A meta-analysis of sandplay therapy treatment outcomes.

Abstract

Sandplay therapy is a cross-cultural, psychodynamic, nondirective, multisensory psychotherapy method founded by Dora Kalff. Sandplay is used with children and adults with a range of mental health problems. Despite sandplay’s growing popularity, its empirical evidence base is less developed than more well-known therapies. This international study provides a meta-analysis of the available quantitative outcome studies in order to summarize the growing evidence base of sandplay. The meta-analysis specifically examined emotional and behavioral outcome measures of treatment with sandplay therapy. The initial search identified 1,715 potential records from over 16 countries. After screening, 40 studies from eight countries representing 1,284 participants met the inclusion criteria. Mean effect sizes were calculated using a random effects model with the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) program. The overall effect size was large (Hedges’ g = 1.10). Large effect sizes were maintained for internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Improved effect sizes were associated with individual treatment over the group format. These results suggest that sandplay therapy is an effective treatment method for children and adults with a wide variety of mental health concerns. Limitations and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Effects of school sandplay group therapy on children victims of cyberbullying

“…Sandplay therapy has also been reported to affect the nervous system as a psychodynamic, non-directive, multisensory psychotherapeutic technique. [44] The non-directive role of the therapist provides a safe and creative environment for victims to express their trauma. In this study, the therapists provided an unconditional holding environment without presenting or giving any interpretation or instruction regarding the sand trays of the subjects.…”

“…Sandplay therapy has also been reported to affect the nervous system as a psychodynamic, non-directive, multisensory psychotherapeutic technique. [ 44 ]…”

La Caja De Arena En El Tratamiento Del Trauma Con Niños/As Y Adolescentes: Una Revisión Sistemática

“…Aunque el método que se pretende estudiar en este trabajo es el de Dora Kalff, ST, se han incluido también artículos con el término Sandtray en la búsqueda, con el fin de no obviar estudios importantes. Esto se debe a que la diferenciación nominal entre estas dos técnicas aún no se realiza de manera clara y rigurosa en la investigación científica actual (Wiersma et al, 2022). La búsqueda se realizó entre marzo y abril de 2022, y se limitaron los estudios resultantes a artículos académicos publicados en los últimos 10 años, en inglés y en español.…”

Cardiometric support of visual kinetic modeling

“…Nevertheless, in recent years there has clearly been a noticeable interest of researchers in how positive subjective assessments of the success of such methods of therapy correspond to reality. At the beginning of this year, Wiersma, J. K., Freedle, L. R. the effectiveness of using SPT in the treatment of patients of various ages who sought help due to various mental health problems [14]. Previously, similar successes were reported in the use of sand therapy in relation to phobic spectrum disorders [15] and in relation to work with traumatic stress of migrants with disabilities in that category of patients for long-term psychotherapy, who also have language problems in communicating with therapists [11].…”

“…The number of studies on the effectiveness of VKM, using not only conventional tests, but also employing modern instrumental methods for objective monitoring of the psycho-physiological state of clients, has been gradually increasing [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Thus, applying proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a positive change in the metabolic processes in the brain was shown in patients suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD -Generalized Anxiety Disorder) after they had completed the Sandplay Therapy (SPT) course [4].…”