When children cannot explain their feelings with words, they often express them through play. In Jungian Sandplay Therapy, symbols placed in the sandtray can reveal deep emotional experiences that a child may not yet be able to describe. Understanding these symbols helps therapists and parents see the child’s inner world more clearly. n This Article […]
Understanding Symbols in Children’s Jungian Sandplay Therapy🪴 Read More »
By Rina Louw, MSocSc & Jungian Sandplay Practitioner 🌱 A Personal Note: Why I Am Studying Complexes Over the past months, I have found myself returning again and again to Jung’s writings on complexes—those emotionally charged inner patterns that shape our feelings, behaviours, and relationships. As part of my professional development and my own Jungian
🌿 How to Identify a Complex in Sandplay — 12 Signs Read More »
For children, especially those in primary school, play is more than fun—it’s how they make sense of their world. While adults talk, children play. Through stories, building, and imagination, they reveal what words cannot express. Carl Jung called play the language of the soul—a way for the unconscious to find expression through images, movement, and
The Gift of Play: Entering Your Child’s World Read More »
When Boys Speak Through Symbols In Jungian Sandplay Therapy, children express their emotions through symbols rather than words. For boys with challenging behaviour or emotional struggles, the sandtray becomes a world where they can safely explore power, control, and vulnerability. It’s common for boys to reach for soldiers, superheroes, or warriors — figures that represent
In the busyness of family life, it’s easy to feel like there’s never enough time. Work deadlines, school projects, sports, and endless to-do lists can make parents feel rushed and distracted. But here’s the good news: you don’t need hours of free time to build a strong connection with your child. Simple daily rituals—like bedtime
Small Moments, Big Impact: Rituals That Build Connection Read More »
Understanding Dysregulation & Development in Early Childhood. Yes — the children’s reactions were absolutely in line with their developmental phase. At ages 5 to 6, the brain, nervous system, and psyche are still learning to self-regulate, to distinguish emotion from action, and to hold complexity. Their intense responses — the sensory aversion, the difficulty naming
🌱 Can Young Boys Benefit from Clay Therapy? Read More »
By Rina Louw, MSocSc Clinical Social WorkJungian Sandplay & Clay-Therapy Facilitator Introduction Working with clay and young boys is both grounding and confronting. In this 5-session process, I invited a small group of 5–6-year-old boys — most of whom showed signs of dysregulation and emotional overwhelm — to journey through the tactile and symbolic world
Touching the Monster: Clay Therapy with 5–6-Year-Old Boys Read More »
In many South African homes, especially when children — often boys — act out, get angry, or don’t listen, the default response is still a hiding. “Spare the rod, spoil the child,” right? But times are changing. And what we now know about child development, emotions, and discipline tells a very different story. What Is
Why Hitting Doesn’t Help: A Better Way to Discipline Your Child Read More »
By Rina Louw | Clinical Social Worker & Sandplay Therapy Practitioner 🧩 Your Child’s Behavior Is Trying to Tell You Something “He just explodes out of nowhere.”“She shuts down when I ask what’s wrong.”“Why does everything become a fight?” These are questions many parents of primary school children quietly carry. It can feel confusing, frustrating,
🌿 Why Your Child’s Behavior Is a Message: Parenting the Inner World with Compassion Read More »
The Netflix series Adolescence is more than a haunting drama — it’s a psychological mirror held up to modern society. Through the tragic story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, the show unearths deep layers of collective and generational trauma. From a Jungian perspective, Adolescence becomes a profound invitation for reflection — especially for parents. https://www.ft.com/content/4d734171-9812-4133-b2ec-3900478c3dab?utm_source=chatgpt.com The
Adolescence and the Jungian Mirror: A Call for Conscious Parenting and Healing Read More »
