depression remain unknown. Methods: A total of 211 adolescents with depression (mean age: 14.60 ± 1.69 years) and 215 healthy controls (mean age: 14.66 ± 1.73 years) were selected and assessed using the Chinese version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory to quantify their trait time perspective. Thirty adolescents were randomly selected from each group to create nine-grid sandplay productions to assess their state time perspective. Results: (1) Regarding the trait time perspective, depressed adolescents scored significantly higher on past negative, present fatalistic, present impulsive, and deviation-balanced time perspective (p < 0.001) and significantly lower on past positive and future (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. (2) In terms of state time perspective, depressed adolescents showed a significantly higher number of squares related to past negative, present negative, and future negative in their nine-grid sandplay productions compared to the control group (p < 0.01).Conversely, they had significantly fewer squares associated with past positive, present positive, future positive than the control group (p < 0.05). (3) Past negative, present fatalistic, and deviation from balanced time perspective traits were negatively correlated with positive state time perspective and positively correlated with negative state time perspective. Past positive and future traits were positively correlated with positive state time perspective and negatively correlated with negative state time perspective. Conclusion: Adolescents with depression are characterized by dwelling on the past, having a severely negative attitude toward the past, being pessimistic about the future, and having a tendency to blame fate or external forces for their problems. In the future, standardized methods for measuring state time perspective should be further explored, as well as the effectiveness of the nine-grid sandplay, for improving time perspective in patients with depression.

Eye movement verification and evaluation of initial sandplay picture system for internet addiction symptoms in Chinese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Sandplay therapy is a psychotherapeutic technique, based on the psychoanalytic theory of the unconscious. Nearly a century after it was developed, sandplay can now be applied for the initial diagnosis tools for sand players. The goal of the current research is to demonstrate the role of sandplay in identifying internet-addicted adolescents in China. The study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity for sandplay as a diagnosis and evaluation tool for internet addiction symptoms, and to verify the consistency that exists between results based on sandplay pictures and those based on the Pathological Internet Usage Scale for Adolescents (APIUS). METHODS: The research was conducted with a 2 × 2 mixed factorial design - two types of participants (addicts and non-addicts) and two types of sandplay pictures (pictures for addicts and pictures for non-addicts). An absolute recognition-judgment paradigm was used along with eye movement evaluations to evaluate the existing initial sandplay picture system for internet addiction symptoms (22 sandplay pictures, 11 related to addicts and 11 related to non-addicts, respectively). Sixty Chinese adolescents were selected as the participants (30 as addicts and 30 as non-addicts) according to the APIUS. RESULTS: (1) The initial sandplay pictures for internet addicts are clearly preferred by Chinese internet-addicted adolescents, which are more familiar and easier to process; (2) Such pictures have a higher level of emotional arousal and cognitive resonance for the addicts; (3) Track and heat maps indicate that young internet addicts mainly fixate on the initial sandplay pictures for internet addicts. CONCLUSION: This initial sandplay picture system can be used to screen and identify young Chinese internet addicts based on symptoms, and the evaluation results are consistent with those based on the APIUS.

Jungian Analysis of the Chinese Mythological Image of Sun Wukong.

This paper examines the symbolism of the cultural image Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), a Chinese legendary hero, and how it influenced an eight-year-old boy's psychic development. Through an analysis of Sun Wukong's life from his birth to attaining Buddhahood, a three-phase healing process is identified in Sun Wukong's tale and the psychotherapeutic process: "naming and initiating," "nurturing and taming," and "transforming and transcending," proposed by Dr. Heyong Shen. Sandplay visually highlighted these key clinical changes in conscious awareness and developmental behaviour influencing the boy's individuation process. Images found either in cultural traditions or spontaneously emerging from the unconscious in individuals are of significance in human life, offering pathways to psychic healing and development. Further, myths and cultural resources used in clinical work demonstrate that having cultural competency is invaluable in Jungian analysis. Pathogenic and health-maintenance factors of culture can be explored in future clinical practice and research.

Cet article étudie le symbolisme de l'image culturelle d'un héros légendaire chinois; Sun Wukong (le roi singe). L'article explore comment cette image a influencé le développement psychique d'un garçon de huit ans. À travers une analyse de la vie de Sun Wukong depuis sa naissance jusqu'à ce qu'il atteigne la bouddhéité, un processus de guérison en trois phases est identifié dans le conte de Sun Wukong et dans le processus psychothérapeutique, et proposé par le Dr Heyong Shen : « nommer et initier ¼, « apprivoiser et nourrir ¼ et « transformer et transcender ¼. La thérapie par le jeu de sable a ensuite mis en évidence visuellement ces changements cliniques clés dans la prise de conscience et le comportement développemental, qui ont influencé le processus d'individuation du garçon. Les images trouvées dans les traditions culturelles ou qui émergent spontanément de l'inconscient chez les individus sont importantes dans la vie des êtres humains : elles fournissent des voies de guérison et de développement psychiques. De plus, les mythes et les ressources culturelles utilisés dans le travail clinique montrent que la compétence culturelle est inestimable dans l'analyse jungienne. Les facteurs pathogènes et les facteurs de maintien de la santé - présents dans la culture - peuvent être explorés dans la pratique clinique et la recherche futures.

Este artículo explora el simbolismo de la imagen cultural de Sun Wukong (el Rey Mono), un héroe legendario chino, y cómo influyó en el desarrollo psíquico de un niño de ocho años. A través de un análisis de la vida de Sun Wukong desde su nacimiento hasta alcanzar la Budeidad, se identifica un proceso de curación en tres fases en el cuento de Sun Wukong y en el proceso psicoterapéutico: "nombrar e iniciar", "domar y nutrir" y "transformar y trascender", propuestos por el Dr. Heyong Shen. A continuación, el juego de arena puso de relieve visualmente estos cambios clínicos en la conciencia y en el desarrollo del comportamiento, influyendo en el proceso de individuación del niño. Las imágenes que se encuentran tanto en las tradiciones culturales, como las que que emergen espontáneamente del inconsciente de los individuos son importantes en la vida humana, ya que ofrecen vías para la curación psíquica y el desarrollo. Además, los mitos y los recursos culturales utilizados en el trabajo clínico demuestran que tener competencia cultural es inestimable en el análisis junguiano. Los factores patógenos y de mantenimiento de la salud de la cultura pueden explorarse en la práctica clínica y la investigación futuras.

Psychological Counseling during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Thoughts and Implications Arisen from an Experience in Italian Schools.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked as a psychologist in two schools: a comprehensive school (an institution including three school levels: kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school of first grade) and a Provincial Center for the Education of Adults (CPIA). This paper provides some clinical considerations that arose from this personal experience, focusing on practical implications for school psychological counseling. Among the main points, I noticed that students were eager to disclose information about themselves in a professional space, were not afraid of being ridiculed by classmates for attending the service, and spontaneously used artistic media. Using English (a non-native language for both the Italian psychologist and the CPIA student) emerged as an added value for immigrant students who were not fluent in Italian. This allowed them to attend the psychology service and share their thoughts and feelings despite their difficulties with Italian. In conclusion, psychological counseling services should be implemented in all schools and across all school levels worldwide to favor psychological well-being and spread a culture prone to asking for psychological help. Moreover, using a non-native language might be helpful when working with international students. Finally, sandplay therapy (and art) might be an additional option to verbal counseling in school settings.

Characteristics in Initial Sandplay of Optimal and Non-optimal Family Functioning Among High School Students.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics of the initial sandplay of high school students with poor family function, by studying the initial sandplay of high school students with different levels of family function, so as to provide the basics for the psychological assessment and intervention of high school students. Significance: To provide data support for high school students' mental health education and sandplay therapy, and to apply sandplay as an intervention method to play a healing role in high school mental health work. Methods: High school students (N = 345) were divided into 11 groups and participated in a sandplay experiment for 8 weeks from February to March 2021. Each group completed the Chinese version of the Epstein et al. Family Assessment Device. Samples with scores of one standard deviation below and above the sample mean were placed in the low family functioning group (n = 30; 15 girls) or high family functioning group (n = 30; 15 girls), respectively. The initial sandplay was evaluated on multiple dimensions using an established coding system. Results: Samples with low family functioning used fewer animal figurines in their sandplay (t = 2.176, p < 0.05); had more family scenes (χ2 = 4.356, p < 0.05); fewer rural scenes (χ2 = 4.344, p < 0.05); and fewer healing themes (t = -2.336, p < 0.05). In particular, there were fewer examples of connected healing themes (χ2 = 7.500, p < 0.05); in-depth healing themes (χ2 = 5.455, p < 0.05); and more hindered trauma themes (χ2 = 4.812, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis was conducted using the sandplay characteristics as predictors of group membership. Using forward stepwise selection, themes of hindered trauma (B = -2.030) and connected healing (B=1.765) were shown to be significant predictors of group membership (F = 17.784, P < 0.01, ΔR 2 = 0.214). Conclusion: Students who reported high and low family functioning showed significant differences in their sandplay characteristics. We propose sandplay characteristics can help identify low family functioning of adolescents during psychological evaluations.

Sandplay: traces in the sand - traces in the brain.

For more than 40 years I have been using sandplay with children and adults in my practice of analytical psychology. In this article I describe the development of sandplay from simple playing in the sand, to the technique of using sand, water and figures in different forms of therapy, to the sandplay method based on the foundations of Jungian psychology. I put special emphasis on the so-called review of a sandplay process, namely the careful, comprehensive analysis of sand pictures, dreams and reflections at the end of the therapeutic process. This happens in a mutual exchange between analysand and analyst and brings about a deeply effective synthesis of the therapy process, both in the analysand and in the analyst. One further emphasis is on the physical component of sandplay: the physicality of sandplay creates a resonance between body and soul and makes sandplay therapy also a psychosomatic method.

Dans ma pratique de psychologie analytique j'utilise depuis plus de 40 ans la thérapie par le jeu de sable avec des enfants et des adultes. Dans cet article je décris l'élaboration de la thérapie par le jeu de sable à partir du simple jeu avec le sable, puis la technique d'utiliser le sable, l'eau et les figurines dans différents formes de thérapie, jusqu'à la méthode de thérapie par le jeu de sable qui s'appuie sur les fondements de la psychologie Jungienne. Je mets tout particulièrement l'accent sur ce que l'on appelle le compte-rendu du processus de thérapie par le jeu de sable, à savoir l'analyse minutieuse et globale des images faites avec le sable, des rêves et des réflexions, et qui se fait à la fin du processus thérapeutique. Ceci se passe dans un échange mutuel entre l'analysant et l'analyste et apporte une synthèse profondément efficace du processus de thérapie, à la fois pour l'analysant et pour l'analyste. Je mets également l'accent sur la composante physique de la thérapie par le jeu de sable; l'aspect physique de cette thérapie crée une résonnance entre le corps et l'âme et en fait une méthode également psychosomatique.

Durante más de 40 años, he estado utilizando la Caja de Arena con niños y adultos en mi práctica de psicología analítica. En el presente artículo describo el desarrollo del Juego con Arena, desde el simple jugar en la arena, a la técnica de usar arena, agua y figuras en diversas formas de terapia, y al método del Juego con Arena con base en los fundamentos de la Psicología Junguiana. Pongo especial énfasis en el así llamado revisión de un proceso con el Juego con Arena, a saber, el análisis cuidadoso y detallado de las imágenes en la arena, sueños y reflexiones al final del proceso terapéutico. Esto sucede en un intercambio mutuo entre analizando y analista y brinda una síntesis profundamente efectiva del proceso terapéutico, en ambos, analizando y analista. Un énfasis adicional es en el componente físico del Juego con Arena; la corporalidad del Juego con Arena crea una resonancia entre cuerpo y alma y hace del Juego con Arena, también un método psicosomático.

Childhood and cultural evolution.

Already in 1912, Sabina Spielrein addressed the transforming and antagonistic movements of life that appear from conception in her work 'Destruction as the cause of coming into being'. Her writings form a bridge between Freud and Jung, as they establish the relationship between biological experiences and archetypes. In 1974 Lloyd deMause examined the intrinsic link between primary relational experiences, brain development and the system of beliefs and values of the Sapiens species. He outlined the parallel between the transformation of child education and cultural evolution. Reflecting this theoretical approach, in child psychotherapy we have the peculiar opportunity of resorting to experiences during pregnancy and birth, to gain a deeper understanding of self-expressions in spontaneous drawings, dreams and sand scenes.

Déjà en 1912, dans son article « La Destruction comme cause du devenir ¼, Sabina Spielrein s'intéressa aux mouvements de vie antagonistes et transformateurs qui apparaissent dès la conception. Ses écrits forment un pont entre Freud et Jung, parce qu'ils établissent la relation entre les expériences biologiques et les archétypes. En 1974 Lloyd deMause étudia le lien intrinsèque entre les premières expériences relationnelles, le développement du cerveau et le système de croyances et de valeurs de l'espèce Sapiens. Il souligna le parallèle entre la transformation de l'éducation de l'enfant et l'évolution culturelle. Reflétant cette approche théorique, nous trouvons dans la psychothérapie d'enfants l'étrange opportunité de recourir aux expériences de la grossesse et la naissance, pour obtenir une compréhension plus profonde des expressions de soi dans les dessins spontanés, les rêves et les scènes de thérapie par le jeu de sable.

Ya en 1912, desde el comienzo de su trabajo 'La destrucción como origen del devenir', Sabrina Spielrein abordó los movimientos antagónicos y transformadores de vida. Sus escritos forman un puente entre Freud y Jung, al establecer una relación entre experiencias biológicas y arquetipos. En 1974 Lloyd deMause examinó el vínculo intrínseco entre las experiencias relacionales tempranas, desarrollo cerebral y el sistema de creencias y valores de la especie Sapiens. Delineó el paralelismo entre la transformación de la educación infantil y la evolución cultural. A partir de este abordaje teórico en psicoterapia infantil, tenemos la peculiar oportunidad de acceder, a través de la auto expresión en dibujos espontáneos, sueños y escenas en la arena, a experiencias sucedidas durante el embarazo y el nacimiento, para ganar una comprensión más profunda.

Já em 1912, Sabina Spielrein abordou os movimentos transformadores e antagônicos da vida que aparecem desde a concepção em sua obra 'Destruição como causa do surgimento'. Seus escritos formam uma ponte entre Freud e Jung, à medida que estabelecem a relação entre experiências biológicas e arquétipos. Em 1974, Lloyd deMause examinou a ligação intrínseca entre experiências relacionais primárias, desenvolvimento cerebral e o sistema de crenças e valores das espécies Sapiens. Ele delineou o paralelo entre a transformação da educação infantil e a evolução cultural. Refletindo essa abordagem teórica, na psicoterapia infantil temos a oportunidade peculiar de recorrer a experiências durante a gravidez e o parto, para obter uma compreensão mais profunda das autoexpressões em desenhos espontâneos, sonhos e cenas de areia.

Dark feet and dark wings: penetrating the depths of the Earth.

The author, although an analyst, is an initiate into the topic of environmental destruction. Following Wendell Berry, she enters the dark and begins a journey of dream-like reflection, weaving images from her own dream and drawing on the work of Vaughan, Bernstein, Soloveitchik and Sacks. She asks, 'not if but where does climate change enter the room?'. The second half of the paper focuses on the manifestations of environmental destruction in dreams and sandplay from three patients and one dream group participant. The paper argues that the analyst must see and intuit before our patients can access the objective layer of environmental destruction in dreams and symbolic material. In this way, the climate becomes the wounded patient, and the analyst as wounded healer must first access his/her own relationship to the wounds inside. Finally, using an ancient Jewish mythological story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the author argues that Jungian analysts must work to find balance between the inner world of depth psychology and the outer world with its challenges and problems that include environmental destruction.

L'auteur, bien qu'étant analyste, est une initiée du sujet de la destruction de l'environnement. Inspirée par Wendell Berry, elle entre dans le noir et commence un voyage de réflexion en tissant des images provenant de son propre rêve et utilisant les travaux de Vaughan, Bernstein, Soloveitchik et Sacks. Pour elle la question est non pas si mais où est-ce que le changement climatique entre dans la pièce ? La deuxième moitié de l'article s'intéresse aux manifestations de destruction de l'environnement dans les rêves et la thérapie par le jeu de sable de trois patients et d'une personne participant à un groupe de rêves. L'article soutient que l'analyste doit voir et suivre son intuition avant que les patients aient accès à la couche objective de la destruction de l'environnement dans les rêves et le matériel symbolique. De cette manière, le climat devient le patient blessé, et l'analyste, en tant que guérisseur blessé, doit tout d'abord accéder à sa propre relation aux blessures intérieures. Enfin, s'appuyant sur une ancienne histoire mythologique Juive, celle de Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai - qui se retira dans une caverne pendant 13 années - l'auteur soutient que les analystes Jungiens doivent œuvrer à trouver l'équilibre entre le monde intérieur de la psychologie des profondeurs et le monde extérieur avec ses défis et ses problèmes, qui incluent la destruction de l'environnement.

La autora, es analista, y también iniciada en el tópico de la destrucción medioambiental. Siguiendo a Wendell Berry, ella entra en la oscuridad y comienza una travesía reflexiva hilvanando imágenes de sus propios sueños y apoyándose en los trabajos de Vaughan, Bernstein, Soloveitchik y Sacks. Ella pregunta, '¿sino dónde el cambio climático entra en la sala? La segunda parte del trabajo se focaliza en manifestaciones de la destrucción del medioambiente en sueños y en la caja de arena de tres pacientes y de un participante de un grupo de sueños. El trabajo argumenta que el/la analista debe poder ver e intuir antes que nuestros pacientes puedan acceder la dimensión objetiva de la destrucción medioambiental en sueños y material simbólico. De este modo, el clima deviene el/la paciente herido, y el/la analista como curador herido debe primero poder acceder su propia relación con su herida interior. Finalmente, utilizando una antigua historia mitológica de la tradición Judía del Rabino Shimon bar Yochai, quien se retiró a una cueva durante trece años, ella argumenta que analistas Junguianos deben trabajar para encontrar un balance entre el mundo interno de la psicología profunda y el mundo externo con sus desafíos y problemas como el de la destrucción ambiental.

The valiant battle: from chaos to integration.

The birth of a new sibling can create a state of inner chaos for the first born. Conflict, aggression and regression often occur as the replaced child adjusts to his loss of exclusivity. This paper describes a short analytic sandplay case of a 5-year-old boy manifesting anger and anxiety as the birth of his new sibling approached. Throughout this individuation process, a fluid back and forth movement occurred from regression to progression, and from deintegration to reintegration (Fordham 1988), as he advanced from the regressed Uroboric phase of development, forward to the age-appropriate phase of the Patriarche (Neumann 1990). As he grieved the loss of his exclusive status, Roy worked with his aggressive feelings towards his mother and the new baby, as well as with his feelings of despair. This process developed in the context of a positive maternal transference which allowed for both moments of deep resonance, states of participation mystique, and moments of projected rage and aggression towards the 'abandoning mother'. His work in analysis resulted in an opening of the ego-Self axis, a solidifying of the depressive position, and a movement forward in development. At the end of treatment, an initiatory process into the realm of the 'Father' was activated. Roy's symptoms had diminished and he was ready to leave the regressive pull of the Great Mother and move out into the world of peers, with a strengthened ego and an expanded sense of self.

La naissance d'un petit frère ou d'une petite sœur peut générer un état de chaos intérieur pour le premier de la fratrie. Alors que l'enfant remplacé s'ajuste à la perte de l'exclusivité, des conflits, de l'agressivité et une régression peuvent se produire. Cet article décrit un court cas de thérapie analytique par le jeu de sable avec un petit garçon de cinq ans qui montrait de la colère et de l'angoisse alors que la naissance du prochain enfant se rapprochait. Au cours de ce processus d'individuation, un mouvement fluide de flux et de reflux se produisit de la régression à la progression, et de la dé-intégration à la ré-intégration (Fordham 1985) alors qu'il avançait de la phase ouroborique régressée du développement vers la phase en relation avec son âge et dite « du Patriarche ¼ (Neumann 1990). Alors qu'il faisait le deuil de son statut d'exclusivité, Roy travailla ses sentiments agressifs envers sa mère et le nouveau bébé ainsi que ses sentiments de désespoir. Ce processus se produisit dans le contexte d'un transfert maternel positif qui rendit possible des moments de profonde résonnance, des états de participation mystique, ainsi que des moments de rage et d'agressivité projetée envers « la mère qui abandonne ¼. Son travail d'analyse aboutit à une ouverture de l'axe moi-Soi, une consolidation de la position dépressive et un mouvement en avant dans son développement. A la fin du traitement, le commencement d'un processus dans le domaine du « Père ¼ fut activé. Les symptômes de Roy décrurent et il fut capable de lâcher l'emprise de la Grande Mère et d'avancer vers le monde de ses pairs, avec un Moi renforcé et un sentiment de soi plus large.

El nacimiento de un hermano puede crear un estado de caos interno para el primer hijo. Conflicto, agresión y regresión suceden a menudo a medida que el niño reemplazado se adapta a su falta de exclusividad. El presente trabajo describe un corto caso analítico de Juego con Arena, de un niño de cinco años que manifestaba enojo y ansiedad a medida que se aproximaba el nacimiento de su nuevo hermano. A través de su proceso de individuación, ocurrió un fluido movimiento de ir y venir desde la regresión hacia la progresión, y desde la deintegración hacia la integración (Fordham 1985), a medida que avanzaba desde una fase del desarrollo urobórica regresiva, a una fase Patriarcal adecuada a su edad (Neumann 1990). A medida que duelaba la pérdida de su estatus exclusivo, Roy trabajó con sus sentimientos agresivos hacia la madre y nuevo hermano, así como también con su sentimiento de desesperación. Este proceso se desarrolló en el contexto de una transferencia materna positiva, la cual posibilitó estados de profunda resonancia, estados de participation mystique, y momentos de ira y agresión proyectadas en la 'madre abandónica'. Su trabajo en análisis resultó en una apertura del eje ego-Self, una consolidación de la posición depresiva, y en un movimiento hacia adelante en su desarrollo. Hacia el final del tratamiento, se activó un proceso de iniciación en la dimensión del 'Padre'. Los síntomas de Roy decrecieron y estuvo listo para dejar la fuerza de atracción de la Gran Madre y moverse hacia el mundo de los pares, con un ego fortalecido y un sentido expandido del self.

Effect of Restricted Group Sandplay on Interpersonal Sensitivity in College Students.

This study aims to investigate the intervention effect of group sandplay on the interpersonal sensitivity of college students and analyze the relationship between the theme and interactive behavior characteristics and the intervention effect of group sandplay especially during the period of COVID-19. Sixty college students were randomly assigned to the experimental group (group sandplay) or the control group (neutral task interventions). The results showed that the interpersonal sensitivity level of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. For the experimental group, the variation in the interpersonal sensitivity level was significantly negatively correlated with the change in warm, supportive behavior during group sandplay interaction. These findings suggest that group sandplay is effective in improving the interpersonal sensitivity level of college students, and this effect can be positively predicted by warm and supportive interaction behaviors in group sandplay.

Effects of Image-Sandplay Therapy on the Mental Health and Subjective Well-Being of Children with Autism.

BACKGROUND: Autism significantly affects mental health and lowers subjective well-being (SWB). The rehabilitation therapy of autism is attracting widespread attention. We aimed to explore the effects of image-sandplay therapy on the mental health and SWB of children with autism. METHODS: A total of 90 children with autism treated in Changchun Women and Children Health Hospital from Jan 2019 to Jun 2020 were enrolled by convenient sampling method. They were randomly divided into control (n=45) and observation (n=45) groups. The observation group had a 12-week image-sandplay therapy based on conventional rehabilitation therapy. In the image-sandplay therapy, the one-to-one intervention was provided once a week, 60 min in each. Autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC), autism behavior checklist (ABC), Conners parent symptom questionnaire (PSQ), satisfaction with life scale (SWLS), and positive and negative affect scale for children (PANAS-C) of the two groups were assessed. RESULTS: After intervention, the observation group showed lower scores in ATEC scale and ABC scale than the control group, and the difference show statistical significance (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the observation group showed significantly lower scores in PSQ scale than the control group, showing a significant difference (P<0.05). The observation group shows higher scores in SWLS scale and positive affect scores than the control group, as well as significantly lower negative affected scores than the control groups, showing a significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Image-sandplay therapy can improve the symptoms of children with autism and is conducive to promoting mental health and increasing SWB. It is a feasible and effective rehabilitation method.

Inter-Brain Synchronization During Sandplay Therapy: Individual Analyses.

Interactions between the client (Cl) and therapist (Th) evolve therapeutic relationships in psychotherapy. An interpersonal link or therapeutic space is implicitly developed, wherein certain important elements are expressed and shared. However, neural basis of psychotherapy, especially of non-verbal modalities, have scarcely been explored. Therefore, we examined the neural backgrounds of such therapeutic alliances during sandplay, a powerful art/play therapy technique. Real-time and simultaneous measurement of hemodynamics was conducted in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of Cl-Th pairs participating in sandplay and subsequent interview sessions through multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy. As sandplay is highly individualized, and no two sessions and products (sandtrays) are the same, we expected variation in interactive patterns in the Cl-Th pairs. Nevertheless, we observed a statistically significant correlation between the spatio-temporal patterns in signals produced by the homologous regions of the brains. During the sandplay condition, significant correlations were obtained in the lateral PFC and frontopolar (FP) regions in the real Cl-Th pairs. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed in the FP region for the interview condition. The correlations found in our study were explained as a "remote" synchronization (i.e., unconnected peripheral oscillators synchronizing through a hub maintaining free desynchronized dynamics) between two subjects in a pair, possibly representing the neural foundation of empathy, which arises commonly in sandplay therapy (ST).

Effects of sandplay therapy in reducing emotional and behavioural problems in school-age children with chronic diseases: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Children with chronic diseases exhibit a higher incidence of emotional-behavioural problems. Though sandplay therapy is a universally recognized psychological treatment method, experimental evidence for this form of therapy is lacking. Our aims were to examine the effectiveness of sandplay therapy in reducing emotional and behavioural problems in school-age children with chronic diseases as well as anxiety and depression in their caregivers. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 60 children and their caregivers were enrolled in the present study between January and October 2019. A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China. Participants were divided into an intervention and a control group. Both groups received regular treatment, and the intervention group received additional sandplay therapy. Four behavioural rating scales were used to evaluate the differences between the two groups. The children's scores on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) before and after the intervention were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was also employed to compare the median results before and after treatment. RESULTS: The total scores for CBCL, anxiety and depression, withdrawal, and social behavioural problems for children in the intervention group were all lower than the corresponding scores for those in the control group (p < .05). The EPQ scores for emotional stability and psychosis in the intervention group were both lower than those in the control group (p < .05). The SAS and SDS scores for the caregivers of children in the intervention group were also lower than the corresponding scores for those in the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Sandplay therapy can reduce anxiety, withdrawal, and social behavioural problems in school-age children with chronic diseases, as well as relieve anxiety and depression symptoms in their caregivers. Our study provided evidence for the clinical application of sandplay therapy and highlights the importance of offering and integrating psychological treatment in clinical nursing care.

The clinical effects of school sandplay group therapy on general children with a focus on Korea Child & Youth Personality Test.

BACKGROUND: This study intended to examine the comprehensive clinical effects of school sandplay group counseling on the emotions and behaviors of children for the first time in Korea. METHODS: To this objective, 10 sessions of in-school sandplay group counseling were administered to 113 fourth- to sixth-graders in an elementary school located in Cheonan city for 12 weeks from March to July 2015. Each small group consisted of 10 to 16 children and the entire 12 sessions were composed of a baseline test, 10 therapy sessions, and a post-test and evaluation session. The study subjects consisted of 56 boys (49.6%) and 57 girls (50.4%). As the evaluation instruments, an epidemiologic questionnaire and the Korea Child & Youth Personality Test were used during the baseline phase and after the termination of the counseling. RESULTS: The comparison of the scores according to the KCYP clinical scales and detailed evaluation scales before and after the 12-week counseling showed an increase in the self-esteem and a significant decline in depression in the elementary students after the counseling. CONCLUSION: It is deemed that school sandplay group counseling can help elementary school students to solve emotional problems and improve their self-esteem.