Psychotherapy with a Dialysis Patient “Doing Nothing”

A Dialogue with the Invisible and the Inaudible through Images

Abstract

This study describes the process of psychotherapy with a dialysis patient and examines the implication of “doing nothing” that the client, who suffered from a reduction in physical function, completed through the images in dialog with the therapist, drawing and sandplay therapy. Parallel to the process of settling the image in the protected rich inner world, the client became independent in both daily life and medical treatment. Furthermore, through the process of becoming independent and entrusting himself, the client came to feel at ease with “doing nothing”. It was suggested that the development of the psychotherapy was promoted by structuring psychotherapy depending on the client and the situation. However, the therapist should be aware that there is a danger of putting a heavy burden on the body by acting out, causing the release of mental energy, and they should remain cognizant of the importance of a framework.