A Scoping Review to Map the Evidence on the Use of Sandplay to Understand the Subjective Experience

Abstract

An interest in applying creative arts-based research approaches, such as sandplay in the health and social care contexts, is growing worldwide. The aim of our study was to identify the existing studies that use sandplay as a method or intervention and their impact on different target groups in health and social care settings. We conducted this review following the Joanna Briggs Institute’s method for scoping reviews, using Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage scoping review framework. We conducted a comprehensive search in the CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete and the Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection databases. A search strategy with selected inclusion and exclusion criteria was used to reveal a wide range of evidence. This study included quantitative and qualitative studies published in English from 2009 to 2019. Thirty-two studies formed the final data set and, ultimately, we selected seven published papers for our review. Most of the participants in these studies were children aged from 4 to 17 years. The scoping review highlighted the use of sandplay as a method to express and understand a person’s day to day lived experiences, especially with children. A joyful, accepting, individual centered and positive therapeutic environment reportedly characterized the sandplay sessions. And it was a valuable arts-based approach that positively affected the participants’ mental health and well-being, community building, creative self-expression, self-acceptance, problem solving and empowerment.