Sandplay and Family Constellation

Abstract

This article examines how the author uses sandplay and family constellation approaches to enable clients to access nonverbal and preconscious material. It offers a brief account of the development and principles of sandplay and family constellation work, how they can be used in practice, and how they can be understood in terms of transactional analysis theory. It is suggested that combining these three approaches allows for the integration of different neural networks and ego states. Questions are raised as to which self (selves) is active in the sandplay and what role physis may play in this creative process.

• sandplay
• family constellation
• transactional analysis
• physis
• deconfusion
• self
• preconscious
• integration

Notes

Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Diane Salters

Author Biography

Diane Salters, MSc, Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), trained at Metanoia Institute in its early days in 1985. In 1993 she returned to her native South Africa, where she now lives and works in private practice and runs a small training group. She has introduced transactional analysis to a number of nongovernmental organizations working in the field of health or community development and received the ITAA Hedges Capers Humanitarian Award in 2008. She retains strong links with the United Kingdom, where she serves as an external examiner for the Wealden College. She values the international transactional analysis community and has served on the ITAA Board of Trustees in various capacities. She offers supervision and psychotherapy internationally via Skype. Diane can be reached at 15 Disa Road, Murdock Valley North, Simons Town, 7975, South Africa; email: [email protected]; Website: www.tatransformations.co.za.