Archetypal Symbolism in the Recovery Process from Natural Disaster: Sandplay Therapy of Nepal Earthquake Adolescent Survivors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the process of psychological recovery following earthquakes as well as the archetypal symbolism in the process of sandplay therapy. The study participants were 12 adolescents who had resided for 16 months in a temporary camp for those displaced after the earthquakes in Nepal in 2015. The participants typically created scenes of archetypal invasion (Attacks by snakes, beasts, aliens, monsters and unidentified assailants), earthquakes or the aftermath of earthquakes (Earthquake, destruction of buildings, volcanic explosions), Helping Forces (Emergence of heroes, police, father or outsiders/Soldiers, weapons, and fighting scenes between soldiers and animals/monsters, and bad people Gods), and reconstruction of homes (Construction of a new and good nation), Recovery of Order (Division, well-compartmented strong houses/Peaceful nature, family and home). The religious and cultural in influences on the participants were reflected in their sandpictures and comments that the earthquake was caused by a divine being. Yet at the same time they expressed in archetypal symbols their ability to recover with the help of this divine presence.

The Effects of Sandplay Therapy on the Degree of Overdependence, Impulsiveness, and Interpersonal Problems of Smartphone Overdependent College Students

“…Such symbols can be regarded to be important because such scenes mean the individual's internal state, which is in the process in which the ego is differentiated from the unconsciousness and connected to the self . It is worth noting because the symbolic meaning of acquiring gems in Sandplay therapy can be ego development, mitigation or resolution of problems, union of antipoles, restoration of relationships, and the connection of the ego-self axes (Jang, 2017).…”

“…Therefore, in this study, it was judged that the intervention of Sandplay therapy would be useful for smartphoneoverdependent college students because Sandplay therapy emphasizes the therapist's supportive and receptive attitudes. In addition, Sandplay therapists consider non-verbal communication important in the relationship with the client, do not dictate the clients, and have an empathetic and protective attitude (Jang, 2017). The therapists' attitude as such seems to enable the clients to experience positive interpersonal relationships and have more opportunities for non-verbal communication in the process of Sandplay therapy.…”

A Study on the Symbols and Themes of Sandplay Therapy for Children of Myanmar Refugees living in Malaysia

“…The creation of sandpictures depicting the invasion of dinosaurs, serpents, beasts and monsters may be an unconscious effort by the brain to consciously and intentionally control the stimulations that trigger anxious emotions that are difficult to handle or explain. In fact, other children or adolescents and even adults who have experienced and escaped war like the Myanmar refugee children tend to symbolize disaster, intense stress, and emotions such as anger with aggressive serpents, beasts, and dinosaurs (Jang, 2017b). Jung took dreams of serpents as an example.…”

“…Sandplay therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that values the manifestation of the healing potential within the human psyche . In addition, by providing symbols that children can use to project and express themselves without language, such as sand, water, and figures, it is possible for them to express experiences that are difficult to express in words, or that are difficult to access through language, such as severe trauma or archetypal unconscious healing potential (Jang, 2017a(Jang, , 2017bMalchio, 1997Malchio, /2008. Since analytical psychology is the theoretical basis of sandplay therapy (Jang, 2017a), we may hypothesize that children can express unconscious experiences if provided with a pathway for sandplay, art, or music .…”

A Study on the Images Used in Sandplay Therapy by Children Who Experienced the Gyeongju Earthquake

“…The invasion of dinosaurs, snakes, beasts, and monsters in the sandplay process is the work of the children's brain, at an unconscious level, to consciously and intentionally control the stimulus, or the earthquake, which stirs up anxiety that is difficult to handle and explain. Emotions surrounding natural disasters like earthquakes, abuse, domestic violence, severe stress and anger are usually symbolized by aggression displayed by dinosaurs, snakes, wild beasts and the like(s) in the sandpictures of not only children but also adolescents and adults (Jang, 2017b).…”