The Value of Sandplay as a Therapeutic Tool for School Guidance Counsellors

Abstract

Sandplay therapy is a technique that is a potentially valuable tool for guidance counsellors working in the context of challenging school environments. It is particularly suited to work with children and adolescents as it provides unique and developmentally appropriate opportunities for them to engage in the therapeutic process. In fact, as it is play-based and developmentally appropriate, sandplay may be a useful adjunct for the mainly cognitive and behavioural techniques most commonly used by school guidance counsellors. It provides a multiple intelligences perspective and may meet the specific needs of children with particular cognitive and socioemotional difficulties more effectively than the traditional ‘talking’ therapies.

A Review of Play Interventions for Children with Autism at School

“…Seven studies were conducted in mainstream settings, five in special settings and two studies did not give adequate information about the setting. This finding is in disagreement with studies claiming that play is frequently considered to be inappropriate in a school setting because the children should focus on developing academic skills (Siehl, 2001in Goss & Campbell, 2004 rather than play skills. On a similar note, it is argued that research on play interventions within specialist school settings is limited (Sigafoos, 1999) and there is a need for more research to be carried out in inclusive and mainstream schools (Dykstra et al, 2012).…”

The clinical effects of school sandplay group therapy on general children with a focus on Korea Child & Youth Personality Test

“…Also, group counseling using sandplay is valuable as a school counseling tool. Sandplay, when used in school settings, is effective in releasing the blocked flow of energy inside children and activating their potential self-healing ability [5]. Dale [6] reported that sandplay therapy in school settings can be helpful to school violence victims as well as children who have difficulty participating in learning due to depression and suicidal ideation, severe conduct problems, and behavioral problems.…”

“…Dale [6] reported that sandplay therapy in school settings can be helpful to school violence victims as well as children who have difficulty participating in learning due to depression and suicidal ideation, severe conduct problems, and behavioral problems. Campbell [5] insisted that sandplay therapy in school improves interpersonal relationships and concentration of the children who have difficulty in communication. Sandplay therapy has also been reported to improve concentration and total kinesthetic involvement and alleviate problem behaviors in children with inattention.…”

“…This is because a school is the largest organization that can provide mental health services to children and adolescents and approach them in a flexible and effective way [7]. Sandplay therapy does not require a high number of sessions and has therapeutic effects even within a short period of time [5]. Therefore, school sandplay group counseling can meet the needs of school counselors who need to take care of many children in a short period of time [8].…”

“…Therefore, school sandplay group counseling can meet the needs of school counselors who need to take care of many children in a short period of time [8]. Campbell and her colleagues found that most children who participated in eight to ten sessions of sandplay counseling in school enter a problemsolving stage within the period [5]. School teachers also reported significant changes in the children's emotional state and their ability to participate in school life after the eighth session [5,9].…”