2020, Vol.11, No.1

Journal of Symbols & Sandplay Therapy 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.44

pISSN : 2234-0556 / eISSN : 2288-5188
https://journal.kci.go.kr/sandplay

Jung saw religious experiences as the most important human factor and introduced us to the psychological and ontological values of these religious experiences. Jung's profound psychological insights helped religious people take a new perspective on their religious life. This paper focuses on Jung's interest in various religious areas, including understanding of Christianity, the relationship between Christianity and shadow, and the relationship between psychotherapy and religious sanctification. Among the many psychotherapeutic approaches that Jung Psychology utilizes, sand play therapy has been developed based on a deep understanding of the collective unconsciousness and ego conscious development process. Through clinical case study, this researcher analyzed on how sand play therapy affected the client's religious maturation process. As a result, it helps us to experience the symbolically expressed self and to integrate unfulfilled areas, which contributes to the sanctification process and provides insights for us to see life in abundance and depth.

The aim of this study was to investigate research trends in sandplay therapy in South Korea. Thus we analyzed 205 Korean research papers published between 2009 and 2018. We grouped our results into five categories using the research trend analysis method. Those categories were research topic, subject, method, and characteristics of sandplay therapy. The results reveal the current status and limitations of sandplay research. These also suggest future research directions for sandplay therapists and researchers.

Individuation is a process of human maturity into true self, and a process of self-realization, a holistic process centered on spiritual transformation. Individuation incorporates the unconscious and consciousness existing as an antipole within the mind. We examine this process through the common symbol of the turtle in sandplay therapy. It serves as a mediator between God and Man, thus having an antipole ambivalence of wisdom and chaos. Our case study to examine the role of this symbol was a middle-aged woman. Through turtles appearing in sand therapy of middle-aged woman, we recognized and integrated what is symbolic of human unconsciousness. Sandplay both illuminated and resolved her anger and internal conflict. This fostered the process of individualization and integrated the anima and animus. The results are relevant for understanding the individuation entrance in sandplay therapy. In particular, it aids struggles with self-integration and individuation because of internal conflicts.