Saint Mary's Magazine Winter 2003 - Saint Mary's University of ...

CAMPUS NEWS
Playroom at the M.-L. von Franz Institute
in Zurich, Switzerland.
The institute implements a unique mix of traditional
Chinese medicine practices and today’s modern
medicine. Many of the practices are based on theories
from renowned psychologist Carl Jung and Dr. M.-L.
von Franz. One treatment practice is play therapy,
which is widely becoming the treatment of choice for
many children. The institute has developed a
specialized form of this therapy using the child’s
natural expression of his innermost feelings during
play. Over time, the process aims to ease fears about
hospitals and aid coping with illness or disability.
The institute has a remarkable reputation; the number
of referrals to the program currently exceeds the
institute’s capacity. Besides critical ongoing research
and patient work, institute staff also seek to encourage
communication, discussion and reflection among the
children’s families and with the public at large.
Remo F. was diagnosed at age four with acute
lymphatic leukemia. He was terrified of all hospital
procedures when he was admitted to the treatment
center. In the first months of therapy, Remo projected
his fears onto the dragons in the playroom. Having a
remarkable talent to organize and direct play, he
devised games where his therapist had to deal with
these beasts in his stead. Remo instructed his therapist
to ban them to the far corners of the room, directed
how they should be tied to chairs, taped to the ceiling
or caged, and dictated warning signs to protect all
other children and adults entering the practice. With
the assistance of his therapist, he gradually began to
visit the dragons and even developed a unique
relationship with one. Remo was able to work through
his fears of medical treatment and death, learn to
harness his impatience while trying to tackle difficult
tasks at school, and succeed, despite very poor
coordination, to learn to ride a bike. Remo completed
his medical therapy without a relapse. Today, at the
age of 23, he states that it is an act of grace that he
has received the chance to become a healthy and
productive young man. For the complete story on
Remo, go to www.smumn.edu/magazine.
TO LEARN MORE
★ To find out more about the M.-L. von Franz Institute
and how you can help support its work, go to
www.vfiss.org
★ Dr. Shoshana Mindell will be on the Winona campus
the evening of March 10 to discuss the significance of
the institute’s work and the modern application of
traditional Chinese medicine practices. ≠
Glee Club develops musical comedy
act “Redmen Revels” (1947)
24
Saint Mary’s Flying Club charters plane to fly
students to Chicago for Easter break (1946)
23
WWW.SMUMN.EDU/MAGAZINE 17