The Relevance of Symbols in Sand Therapy: Heroines and Cultural Tenor
Dee
Preston-Dillon, Ph.D.
·
What is the relevance of figurines in a
sand scene beyond the story the client shares?
·
Why should a therapist research
symbols?
·
How can we study symbols and avoid
concretizing meanings or unethically project our own assumptions onto the
client?
Nomenclature: I use the overarching term sand therapy to
refer to a general use of sand no matter one’s theory lens. A bibliography is
available at the end.
Imagination, and all
forms of creativity -- art, icons, poetry, music, myths, storytelling, dance, and
rituals -- are an integral part of our humanity, our shared cultural connections
steeped in the symbolic.
We create symbols
that serve our neurological, cultural, idiosyncratic, and aesthetic needs.
We bring this
capacity to sand therapy, and, when the process is kept safe for unbounded
imagination, spontaneous play, and witnessed with full, respectful presence
We
have healing.
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Download Bibliography from Google Drive
©2016 Dee Preston-Dillon, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Download for educational purposes only.
