• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.33-50
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was examining the effects of family sandplay therapy with structural family therapy in improving the family strengths of children with emotional and behavioral disorders. First, we looked for a way to combine family sandplay therapy with structural family therapy and formulated an approach that could maximize the strengths of each theory and complement each other's weaknesses. And then we applied family sandplay therapy together with structural family therapy and analyzed its effects on family strengths. The subjects of this study were 10 families of children with emotional and behavioral disorders, and they were divided into an experimental group with 5 families and a control group with the other 5. To the experimental group received 16 sessions of family sandplay therapy with structural family therapy. In order to prove the effectiveness of family sandplay therapy with structural family therapy on family strengths, a family relationship( husband-wife relationship, parent-child relationship, and sibling relationship) scale and a family function(family cohesion, family adaptability) scale were used. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, the family relationships of the families with emotional-behavioral disorder children were improved after the application of family sandplay therapy with structural family therapy. Second, the application of family sandplay therapy with structural family therapy improved the family function of families with emotional-behavioral disorder children. Third, in the course of family sandplay therapy with structural family therapy, family sand tray was changed in a pro-healing direction, and family structure was also transformed from a dysfunctional structure to a functional one. As previously stated, family sandplay therapy with structural family therapy for families of children with emotional and behavioral disorders enhanced family strengths through improving family relationships and restoring family functions.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.239-253
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• 2020

This study explored a sandplay therapy case of a woman maturing through conflicts with an adolescent son. The goal of the therapy was to relieve her from conflicts with going through individuation process under a free and protected space in sandplay therapy. Forty-six therapy sessions were held. The client exhibited that she needed a conversation with her feminity and maternity in the initial phase of therapy (1-5, regression). In the intermediate phase of therapy (6-43, struggle), she displayed the scenes of meeting of opposites, shadow, death, nurturing and integration of opposites. In the final phase of therapy (44-46, transformation), she showed the acception of her life with leaving her situations to God. Through sandplay therapy in the free and protected space, this study showed the effectiveness of sandplay therapy since the client achieved individuation by showing the acceptance of her life and could control her enraged feelings.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.95-116
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• 2017

Objective: Middle school girls who belonged to the concerned group in their school assessment were treated by sandplay for relieving their emotional and behavioral difficulties. The purpose of this study was to explore the change of the internal world of the girls through sandplay. Methods: Analytical psychology and sandplay theories were used for this exploration, especially Turner's (2005) content themes in sandplay. The participants were four first-grade girls. Pre-test measures, a 12-session sandplay program, and post-test measures were administered. Results: For the first girl, the initial phase was 1-6 (time trip), the intermediate phase was 7-9 (seeking for an inner island), and the final phase was 10-12 (seeking for a real stone). For the second girl, the initial phase was 1-5 (my heart was like cold weather), the intermediate phase was 6-10 (fallen, sick, and risen), and the final phase was 11-12 (trophy given to me). For the third girl, the initial phase was 1-5 (seeking for oasis), the intermediate phase was 6-10 (difficult trip for climbing with camel), and the final phase was 11-12 (discovering oasis). For the fourth girl, the initial phase was 1-3 (an island drowning shortly ), the intermediate phase was 4-10 (my unknowable mind), and the final phase was 11-12 (a tree growing well). Conclusion: This study showed psychological phenomena in the sandplay of four girls such as opposites and the union of masculinity and femininity as they explored their own identity. Drawing tests and counselling objects indicated positive changes; thus, these findings support the effectiveness of sandplay therapy for transforming the psyche of middle school girls.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.97-112
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of sandplay therapy for couples on the self-differentiation, and heterosexual relationship satisfaction, of couples who are college students'. The subjects were four couples who are college students living in Seoul with low self-differentiation and heterosexual relationship satisfaction. I carried out sandplay therapy on four couples for once a week for 10 weeks, and each session was 70 minutes long. In this study, the self-differentiation scale was modified for Korea on the basis of Bowen's family systems theory (1976), and it was used as a research tool. Yu (2000) and Lee (2000) made a scale to measure heterosexual relationship satisfaction after they adjusted the Korea Marital Satisfaction Inventory (K-MSI). The scale was also used in order to compare pre-therapy and post-therapy traits and identify any changes. In addition, the group's behavior and interactions were observed and recorded in each session throughout the process of sandplay therapy with the couples, and the behanior and interactions were analyzed along with the change flow in the sand trays. The study's outcomes are summed up as follows. First, sandplay therapy with couples advances the level of self-differentiation in college students. Second, sandplay therapy with couples improves the heterosexual relationship satisfaction on college students. Third, the trays used in sandplay therapy with couples showed positive changes as the therapy progressed. As the sessions continued, negative factors in the trays decreased and the trays converged into one. As the sessions proceeded, it was observed that the couples became closer, felt more comfortable with each other, compromised and reflected on their relationship. The study's results show that sandplay therapy with couples increased the level of self-differentiation in college students and heterosexual relationship satisfaction, thus proving the therapy's effectiveness.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.17-41
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• 2014

This study explored the sandplay therapy case of a 5th grade boy who was living in a small income fatherless family from the viewpoints of both sandplay theory and related literatures. The goal of the therapy was to lessen his difficulties under the free and protected space of sandplay therapy. This study comprised 59 sessions of sandplay therapy. The subject exhibited his situations in the initial parts of therapy(1~5, the preparation for war against enemies) by putting miniatures related to Egypt and by placing Indians who were keeping the house from enemies. In the intermediate sessions(6~47, holding a ceremony), he repeated burning rituals, played finding treasures, and exhibited both struggle and construction. In the final parts(48~59, integration), he showed integration by expressing the adaptation to the collective. This study indicated the effectiveness of sandplay therapy, because his maladjustments in both school and home were reduced.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.55-69
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• 2010

A college student who exhibited several post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was used as a case study in order to investigate the therapeutic effects of sandplay therapy for PTSD sufferers. In total, 27 sessions of the sandplay treatment program were used to conduct psychological tests before and after the sessions. Any changes in the manner of expressions on the sand box during the treatment, and the results of pre and post psychological tests on aspects of depression, anxiety and interrelationships were analyzed. Overall results showed that the subject exhibited progressive behavioral improvement and signs of recovery. Psychological tests revealed reduced levels of depression and anxiety, and improved interrelationship scores. In conclusion, sandplay therapy does exhibit positive benefits as an effective treatment modality for PTSD in adolescents and young adults.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.87-101
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• 2008

This research was based on a case study of a child who experienced difficulties in ego development due to her mother's compulsive and depressed behavior. Twenty-four therapeutic play sessions, including 16 sessions involving sandplay, were conducted. Based on discussions by Neumann and Kalff, the child's early psychic development and ego development were observed during these sandplay. As part af this investigation, I conducted counseling sessions in the sandbox where the atmosphere was free and safe. The sessions were based on mother-child unity with the therapist. As a result, the child exhibited restoration of mother-child unity and showed the journey of constellation of self and ego development. The results of this research indicate the effectiveness of sandplay in accelerating ego development.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.123-135
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• 2008

In this case- study, sandplay therapy and verbal therapy were used on an adolescent who was depressed, lacked motivation, and suffered from anxiety issues related to conflict with a sibling and oppressive parents who did not show much affection. In total, 69 counseling sessions, including sandplay and verbal therapy, were conducted. Sandplay therapy was applied at the beginning to the middle stages, after which verbal therapy was applied until the final stage. During sandplay therapy, the adolescent exhibited the hero's journey and ego development. During the verbal therapy, the adolescent began to effectively express emotion based on his strengthened ego. He recovered his confidence based on self awareness which ultimately allowed him to resolve and overcome his internal conflicts.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.303-319
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• 2017

This study explored the sandplay therapy case of a middle-aged woman having difficulty with interpersonal relationships and wanting to increase her self-identity. The goal of the therapy was to change her relationships with others by self-examination and becoming conscious of her negative animus and femininity in a free and protected space provided by sandplay therapy. Forty-five therapy sessions were held. The client exhibited her lonesomeness and fantasies by making sandtrays of a house she would like to live in, a park she would like to relax at and dreams she would like to fulfill in the initial phase of therapy (1~8, Who am I?). In the intermediate phase of therapy (9~33, Meeting myself), she displayed scenes of her negative self and breaking away from her negative self by making sandtrays of shadows, deaths, creations, a soaring scene and a disappearing alligator. In the final phase of therapy (34~45, Discovery of the real Self), she showed scenes of her meeting a positive self by making sandtrays of hope, coexistence, start, harmony and community. This study showed the effectiveness of sandplay therapy since the client' relationships with others were improved through her self-awareness by sandplay therapy in the free and protected space.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1-18
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• 2014

This study explored the sandplay therapy case of a middle school-aged boy having severe conflicts with his mother, from the viewpoints of initiation. The goal of the therapy was to lessen the boy's conflicts with his mother within the free and protected space in sandplay therapy. Thirty-seven therapy sessions were held. The client showed the scene of having fun in the water in the most unconscious part of the tray in the initial phase of therapy (1, descending into the unconscious). In the intermediate phase of therapy (2~33, a period of suffering, confrontation with death and trials), he showed suffering, was confronted with death and underwent trials. In the final phase of therapy (34~37, seeking masculine principles and rebirth), he began to seek masculine principles instead of having conflicts with his mother and was reborn. Using sandplay therapy in a free and protected space, this study showed the effectiveness of sandplay therapy since the boy's severe conflicts with his mother were lessened. This study also confirmed the existence of an archetypal pattern in the male adolescent's psyche.