In this post I continue to trace Rachel's progress during sandplay therapy as she moved to explore deeper issues. In earlier posts (see archive) I shared about the preoccupations of this 8 year old girl who was caught in the emotional turmoil of her parents' divorce.
By the fifth session, symbols chosen included skeletons . Meanwhile she never failed to select pots and jars to hold water and food (symbols of resources and nurturing). The treasure chest which held hope and answers again appeared in her story.
In this fifth sand-story a box surrounded with danger signs was found holding the skeletons of the father in the story. In the treasure chest placed near by, Rachel filled with stones which she said were eggs. The story was again about a mother and 2 daughters, this time running a farm. Visitors who could open the skeleton box without screaming will be awarded with eggs from the treasure chest. No one succeeded in opening the box. According to Rachel's story the 2 daughters were unaware of the content in the box. They uncovered the box and screamed. The mother told them the skeletons were fake.
I feel that Rachel was expressing fears of losing her father and yet recognising that if she could accept the loss she could move on (eggs as in growth). In an earlier session while putting the figures in the sand tray she had muttered to herself "I don't need a father". The fact that the mother and daughters were running a farm in the story held promise to growth and a new life.
Meanwhile in a separate session with the parents, together with another colleague, I had given some feedback about the repeated themes in Rachel's sandplay and encouraged them to reinforce their assurance of love for her and that she would still have access to her father.
By the sixth and seventh sandplay sessions, Rachel's sand-stories no longer featured a mother and 2 daughters. Instead it was more about a little girl's adventures. One was about the girl finding the magic plant when eaten gave her the wisdom to outwit a hulk. Interestingly enough Rachel's seventh sand-story was about a girl and her encounter with a giant. The girl pitched a tent and set up 'no entry' signs which barred a giant from entering while she was out to fetch some medication.
I feel in both these stories, what was taking place in Rachel was setting some emotional boundaries for herself against the significant figures in her life (represented by huge figurines). They also seemed to represent her journey to take control to 'outsmart' them.
In my next post I shall discuss how subsequent sandplay sessions reveal how Rachel seemed to have accepted the new situations in her life.
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