This is a case study of sandtray therapy on children with dependent behavior
due to their lack of autonomy. After going through such primary procedures as
applications, interviews and projective tests, total 16 sessions were conducted
focusing on solving problematic dependent behaviors of children (e. g. whispering
into mothers' ears, expressing themselves with metaphorical behaviors, not
expressing themselves verbally, waiting for their mothers to wipe for them after
excretion, urging their mothers to take them to and from their schools) along with
parent consulting.
The dependent behavior of the children waned throughout the therapy
procedures by expressing their psychological conflict with their mother and
therefore quelling their anger and finding their "self." This study provides a clear
outlook that sandtray therapy fortifies the ego which increases self-leading
behavior within the children with strong dependency and therefore that it helps
them become an independent, balanced self and keep good social relationships.
Moreover, this case study showed through parent consulting - mostly mothers - a
decrease in dependent behavior by encouraging mothers to support children's
independent behaviors coherent to their age.