Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association (HKSTA)

“So you have to write a symbol paper!”  This is the title of an article written by Barbara Weller in 1997. In this study group, Jennifer will lead us to look at Barbara’s view on what a symbol paper is all about. Discussion will also include Pratibha Eastwood article “Resonance on Symbol Paper” in which she used “Leela, the divine play” as a metaphor for the process of writing a symbol paper.  

Jennifer and Kitty have recently completed their writing on one of their symbol papers. They will share their journey and struggles in writing their symbol paper with us at the meeting as well.  All are welcome to share their experience and to cheer for each other in our pursuit.

Jennifer works as a counsellor and is also a part time assistant lecturer for the Master program in counselling of the University of Hong Kong. She presented the symbol “Gargoyles” in our January 2018 study group and led an article study in January 2019.  Kitty has been practicing as a professional counsellor in private practice for over ten years. She presented the symbol “Witch” in October 2019 and the symbol “Sakura” in September 2020 for HKSTA Study Group.

Details:

Study Topic: Writing a Symbol Paper
Presenter: Jennifer Wong and Kitty Liu
Date: 16 November 2020 (Monday)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (online)
Language: Cantonese

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

Who will you think of when hearing the story of the “Sleeping Beauty” ? Is it Princess Aurora? Prince Philip? Or the evil fairy Maleficent? 

Maleficent (黑魔后) is known for her curse to Princess Aurora and she is associated with darkness and power. There has not been a back story to give information for why and how Maleficent turned to be evil until Walt Disney Pictures casted a movie ‘Maleficent’ in 2014 portraying this figure. Maleficent was once a powerful and living fairy in protecting a magical forest realm. She turned to be an antagonist when she was betrayed. And there the story of the Sleeping Beauty began.

In this study group, Carol will share the story of Maleficent and explore the meanings of this figurine. Some clinical materials will be presented to facilitate the discussion.

Details:

Symbol Study: Maleficent
Presenter: Ms Carol Lo, Counsellor at The Boys’ & Girl’s Clubs Association of Hong Kong
Date: October 19, 2020 (Monday)
Time: 7:30-9:30pm (online)
Language: Cantonese

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

The Japanese consider cherry blossom (さくらSakura桜 ) their national flower.  It is said to represent some kind of spirit and belief of the Japanese people.  Every year when the Spring season comes, from the South to the North of Japan, Sakura blossoms in tremendous amounts and it has become a ritual and a habit the Japanese Meteorological Agency anticipates when it will blossom in different locations of the country so that visitors can “chase” the flowers everywhere to view and enjoy their beauty in full bloom.  And the Japanese are used to spending the whole day sitting under the Sakura trees to have a picnic and taste the flowers with their eyes.  They call it hanami (はなみ 花見) which simply means viewing the flowers.

In this symbol study Kitty Liu, a psychological counsellor in private practice, will facilitate us to explore on the meanings of Sakura. And related clinical materials will be presented to enrich discussions.

HKSTA September 2020 Study Group
Symbol Study: Sakura
Presenter: Ms. Kitty Liu
Date: 29/9/2020 (Tuesday)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (online)
Language: Cantonese (will switch to English if needed)

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

Trickster is perhaps one of the most important but paradoxical archetypes among us, from the old time as Hermes, Mercurius, and jester to modern days’ joker in popular movies. Jung writes of “his fondness for sly jokes and malicious pranks, his powers as a shape-shifter, his dual nature, half animal, half divine, his exposure to all kinds of tortures, and … his approximation to the figure of a saviour” (1959, para.456).
In this study group, we would explore different perspectives of trickster as an archetype, and its manifestation in various symbols and images. Cases would be illustrated and discussed.

HKSTA August 2020 Study Group
Symbol Study: Trickster
Presenter: Mr. Kwok Kar Kin, George (Teaching Member, ISST)
Date: 21/8/2020
Time: 7:30-9:30 (online)
Language: Cantonese (will switch to English if needed)

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

What will you associate with the word Buddha? What is Buddha? What are the different levels of meaning of Buddha? How our clients express the symbol of Buddha  in sandplay therapy? The Lotus Sutra teaches that we can become Buddha. This means that we can realize the Self in our individuation process. (Tadashi, 2012)
 

HKSTA July 2020 Study Group
Symbol Study: Buddha
Presenters: Dr. Natalie Chantagul (Psychotherapist at Bangkok Psychological Services (BPS); Has been learning sandplay therapy since 2016)
Date: 30 July, 2020 (Thursday)
Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm (online)
Language: English

In this study group, Natalie will share the journal article “Buddha in Sandplay Therapy: Symbolical Interpretation of Buddha and the Lotus Sutra. ” by Tadashi Maeda (Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 22, #1, 2012). She will have a case sharing to illustrate the symbolic meaning of Buddha and explore this symbol from Thai people‘s perspective, which is less mentioned in the article. In addition, she will also share different Buddha images her clients expressed in the sandtrays.
 

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

What will you associate with the human skeleton at the first mind? The scary, dangerous or fearful image or something that related to evil. However, from the religious and cultural perspectives, it has a different interpretation on the human skeleton which is “the harbinger of transformation, a new form of life inherent in the death of the old” (Marina, 2018)*.

In this study group, Sun will use the journal article “The human skeleton and the development of identity in a child’s sandplay process” by Marina Ionescu (Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 27, #2, 2018) and Sun will have a case sharing to illustrate the symbolic meaning of the human skeleton and explore the view from Eastern perspective, which is less mention in the article, on this symbol.

HKSTA June 2020 Study Group
Symbol Study: Human Skeleton
Presenters: Poon Yat Sun (Registered Counsellor & Clinical Supervisor (APCPA); Has been learning sandplay therapy since 2018 )
Date: 24 June, 2020 (Wed)
Time: 7:00 – 9:00pm (online)

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

The crocodile, alligator, caiman all belong to the family of crocodilian species. They are descendants from the ancient dinosaur era and has evolved with not much changes. However, in mythology, they are transformed into dragons and Jung saw them interchangeably. In this study, Berenice will go through the ecological aspects of the crocodiles and how they are being perceived metaphorically as symbols for males and females differently, their universal significance and how they are being imagined as dragons in myths and fairy tales.

When crocodiles and alligators appear in dreams, they depict emotions that we try to repress or avoid, or they may signify that there are hidden dangers that we have to be aware of. Examples of dreams that contain these symbols are listed on the document: “Dream Dictionary – Alligator” and you will find it in our dropbox resource library. Another article Berenice will use is “The crocodile and the cosmos: Itzamkanac, the palace of the the Alligator’s House” by Ernesto Vargas Pacheco & Teri Arias Ortiz. You can access the article through our dropbox.

In the study group, Berenice will share her three female clients’ cases who have used crocodile and/or alligator in their sandplay journey. She will also use a journal article: “A boy’s encounter with dying and death: the loss of a twin” by Antoninette M. Eimers (Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume 28, #2, 2019) where a boy uses the figurines of crocodile to process his grief and fear. Berenice also invites participants who have trays that depict crocodiles or alligators to share in the discussion. Please reply to this email if you plan to share your cases.

HKSTA May 2020 Study Group
Symbol Study: Crocodile and Alligator
Presenters: Berenice Lee (Berenice is a Certified Counsellor. She is in private practice and has been learning sandplay therapy since 2012)
Date: 18 May, 2020 (Monday)
Time: 7:00 – 9:00pm (we will meet online)

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