Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association (HKSTA)

Healing and personal transformation are the sine qua non of therapy. In Sandplay therapy, healing occurs with the strengthening of the ego-Self axis in the process of individuation, while transformation is evidenced by an expansion of consciousness and personal world view (Ammann, 1991)

Murray Stein argues that a person’s destiny is made up of a series of transformative images and experiences, such as an impressive person you meet, a dream, an active imagination experience, or a traumatic event such as a divorce or death of a loved one. Dr. Stein then focuses on the importance and significance of intimate relationships on the journey towards individuation because such relationships involve projections and therefore transference and countertransference. In order to analyze further such an important interpersonal dynamic, he makes use of Jung’s four stages of analysis: confession, elucidation, education, and transformation itself. Finally, the author illustrates the stages of inner development on the journey towards individuation as seen in the images and sequence of the Rosarium Philosophorum.

In this Study group, Adrian Davis will examine the nature and role of transformation in Murray Stein’s book Transformation: Emergence of the Self. 

Book sharing: Transformation: Emergence of the Self (Carolyn and Ernest Fay Series in Analytical Psychology)by Murray Stein,1998
Presenter: Adrian Davis(Certified Play therapist (APTA) and Art therapist (CiiAT), Lecturer of Social Work Programme in Macao, Currently study Sandplay therapy with HKSTA)
Date: 29 May, 2021 (Saturday)
Time: 2:30-4:30pm
Venue: Webinar via zoom
Language: English

Remark: Book could be bought in the online book store, such as Amazon or Book Depository.

Reference: Ruth Ammann (1991), Healing and Transformation in Sandplay: Creative Process Made Visible (The Reality of the Psyche Series)

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

Fox is a paradoxical kind of animals, which is not only cute and clever but also cunning and cruel. Fox is not as powerful as big cats. Nevertheless, it is no doubt relatively more intelligent among animals. Due to its intelligence, fox is always considered one of the spirit animals. This attribute, besides its instinctual power, sometimes appears in the sand tray.

Moreover, fox’s paradoxical nature is polarized and is expressed by the fox spirits. Some fox spirits are considered benevolent and loyal but others malevolent and treacherous. The characteristics of the fox spirits are “poles apart”. Interestingly, there have been quite some folklores regarding marriage with/of a fox spirit in the oriental literature. If the supernatural creatures are projection of our complexes in the unconscious psyche, which complex (or complexes) does the fox spirit represent? What is its relationship with our shadow?

In this study group, we will discuss the nature of fox, fox spirits in the oriental literature and its relationship with our unconsciousness, and these are illustrated by several clinical case materials.

Date: April 28, 2021 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:30-9pm
Presenter: Mr Ryan Hung (a counsellor who works with adults, in particular parents, and sometimes with children as well)
Venue: Webinar via zoom
Language: Cantonese

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

Are you aware of the character Genie in the Walt Disney film of Aladdin? We will explore on the psychological dimensions of the story to better understand Genie on both of his opposite aspects that involve “the trickster” and “the wise old man” through his action of granting three wishes to Aladdin. And thus we may know more about the essence of these two archetypal figures from a Jungian perspective. In fact, the figure of the Genie can be interpreted as an inner mentor in the symbolic process and this will be further illustrated by the clinical materials of a lady who has anxiety disorder and delusion features on her quest to find herself. 

Bhakta has completed her two symbol papers and both were accepted in 2020.  “Genie: the mentor within” is her first symbol paper study.

Details:
Date      :     March 24, 2021 (Wed)
Time      :     7:30-9pm
Topic     :     Genie: the mentor within
Presenter      :     Bhakta NG (Psychotherapist & Registered Social Worker who mainly works with SEN adolescents and adults with anxiety issues)
Venue    :            Webinar through Zoom
Language     :     Cantonese
Remark  :     Please watch the film Aladdin (2019) before joining this study group

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

Joseph Campbell, the acclaimed American mythology academic and famous author postulates that the ‘hero’s journey’ motif or monomyth which he identifies has been present in all cultures and times. The same hero wearing different mask appears throughout mythology, religious, literatures, and centuries.

Aladdin released in 2019 is an American live-action animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Guy Ritchie, from a script he co-wrote

with John August, it is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1992 animated film of the same name, which itself is based on the eponymous tale from One Thousand and One Nights. The youngster, Aladdin unintentionally engaged in an adventure in which he is on a quest to find himself. The film follows the heroic journey identified by Campbell.

In this study group, we are going to accompany Aladdin to go through a series of stages, obstacles and rewards along his adventure through the lens of Campbell’s ‘hero journey’. Clinical materials of a lady whose daughter died of cancer will be presented to illustrate her quest to find herself.

Details:
Topic : The Heroic Journey of Aladdin: the Diamond in the Rough
Presenter: Brenda Koo (Private Practitioner, RSW, CT. Brenda mainly work with bereaved adults and children)
Date: February 25, 2021 (Thursday )
Time: 7:30-9:30pm
Venue: Webinar through Zoom
Language: Cantonese
 

Remark: Please watch the film Aladdin (2019) before joining this study group.

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

In this study group, we shall look into the symbol of Tiger .  Animal represent a lot of different meaning in Sandplay , A Tiger , the king of the

Jungle, Tiger is most commonly associated with strength and courage, as well as determination and independence. When A boy who lost his father recently , how the symbol of tiger help him to transform during the sadnplay process ? Bobby will share a case where a young boy who lost his father made a series of tray by using Tiger.

Details:

Symbol: Tiger
Presenter: Bobby Fung (Marriage and Family Counselor, RSW.  Bobby works with children and family)
Date: January 28, 2020 (Thursday)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (online)
Language: Cantonese

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” Carl Jung.

In this study group, we shall look into dreams and Sandplay.  David Capitolo looks at sandplay as waking dream: in his 2016 paper “Sandplay as waking dream: Images hidden in the emotions” Capitolo looked into the concept of “waking dream thought” proposed by Wilfred Bion and the parallel translation of waking dream thoughts into sandplay.  We will also explore Michal Troudart’s 2020 paper “A closed letter and an open letter – On dreams and sandplay scenes”.  Jennifer will also share a recent case where a young boy shared a series of dreams.

Details:

Study Topic: Dreams and Sandplay
Presenter: Jennifer Wong (A counsellor and a part time assistant lecturer for the Master program in counselling of the University of Hong Kong)
Date: December 16 2020 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (online)
Language: Cantonese

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.