A Case Study of Sandplay Therapy on a Child with Selective Mutism: A Story of a Life Continuing over Time in Sandplay Therapy

This study examined the life story of a counselee as it unfolded in her sandtrays and the changes in her symbolic images following the conclusion of the therapy sessions. The therapist applied three rounds of sandplay therapy to the counselee, who was aged six and had selective mutism, at intervals of one or two years for five years. Of the sandtrays she made a total of six sandtrays, including one from an early period and one from a later period, were analyzed according to Kalff’s theory of sandplay therapy along with techniques based on Jungian analytical psychology. As a result of this process the counselee achieved contact with her Self, ego, and animus, as well as recovery of her femininity and rebirth. Despite the lengthy intervals, the counselee was always able to resume her story at the start of a new round from the end of the previous round. At those times, figures that had appeared at the end of a previous round and symbolic images which had been left suspended would reemerge as connecting links in the first sandtray of the next round of sandplay therapy.