Sandplay Therapy for an Adolescent Female with Self-Harm and Emotional Dysregulation: A Single-Case Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of individual Sandplay Therapy for an adolescent girl experiencing self-injurious behavior and emotional crises. The client presented with repeated wrist-cutting, depression, lethargy, exposure to domestic violence, and attachment anxiety. Using a single-case design, this study analyzed the patterns of emotional change, ego integration, and psychological recovery that emerged throughout the therapeutic process. The results indicated that individual Sandplay Therapy had a positive impact on reducing self-injurious behavior and enhancing emotional stabilization in a high-risk adolescent. During therapy, destructive symbols gradually transformed into images representing harmony and vitality. These findings suggest that Sandplay Therapy serves as an effective therapeutic medium that facilitates psychological stabilization and ego integration among adolescents who struggle with self-injury, emotional dysregulation, and insecure attachment.
Author: Hyeon-Jeong Kwak
Institution: Dankook University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7119945978