Mariaan Van der Merwe Clinical Psychologist

30/09/2025

11/09/2025

So there it is…. Once you’ve seen it you cannot un see it .

Dr. Ramani reveals what happens when narcissists know you see through their manipulation. Learn how narcissists react when they realize you're aware of their...

09/09/2025

Highlight of 2025!

22/08/2025

This past week I had the privilege of attending the 27th International Congress: Changing Horizons – Encountering the Other in Sandplay Therapy with STANZA/ISST.

It was an extraordinary gathering of colleagues and pioneers in the field, all committed to deepening our understanding of psyche, symbol, and healing through the language of the sandtray. The congress theme—Encountering the Other—reminded me of the profound responsibility and gift we hold as therapists: to create a space where the unknown, the wounded, and the transformative can be welcomed with respect and curiosity.

I return inspired, enriched, and humbled—grateful for the wisdom shared, the connections formed, and the reminder that in encountering the Other, we also encounter ourselves in new ways.
Here’s to continuing this work with renewed vision, carrying forward the horizons that are shifting within us and around us.

With deep gratitude to Dora Kalff, whose vision brought Sandplay into being, and to Martin Kalff, who continues to carry her legacy forward with wisdom and heart. And to C. G. Jung, whose pioneering depth psychology opened the path for this work—your insights continue to illuminate the symbolic journey of healing for us all.

04/08/2025

READ IT SLOWLY AND LET IT SINK IN

Most people think criticism might push a child away from you but here's the devastating truth: it pushes them away from themselves.

Because what you say becomes their inner voice.