Dora Maria Kalff: Originator of “Sandplay” Basic tenets of Sandplay Physical guidelines for the work Introducing the tray Therapist’s role and attitude Recording Written works and professional presentations Conclusion References

Dora Maria Kalff, originator of the Jungian Sandplay method, was born in Switzerland on December 21, 1904. She grew up in Richterswil, a small village on Lake Zürich some twenty kilometers from Zürich. Kalff’s father, August Gattiker, was a traditional family patriarch for whom she had great veneration and with whom she maintained a close bond. With a deep love for all his four children, Kalff’s father was remembered as strict, yet fair and generous. He was a textile merchant and an important politician in Switzerland. He served as mayor of his town many times and was elected as a national counselor (comparable to a United States senator or congressional representative). During World War II he took a strong stand against the Nazis and, consequently, was blacklisted and targeted for extermination in the event of Switzerland’s occupation. Because of his influential position and ability to maintain business connections with other textile merchants throughout the world, he was able to help supply Switzerland’s textile needs during the war years (Martin and Peter Kalff, personal communication, 1990).